Scott "Serge" Bernhard - tour director Elroy "Elroi" Christenson - managing director

"South of France: Colour, Light and Wine"
(click each picture for an enlarged version)

This is a bit of a change for us since most of our previous tours have been for three weeks and this one is two.  Also we have fewer stop with longer stays in the ones that we do make.  We also will be doing the driving ourselves as we did when we first started touring together back in 1990.  We intend to make this tour a more in depth study of the regions in which we stay.  We plan for more time for language, culture and art works.  These are some of our favorite locations in France which we have always felt we could spend more time. 

St Emilion Vineyard

Day 1 - St-Emilion – two nights St-Emilion, a beautiful little wine village east of Bordeaux, is a fascinating mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance and boasts an incredible monolithic church (carved out of solid rock).   In addition to touring the town and its monuments, our focus while in St-Emilion will, of course, be on the vineyards of the surrounding area with visits planned to local wine châteaux.

St Emilion Rooftops

Days 2 - July, -  St. Emiion Great wine, nice restaurants, cycling opportunities, the usual ballooning option – and, of course, boules. We hope you've heard of Bordeaux wine,  if not we're happy to introduce you to it's richness.	Bordeaux Wine
Days 3 - July ?- Sarlat de Caneda(Dordorgne)	Sarlat – three nights We’ll head east out of St-Emilion toward the vineyards of Bergerac and ultimately into the Perigord region – one of our favorites.  We’ll plant ourselves in Sarlat and day-trip out to some of the most beautiful villages in France
Day 4 - July ? - Sarlat We’ll see the classic cliff-edged “bastide” of Domme, canoe on the Dordogne and see the authentic prehistoric cave paintings of Font de Gaume.  We’ll also make sure to be in Sarlat for one of the best Saturday markets in France.  French lessons, art lessons, canoeing lessons, drinking lessons, and boules.   Les Eyzies Day 5 - July ? - Sarlat/Rocamadour We’ll take the whole day today to explore this beautiful region.	Chateau Beynac Rocamadour
Sarlat market square	Day 5 – July ? – Sarlat- Market day The medieval / Renaissance town of Sarlat on Saturday morning is one of the largest and most picturesque open-air markets in France.  You’ll have the whole morning to take in the sights and smells of market day while you help us select the provisions for a group picnic.  After lunch, it’s on to the celebrated perched pilgrimage village of Rocamadour where we’ll stay for the next two nights and discover why thousands of pilgrims still flock to the village at certain times of the year.

Day 6 – July ? – Caunes-Minervois – three nights On our way south to the village of Caunes and our 3-night stay in a 16th century town house, we’ll stop off at St-Cirq-la-Popie, a bonafide “big wow” village perched on a cliff overlooking the Lot river.  There may be another prehistoric cave visit in the area as well.

St. Cirq-Le-Popie

Day 7 – July ?– Caunes/ Minerve/ Carcassonne Time allowing, we’ll stop at Albi, the red-brick city to visit the fortress cathedral of Ste-Cecile and the Toulouse-Lautrec museum.	Minerve
Carcassonne	Day 8 – July? – Caunes/ Minerve/ Carcassonne While in Caunes, we’ll day-trip to Carcassonne, the best-preserved medieval walled city in Europe and east to spectacularly situated Minerve where several Cathar faithful were burned as heretics.  We’ll, of course, make a stop at one of the local vineyards.
Bridge in Vaison-la-Romaine	Day 9 -Vaison-la-Romaine – three nights There is plenty to do in this ancient Roman town, even if you’ve been there before.  Cycling, canoeing, wine tasting, village hopping, hiking, French lessons, Art lessons, boules.  Plus a day trip to the Luberon and Peter Mayle country.  At this time of year much of the lavender and sunflower fields will still be in bloom.

Day 10 and 11– July ?– Vaison-la-Romaine Art and French lessons and “boules” are possible options for the late afternoon before dinner on your own.  Bouillabaisse anyone? There is also some of the best red wine of France. Vaison region

Vaison-la-Romaine fountain

Day 11 – July ? – Cassis - two nights Further south we go to the Mediterranean to spend a couple of nights in the gorgeous old fishing port of Cassis.	Port at Cassis
Beach at Cassis	Day 12 – July? – Cassis Hike out or rent a small boat to reach the Calanques, the beautiful fjord-like inlets between Cassis and Marseille.  With our minivans we’ll be able to park in town and we can day-trip out to other villages or go into Marseille.
Day 13 – July ?– Villefranche Sur Mer/Nice/ St Paul de Vence  - one or two nights The last stop will be on the Mediteranean at one of our favorite village.  Every view is picturesque.	Villefranche-Sur-Mer from the upper corniche.

Villefranche Sur Mer from the harbor

Day 14 or 15– July ? – Villefranche Sur Mer We’ll end the tour in either Nice or Villefranche and say goodbye at a “nice” final group dinner.