Dave Hilbert's
SoftSeatTravel
SoftSeatTravel
The walled towns continued their building stages into
the 12 Th and 14 Th Centuries while many rulers
came and went including the Popes who resided at
Avignon from 1309 to 1376 and built impressive
castles. In recent years, these towns have been home
and motif to Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Picasso.
the 12 Th and 14 Th Centuries while many rulers
came and went including the Popes who resided at
Avignon from 1309 to 1376 and built impressive
castles. In recent years, these towns have been home
and motif to Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Picasso.
| Renting A House In Provence |
While biking and hiking in the hills of Provence
you can meet the people of Provence: farmers
mostly who work the land and cherish their
traditions. They are a friendly people who love
tradition and festival.
Some villages have June Camargue bull
spectacle with the guardians on their white
horses galloping through the streets. (Mouries)
Many of the villages hold festivals throughout
the year that include ancient music, dance,
horsemanship, and bull fighting.
Arles bull spectacles, Eygaleires Camargue
traditions
Where Is Provence:
Provence, an agricultural area of Southern
France, covers Montelimar in the north to
the Mediterranean, from Nice in the
southeast to the Saintes Maries de la
Mere on the Rhone River Delta.
Roman ruins, Medieval walled cities,
Renaissance art and architecture in fabled
towns like Roman-built Arles and
Aix-en-Provence, along with Solon de
Provence, home of Nostradamus, and St.
Remy, haunt of the Impressionist painters
make up the cities and villages of
Provence.
Avignon is one of the main cities and has
a high-speed train station (TGV) with
rental cars.
Arles is another city in Provence with bus
transportation and a train station.
Marseilles in the south has a major airport,
train station, rental cars and RVs . and bus
service..
Provence, an agricultural area of Southern
France, covers Montelimar in the north to
the Mediterranean, from Nice in the
southeast to the Saintes Maries de la
Mere on the Rhone River Delta.
Roman ruins, Medieval walled cities,
Renaissance art and architecture in fabled
towns like Roman-built Arles and
Aix-en-Provence, along with Solon de
Provence, home of Nostradamus, and St.
Remy, haunt of the Impressionist painters
make up the cities and villages of
Provence.
Avignon is one of the main cities and has
a high-speed train station (TGV) with
rental cars.
Arles is another city in Provence with bus
transportation and a train station.
Marseilles in the south has a major airport,
train station, rental cars and RVs . and bus
service..
Provence makes a great place for a culinary
vacation in this region rich in history, an area
largely overlooked by international tourist except
those that tour coastal Provence while visiting
Cannes, Nice, and St Tropez: the Cote d' Azur to
French speakers, the French Riviera in English.
Celebrity chefs like Julia Child put Provence on the
American cooking vacation circuit with her
cookbooks and her praise for the bouillabaisse of
Marseille (30 to 60 Euros a plate in Marseille's Old
Port restaurants), and the simple fare of the region
based on fresh produce and olive oil.
Low fat cooking and recipes based on fresh
vegetables have their appeal and there is no place
better to learn to cook Provence style than in
Provence.
vacation in this region rich in history, an area
largely overlooked by international tourist except
those that tour coastal Provence while visiting
Cannes, Nice, and St Tropez: the Cote d' Azur to
French speakers, the French Riviera in English.
Celebrity chefs like Julia Child put Provence on the
American cooking vacation circuit with her
cookbooks and her praise for the bouillabaisse of
Marseille (30 to 60 Euros a plate in Marseille's Old
Port restaurants), and the simple fare of the region
based on fresh produce and olive oil.
Low fat cooking and recipes based on fresh
vegetables have their appeal and there is no place
better to learn to cook Provence style than in
Provence.
France, Renting In Provence, Provence Home Page
Vacation South of France
Tradition
The hills and valleys of Provence were inhabited
as far back as Neolithic times and still have rock
tombs of early settlers. Later, nomadic
shepherds built corbel vaulted beehive-like
structures of stone called bories, with an
estimated 3000 still standing around Gordes
and Saignon.
Germanic Celtic tribes and Italian Ligurians
inhabited Provence before the Greek (600 BC)
and later Roman settlers (100 BC) built
permanent dwellings of stone.
From the first century BC to the third century AD
the Romans built an extensive road system
throughout Provence, the best example
perhaps, the first century Julian Bridge on the
road between Gordes and Lacoste that, until
recently, carried automobile traffic over the
Coulon River, a feeder of the Durance River.
as far back as Neolithic times and still have rock
tombs of early settlers. Later, nomadic
shepherds built corbel vaulted beehive-like
structures of stone called bories, with an
estimated 3000 still standing around Gordes
and Saignon.
