Provence

ARLES – a charming town boasting many important Roman remains.  Its position on the River Rhone makes it a natural historic gateway to the Camargue. Visits in the town will include the Roman Amphitheatre, considered one of the best preserved monuments of Roman Provence, the Roman Theatre, which was once a fortress and now acts as home to the Arles Festival, and the 12th century church of St Trophime, renowned for its Romanesque sculpture. Visits include the following:

• LES BAUX DE PROVENCE – dominated by its deserted citadel, the living village below retains Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance detail and many of the houses are hewn out of bare rock.
• ST RÉMY DE PROVENCE – renowned as the birthplace of the prophet Nostradamus. A town of tree-lined boulevards, narrow streets and fountains, Vincent Van Gogh spent a year here, and his work The Wheat Field and The Ravine were among many he produced during his time in St Rémy.
• GLANUM – to visit the Ruins of Glanum (Fouilles de Glanum), which were originally excavated in 1921 to reveal a 5th century B.C. Celtic town, which was later developed by the Romans into a thriving army base and spa town. It is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in France.

AIX EN PROVENCE – formerly the capital of Provence and often known as ‘the city of a thousand fountains’.  These, combined with the quiet squares, fine mansion houses and delightful streets and alleyways, make it one of France’s most beautiful cities.  Visits include the following:

• GRANET MUSEUM – houses an ever-expanding collection including works by Ingres, Degas, Renoir, Gauguin, Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and Bonnard.
• THE ATÉLIER CÉZANNE – where Cézanne spent many hours contemplating and creating his works. The studio has been preserved as it was when he died in 1906.
• LA MONTAGNE SAINTE-VICTOIRE – a small village enjoying a mountain landscape surrounded by vineyards and olive and cypress trees that inspired many of Cézanne’s paintings.
• ORANGE – the historical town of Orange contains two of the finest Roman monuments in Europe, the Théâtre Antique d’Orange, known for its world famous concerts, and the Arc de Triomphe, which celebrates Julius Caesar’s conquest of the Gauls and victory over the Greek fleet.
• VAISON LA ROMAINE – situated between the Alps and the Mediterranean, at the foot of Mont Ventoux. The town prospered during the Roman period and its connections to this era are still very much in evidence. The ancient town and beautiful patrician homes can be seen at the Puymin site, and the nearby La Villasse site occupies what had been the affluent neighbourhood, with shops and sumptuous homes.

AVIGNON – located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Durance, Avignon is renowned for its ramparts and the Saint Bènezat Bridge (from the song ‘sur le pont d’Avignon’). Visits will include the following:

• PALAIS DES PAPES – the residence of the pontiffs exiled from Rome; the papal court resided here from 1309 to 1377, during which time the modest Episcopal dwelling was transformed into a magnificent palace.
• MUSEE ANGLADON – houses an excellent collection including works by Cezanne, Sisley, Manet, Degas and Picasso. The highlight of the collection is the Railway Wagons by Van Gogh, the only painting by the artist on display in Provence.
• MUSÉE LAPIDAIRE (Lapidary Museum) – housed in the 17th century Jesuit College chapel, the collection includes sculptures from the Greek, Etruscan, Gallo-Roman, and Paleo-Christian periods in addition to sarcophagi, ancient vases, bronzes and glassware.
• FORT ST. ANDRE – commissioned in the late 13th century by Philip the Fair, the fort stood at the frontier with the Holy Roman Empire and near the papal residence in Avignon. Its strategic significance, however, declined in 1480 when Provence became part of France. Soldiers continued to occupy the site until 1792.

NIMES – Another pivotal outpost of the Roman Empire, it is often referred to as the ‘Rome of France’ due to its well preserved Roman monuments.  Visits include the following:

• MAISON CARREE – inspired by the temples of Apollo and Mars Ultor in Rome, it is one of the best preserved Roman temples, constructed under the orders of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa who was also the patron of the Pantheon in Rome.
• THE ROMAN AMPITHEATRE – a perfect illustration of the degree of perfection attained by Roman engineers in designing and constructing this type of extremely complex building, it demonstrates perfect symmetry.
• PORTE D’AUGUSTE – the gate was built to take both horsemen and carriages, as the Domitian Way, the main road from Rome to Spain, passed through the centre of the town.
• JARDINS DE LA FONTAINE – the first public garden to be opened in France and among the first in Europe, created in the 18th century on the site of the sacred spring of Celtic god Nemausus, from whom the city takes its name.
• PONT DU GARD – an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard, built as three tiers of archways to bring water to the city of Nîmes. The highest of all elevated Roman aqueducts, and one of the best preserved.
• MUSEE DES BEAUX ARTS – located in a building dating from the early 20th century, the collection boasts Italian paintings from the 14th to the 18th century, Flemish and Dutch works from the 16th and 17th century as well as French paintings from the 17th to the 20th century.