If you’re like me, when you go to the mall in the autumn months, you always stop by those little calendar stands. I don’t 
usually
buy a calendar, but I enjoy taking a look at the pictures. Many of the
calendars had amazing pictures of small little houses nestled right into
a field of lavender with the rows crawling right up to the door. Tired
of seeing South France through a camera lens, I decided I needed to
check out these purple-lawned cottages for myself.
As one of France’s most famously picturesque regions, Provence is packed full of worthy destinations. I chose to make Avignon my base camp. It is a lovely, mid-sized city with plenty of restaurants, shops, history, and day-trip opportunities to make for a great lavender scented vacation escape.
When we arrived in Avignon on June 21st, to my surprise we were greeted by thick traffic and large crowds; not exactly what I expected. But there was actually a rather fortunate reason for all the hustle and bustle. It turns out that on this particular day in France, the national Fête de la Musique (Festival of Music) is held. People pour into the cities to enjoy free concerts held simultaneously throughout the streets.
After making our way down the Rue de la Rèpublique and winding through the narrow lanes past multiple performances ranging in genre from rock to what might be called French folk, the streets opened up to a tree lined city square. Around the edges, people watched from sidewalk cafes while a crowd formed around the stage set in the middle of the square. As our curiosity drew us closer, I recognized the distinct sound of Michael Jackson’s hit "Beat It".
Despite the fact that many of Jackson’s hits debuted before I was born, I can appreciate his music. This particular rendition, however, was, shall we say… "unique". The
French accents coupled with the general difficulty of reproducing Jackson’s sound left me feeling as if I were at Friday night karaoke. No matter. Everyone was singing along and having fun.
Provence’s famous lavender fields tend to bloom in the summer months once the warm weather has set in. During this time, much of the countryside comes alive with color and fragrance. Organized tours of the surrounding lavender farms are available in Avignon.
The only problem with this form of ecotourism is that nature doesn’t always operate on the same time schedule. If you come too early, the lavender may not have bloomed. If you come too late, it may have already been harvested, so read the weather predictions and give it your best estimate when booking your trip.
One big advantage of Avignon is its proximity to other destinations in Provence. Other cities and towns in the region are accessible by train, bus, or car from the city. Day trips to Orange or Aix-en-Provence will certainly be worth the time.
The small stone-carved hilltop town of Gordes is only a bus ride away. After exploring the town and market, set out for the active Cistercian monastery, Abbaye de Sénanque, located nearby. The monks that live there still cultivate and harvest lavender on the grounds, which is then made into a variety of products that can be purchased in the cloister gift shop and all the proceeds go to support the monastery. When the crop outside is in full bloom, the abbey is nothing short of breathtaking.
Visiting some of the surrounding towns can be difficult if you only have a limited amount of time to stay because of the
awkward
bus schedules, so plan your day trips in advance to avoid missing your
transportation. For those who love to get out and do some hiking or
biking, the surrounding area offers the perfect opportunity with rolling
hills, open valleys, and challenging ridgelines.
Avignon itself has plenty to offer as well. After all, it’s no coincidence that Pope Clement V moved the papacy there after leaving Rome in 1305, beginning an important event in European history creatively known as the "Avignon Papacy". There on the east bank of the Rhône River, they built a magnificent palace. Its thick gray stone walls were erected to protect the pope and house the new church administration. Tours of the Palais des Papes are available inside the visitors’ entrance.
Just past the palace, a path leads up to a lovely tree lined garden perfect for an afternoon picnic in the shade. In the center of the garden is a little pond and, for those who forgot to pack their lunch, a small café with sandwiches, drinks, and ice cream.
Tables are set up next to the café and plenty of benches sit along the pebble path that meanders around the pond, providing ample opportunity to sit down and enjoy your food, feed the ducks, or just relax. After lunch, wander around a bit. Its elevated position provides excellent views of vineyards, castles, the river, and the gray tiled rooftops of the city.
