Sénanque Abbey

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Provence during this guided full-day tour from Avignon. Enjoy the town of Fontaine de Vaucluse and stop in the lavender fields for photos. Go for a walk in St-Rémy-de-Provence and take in the views from Pont du Gard.  Be picked up from a meeting point in Avignon and board a comfortable and air-conditioned van for the scenic drive to Fontaine de Vaucluse. Take in the relaxing atmosphere in this town that is next to a spring at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains. Admire the Provençal landscapes in of Luberon and have a chance to have a photo stop in lavender fields in summer (from June 15th to July 31st). Head over to Gordes which is listed as "one of the most beautiful villages in France." Walk in the red streets of Roussillon and marvel at panoramic views of the Alpilles in Baux-de-Provence. Take a stroll through the beautiful city of St-Rémy-de-Provence. Stop at the ancient Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard before returning to your meeting point. 

Discover the lavender fields in full bloom in the villages of Luberon on this half-day tour from Avignon.  Enjoy a scenic and picturesque drive through the countryside, full of beautiful purple fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. Your guide will organize many stops in the countryside to capture the breathtaking views of the lavender fields. Enjoy some free time to explore this typical provençal village of Roussillon. Indulge yourself here with a scoop of lavender ice cream. Take in the panoramic views from the hilltop village of Gordes, recognized as one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France." Finally, make a brief photo stop at the Cistercian Sénanque Abbey, beautifully surrounded by lavender fields. A la Française reserves the right to modify the programm according to the lavender's blooming stage. Suitable footwear is recommended.

Embark on a memorable full-day tour from Aix-en-Provence to the picturesque Luberon Valley, an enchanting region known for its charming and unique hilltop villages. On Sundays only, your journey begins with a stop in the lovely town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Stroll through its lively open-air market, where you’ll find local artisans, fresh produce, and antiques. Take a leisurely walk along the canals, and don’t forget to explore the many antique shops that make this town famous. On saturdays only, discover the provencal market in the city of Apt, famous for the candied-fruits production. On Tuesdays only, spend time in the dry-stone built village Gordes for the market. On the other days, a photo stop will be organised from the panoramic viewpoint of Gordes. Enjoy the magnificent hilltop with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the village. From mid-June to mid-July only, stop at the Senanque Abbey to take pictures of the blooming lavender fields. Continue your journey to the picturesque village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, known for its stunning natural springs and tranquil beauty. Then, head to the colorful village of Roussillon (market on thursdays), famous for its striking ochre cliffs and vibrant red, orange, and yellow colours. Make your way back through the Lourmarin scenic route that offers stunning views of the Luberon landscape. Stop in Lourmarin (market on fridays), Famous for its Renaissance castle, Lourmarin invites you to wander its charming streets and enjoy some free time to explore the village at your own pace. Please note that the stops and their order will vary depending on the market days in each village : Gordes - market on Tuesday. Roussillon - market on Thursday. Lourmarin - market on Friday. Apt - market on Saturday. L'Isle sur la Sorgue - market on Sunday. Lunch on your own during the day.

Embark on a fascinating tour exploring and appreciating lavenders, the emblematic plant of Provence, and visit charming villages to enjoy a traditional open-air market and scenic landscapes. Stroll through a vibrant open-air market held in different towns throughout the week. Browse the stalls showcasing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and handicrafts. Travel along picturesque roads through wild lavender fields to Sault OR Roussillon (depending on the flowering stage). Visit Gordes, a a stunning hilltop village in Luberon, renowned for its beautiful dry-stone architecture. Capture the beauty of Senanque Abbey, surrounded by a magnificent lavender field (depending on the flowering stage). During the blooming season, an additional photo stop in sunflower fields will be included in the itinerary. A la Française reserves the right to modify the programm according to the lavender's blooming stage. Suitable footwear is recommended.

