Ceramics shop in Lorgues, Provence
"Wow, you really brought Paris to life for us. It is an amazing city in its own right, but this way we made no wrong turns and more importantly, no bad restaurant choices. Our guide was great and the tours were just the right amount of time and information. You removed the stress and guided us in all the right directions. We can't thank you enough. Next year, Provence or Tuscany?"
- S.B. New York, NY
Read about our featured itinerary - Biking in Languedoc, France - departing September 2010
Other Destinations
Argentina,
Canada,
Chile,
England,
Galapagos,
India,
Ireland,
Italy,
Mexico,
Morocco,
Peru,
South Africa,
Spain
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France
This is a country blessed with a palpable pride of culture. The artistic legacy left by the Fauves and Impressionists and a flare for fashion and design best seen in the ateliers of Paris come only second and third to a world-renowned culinary prowess.
France's real charm comes from exploring its villages, discovering its art markets and vineyards and meeting with the locals whose initial (and notorious) wariness always gives way to the warmth of life-long friendship. Who doesn't melt a little at the sight of an old man in a striped shirt, riding his bike down a Sycamore-lined road with baguettes brimming over his basket?
Be it a barge trip on the canal de Midi or a meandering drive along the ancient path of the Cathars, see these roads, buy lunch in the markets and chat with villagers who may well be engaged in a lively game of Petanque.
France is the ideal destination for travellers who want to not only experience culture, but to blend in with it.
A postcard from France...
Is this glass of chilled Rose especially tasty because it came from the winery up the road, or because it's the perfect antidote to a hot July afternoon?
We drove here via Burgundy, stopping along the way at a chateau for a private wine tasting. Here, this house we've rented for the month is wonderful. Imagine pulling up a Cyprus-lined driveway, surrounded by olive groves, to hear only the rhythmic sound of the cicadas (and of course the odd popping of a cork).
We've explored so many exquisitely ancient towns. You'd be fascinated by the Cistercian Abbeys nearby. The local markets are an explosion of colour, sound, and life.
And the food! From a local Michelin-starred restaurant that specializes in truffles to a tiny, rustic resto with a garden terrace overlooking Mont Ventoux, and back to our very own outdoor grill, we've had some meals to die for.
Tomorrow we set out to hike the Callanques, the magnificent cliff trails, into the secluded beaches near Cassis. Then back to Paris for our last few nights in the Marais where we'll finish with a private visit of a fashion atelier and dinner at the Chef's table...you won't believe where?
Let us know if you've always wanted to discover your own French artist in his Provencal studio amidst the olive groves.
(416) 366-2777 or tripdesign@quenchtravel.com
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