Provence is a region with a famously beautiful landscape, plenty of history, and an easy-going, relaxed lifestyle. Being so idealized, it would be easy to build up great expectations that would be difficult for most destinations to meet. Avignon and the surrounding area, however, offer more than enough beauty, action, and relaxation to meet even the highest hopes.
usually
buy a calendar, but I enjoy taking a look at the pictures. Many of the
calendars had amazing pictures of small little houses nestled right into
a field of lavender with the rows crawling right up to the door. Tired
of seeing South France through a camera lens, I decided I needed to
check out these purple-lawned cottages for myself. As one of France’s most famously picturesque regions, Provence is packed full of worthy destinations. I chose to make Avignon my base camp. It is a lovely, mid-sized city with plenty of restaurants, shops, history, and day-trip opportunities to make for a great lavender scented vacation escape.
When we arrived in Avignon on June 21st, to my surprise we were greeted by thick traffic and large crowds; not exactly what I expected. But there was actually a rather fortunate reason for all the hustle and bustle. It turns out that on this particular day in France, the national Fête de la Musique (Festival of Music) is held. People pour into the cities to enjoy free concerts held simultaneously throughout the streets.
After making our way down the Rue de la Rèpublique and winding through the narrow lanes past multiple performances ranging in genre from rock to what might be called French folk, the streets opened up to a tree lined city square. Around the edges, people watched from sidewalk cafes while a crowd formed around the stage set in the middle of the square. As our curiosity drew us closer, I recognized the distinct sound of Michael Jackson’s hit "Beat It".
Despite the fact that many of Jackson’s hits debuted before I was born, I can appreciate his music. This particular rendition, however, was, shall we say… "unique". The
French accents coupled with the general difficulty of reproducing Jackson’s sound left me feeling as if I were at Friday night karaoke. No matter. Everyone was singing along and having fun.Provence’s famous lavender fields tend to bloom in the summer months once the warm weather has set in. During this time, much of the countryside comes alive with color and fragrance. Organized tours of the surrounding lavender farms are available in Avignon.
The only problem with this form of ecotourism is that nature doesn’t always operate on the same time schedule. If you come too early, the lavender may not have bloomed. If you come too late, it may have already been harvested, so read the weather predictions and give it your best estimate when booking your trip.
One big advantage of Avignon is its proximity to other destinations in Provence. Other cities and towns in the region are accessible by train, bus, or car from the city. Day trips to Orange or Aix-en-Provence will certainly be worth the time.
The small stone-carved hilltop town of Gordes is only a bus ride away. After exploring the town and market, set out for the active Cistercian monastery, Abbaye de Sénanque, located nearby. The monks that live there still cultivate and harvest lavender on the grounds, which is then made into a variety of products that can be purchased in the cloister gift shop and all the proceeds go to support the monastery. When the crop outside is in full bloom, the abbey is nothing short of breathtaking.
Visiting some of the surrounding towns can be difficult if you only have a limited amount of time to stay because of the
awkward
bus schedules, so plan your day trips in advance to avoid missing your
transportation. For those who love to get out and do some hiking or
biking, the surrounding area offers the perfect opportunity with rolling
hills, open valleys, and challenging ridgelines. Avignon itself has plenty to offer as well. After all, it’s no coincidence that Pope Clement V moved the papacy there after leaving Rome in 1305, beginning an important event in European history creatively known as the "Avignon Papacy". There on the east bank of the Rhône River, they built a magnificent palace. Its thick gray stone walls were erected to protect the pope and house the new church administration. Tours of the Palais des Papes are available inside the visitors’ entrance.
Just past the palace, a path leads up to a lovely tree lined garden perfect for an afternoon picnic in the shade. In the center of the garden is a little pond and, for those who forgot to pack their lunch, a small café with sandwiches, drinks, and ice cream.
Tables are set up next to the café and plenty of benches sit along the pebble path that meanders around the pond, providing ample opportunity to sit down and enjoy your food, feed the ducks, or just relax. After lunch, wander around a bit. Its elevated position provides excellent views of vineyards, castles, the river, and the gray tiled rooftops of the city.
Provence is a region with a famously beautiful landscape, plenty of history, and an easy-going, relaxed lifestyle. Being so idealized, it would be easy to build up great expectations that would be difficult for most destinations to meet. Avignon and the surrounding area, however, offer more than enough beauty, action, and relaxation to meet even the highest hopes.
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