Visit the village of Gordes This morning, head out to the village of Gordes, classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Facing the Luberon mountain range, the village is composed of small paved streets, known as calades, where it feels so nice to get lost in. To mostly appreciate this unique village, magic operates in spring and autumn as summer is very crowded by the number of visitors. Admire the Senanque Abbey After the visit of Gordes, it will be time to take you to the beautiful area of Senanque to admire the Cistercian abbey of Senanque where you will take time for a photo stop. In July, the Abbey is surrounded by magnificent Lavender fields. The Abbey is still home to a community of Cistercian monks that follow the rule of Saint Benedict. Cultivation of lavandin, of olive trees, production of honey, visits of the abbey, hospitality and monastic shop permit the monks to live but also to maintain and restore the monument. Free time for lunch After the visit, it will be time to stop in a local village for lunch. Don't hesitate to ask your guide for suggestions. Roussillon & The Ochre Trail Your tour from Aix en Provence continues with the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the Luberon region. The villages of Lourmarin and Roussillon are next on your program. Roussillon is a typical hilltop village located just above a rock formation called the “Provencal Colorado“. Here, you will have some time for personal discovery that will allow you to stroll down the village or walk along the “ochre path", a 30 minute walk. The Ochre Trail Discover one of the main highlights of the village of Roussillon, the Ochre Trail, an easy walking trail that takes place in what used to be an Ochre Quarry. Extracted during the 18th century, the mining has now stopped but the location is quite stunning. The natural Ochre pigments mixed with the sand of the cliffs constitute a mineral landscape made up of Iron Oxide that creates colors ranging from bright yellow to violet. Before returning to Aix en Provence, finish with the visit of Lourmarin. Lourmarin The village of Lourmarin is quite unique. As you stroll the winding streets, the architecture in the village reveals its many riches: from the Renaissance to the Baroque period, from Classicism to the 19th century, the houses in Lourmarin highlight the incomparable know-how of those builders often little known to the general public. Located in a gorgeous setting that is surrounded by olive and almond trees, the village has attracted numerous artists and writers such Henri Bosco and Albert Camus. Again, enjoy some time in the village where options include the visit of its ancient castle. The village was the source of inspiration for Peter Mayle’s “A year in Provence”. After the visit, it will be time to return to Aix en Provence.

Embark on a memorable full-day tour from Marseille to the picturesque Luberon Valley, an enchanting region known for its charming and unique hilltop villages. On Sundays only, your journey begins with a stop in the lovely town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Stroll through its lively open-air market, where you’ll find local artisans, fresh produce, and antiques. Take a leisurely walk along the canals, and don’t forget to explore the many antique shops that make this town famous. On saturdays only, discover the provencal market in the city of Apt, famous for the candied-fruits production. On Tuesdays only, spend time in the dry-stone built village Gordes for the market. On the other days, a photo stop will be organised from the panoramic viewpoint of Gordes. Enjoy the magnificent hilltop with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and the village. From mid-June to mid-July only, stop at the Senanque Abbey to take pictures of the blooming lavender fields. Continue your journey to the picturesque village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, known for its stunning natural springs and tranquil beauty. Then, head to the colorful village of Roussillon (market on thursdays), famous for its striking ochre cliffs and vibrant red, orange, and yellow colours. Make your way back through the Lourmarin scenic route that offers stunning views of the Luberon landscape. Stop in Lourmarin (market on fridays), Famous for its Renaissance castle, Lourmarin invites you to wander its charming streets and enjoy some free time to explore the village at your own pace. Please note that the stops and their order will vary depending on the market days in each village : Gordes - market on Tuesday. Roussillon - market on Thursday. Lourmarin - market on Friday. Apt - market on Saturday. L'Isle sur la Sorgue - market on Sunday. Lunch on your own during the day. NB : On certain days, a quick drive through Aix en Provence to pick up and drop off passengers may be included.

After a 50-minute drive from Avignon, your tour guide will first take you to the world-known Sénanque Abbey, a wonderfully preserved 12th-century monastery nestled among lush forests and beautiful lavender fields. Widely considered among the region’s top attractions, don't miss the opportunity to admire this gem of Romanesque architecture during the blooming season of lavender. Please be aware that during this day trip time doesn't allow a visit of the interiors. Lavender fields around Sénanque are in full bloom generally around June 20-25. On the way to the old town of Gordes, a photo stop at Gordes' famous overlook is planned. Here you'll have the chance to admire one of the most incredible panoramas of the Luberon valley, where vineyards and olive groves stretch out as far as the eye can see, surrounded by gentle green mountains. Minutes later, your driver will drop you off by the town's castle from where you can easily explore the cobbled streets of this world-known hilltop town and admire stunning views of the Luberon landscapes. Plenty of shopping opportunities are available here, as well as small cafes and ice-cream shops. Meet your tour guide again at the meeting point and head to another wonderful village. At around 1 pm your tour guide will drop you in the village of Roussillon, where you'll have a longer time to spend than in the other towns. This allows everyone to have lunch in one of the cafes or snack bars and to explore the colorful streets of Roussillon, where every house is painted a different shade of ochre. If you opt for a quick lunch on the go, you'll also have enough time to walk the beautiful Ochre Trail (entrance fee not included - 4€/adult), a developed pathway through the colored cliffs of a former ochre mine. Following the blooming stage of lavender, during the day we will take you to the brightest and most scenic lavender fields of that moment. In June we will focus on the wide lavender fields on the hillsides of the Luberon valley, whereas later in the season, normally after July 1, we will drive you to higher areas, like the high plateau of Sault. At least two long photo stops are scheduled, both in June and in July. We will drive then back to Avignon, where we will arrive between 5.30 and 6 pm.

Embark on a picturesque drive through the stunning Pays de Sault, where you’ll be captivated by endless fields of lavender in full bloom. Your journey begins with a stop at Sault, the heart of the lavender region, where you can take your time to capture the beauty of the vibrant lavender fields with plenty of photo opportunities. Free time in the charming village of Sault for lunch on your own (not included). Learn about the local lavender industry at a traditional lavender producer, where you’ll see firsthand how this precious flower is cultivated and distilled into essential oils and other products. Photo stop at the Abbaye of Senanque. In the the afternoon, one of the most beautiful villages in France : Gordes is a village erected on the top of a cliff, its fortified castle and church dominate the typical houses of the village which were built with stones from the rock on which they sit. Head back to Marseille in the late afternoon. Note : A la Française reserves the right to modify the program according to the lavender's blooming stage.

The road to Luberon is beautiful, you'll see nice Provencal landscapes and Luberon mountains. On our way, we can stop at factory boutique with lavender products. Then, you'll arrive to Sénanque Abbey with its incredible monastery and lovely lavender fields. Gordes will be our next stop. Its architecture is really protected and strolling there is just like a journey in the past. You'll have free time for lunch there. After that, we'ill go to Rousillon. This ochre village is really incredible and stands out due to its colours : yellow, orange and red. While strolling around the pretty squares, you can explore the numerous local boutiques and admire the surrounding mountains. You'll have enough time there to chill or discover the ochre trail. If you want to visit Luberon without running, this trip is certainly or you! However, if you want to add 1 or 2 villages to this trip, it's of course possible.

Discover various landscapes, experience local lifestyle & immerse in different ambiances in Provence without running. My goal is to make you happy & unwid. According to your expectations, pickup location, day energy & mood we will fix together the perfect itinerary selecting & mixing these visits: COUNTRYSIDE: peaceful nature, hilltop authentic villages, wine tasting, incredible landscapes, game of pétanque with regional appetizers..just like locals do ! (around Sainte Victoire mountain or Le Castellet) MARSEILLE: Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde basilica, amazing view over the sea & the city, walk in the vibrant Old Port AIX-EN-PROVENCE: little chic town, perfect for strolling & shopping CASSIS: boat ride to visit the incredible Calanques, strolling & lunch in the pictoresque port or beach time. Drive on Cap Canaille, the biggest cliff in Europe, a glass of wine with a stunning view there of all the Mediterranean.. Ready for this unforgettable day with Happy Day in Provence? :) Pickup locations : upon request in Provence: it can be a hotel, train station, cruise port in Marseille, Toulon or Seyne-sur-mer or the airport.