Germanic Celtic tribes and Italian Ligurians
inhabited Provence before the Greek (600 BC)
and later Roman settlers (100 BC) built
permanent dwellings of stone.
From the first century BC to the third century AD
the Romans built an extensive road system
throughout Provence, the best example
perhaps, the first century Julian Bridge on the
road between Gordes and Lacoste that, until
recently, carried automobile traffic over the
Coulon River, a feeder of the Durance River.
History
Provence might surprise you with its hiking,
biking, and climbing opportunities. Trails connect
most villages
Even with the dollar discounted around 30 percent,
Provence still can be a value when you rent a house
or vacation rental apartment.
May and June, and in September and October, the
months when the European travelers are back to
work and not on their six-week July/August vacations
is the best time to visit the storybook villages full of
ancient stone buildings with tile roofs and narrow
cobble streets open only to pedestrians.
Lavender fields of rich purple become ripe in June
and July lending a colorful backdrop to the 12Th
Century chapels crowning the hilltops in the
Medieval walled villages as you hike of bike. .
Farming of rice in the south and wheat and lavender
in the north along with raising of sheep and the
practice of viticulture and olive production are the
primary industries in largely rural Provence.
biking, and climbing opportunities. Trails connect
most villages
Even with the dollar discounted around 30 percent,
Provence still can be a value when you rent a house
or vacation rental apartment.
May and June, and in September and October, the
months when the European travelers are back to
work and not on their six-week July/August vacations
is the best time to visit the storybook villages full of
ancient stone buildings with tile roofs and narrow
cobble streets open only to pedestrians.
Lavender fields of rich purple become ripe in June
and July lending a colorful backdrop to the 12Th
Century chapels crowning the hilltops in the
Medieval walled villages as you hike of bike. .
Farming of rice in the south and wheat and lavender
in the north along with raising of sheep and the
practice of viticulture and olive production are the
primary industries in largely rural Provence.
Hiking Biking Kayaking
You will find many choices of rental houses but if you
are on a culinary vacation you will we needed a full
kitchen to practice Provence cooking. Many landlords
cater to the hobby cook and provide a full kitchen
including the spices. A gas stove with an oven can
make the kitchen complete.
If you settle in for a brief period of living the village life,
shopping for the daily provisions, and cooking with the
locally grown produce, a market within walking distance
can be handy..
From your rental you can make day trips by rental car
or public bus to surrounding hill towns.
The olive groves and vineyards provide great hiking,
biking, horseback riding, with the rivers and Alpiles
providing kayaking and cliff climbing. Renting a house,
even if it just for a week or two, is a good and
economical way to enjoy all that Provence has to offer.
are on a culinary vacation you will we needed a full
kitchen to practice Provence cooking. Many landlords
cater to the hobby cook and provide a full kitchen
including the spices. A gas stove with an oven can
make the kitchen complete.
If you settle in for a brief period of living the village life,
shopping for the daily provisions, and cooking with the
locally grown produce, a market within walking distance
can be handy..
From your rental you can make day trips by rental car
or public bus to surrounding hill towns.
The olive groves and vineyards provide great hiking,
biking, horseback riding, with the rivers and Alpiles
providing kayaking and cliff climbing. Renting a house,
even if it just for a week or two, is a good and
economical way to enjoy all that Provence has to offer.
| Renting a House |
Rental houses and rental villas can accommodate
several families or just two people. When your search
begins on the web, start first with the number of
people in your group.
several families or just two people. When your search
begins on the web, start first with the number of
people in your group.
| Vacation Rentals: How Many People |
The regions of Provence are called departments
and include Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute
Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhone, Var,
Vaucluse, and the Drome Provencale.
Start a search with either the region you desire or
the price range you seek. Some villages are more
expensive than others but the area is well served by
good roads so that you can base in one place and
reach many villages and walled cities in an hours
drive.
Provence Rental Houses and Apartments
Transportation will be of crucial importance. Will you
have a rental car? (35-70 USD per day and plentiful
in the major cities and TGV stations) If not, lodging
in one of the larger towns or cities would be a better
option unless you want the solitude and isolation of
a country villa or retreat.
Provence Rental Cars
Transportation: Local buses make trips between
major cities stopping at towns and villages along the
way. Schedule.
France: Exchange Rates ; prices for rentals could
list in Euros or the British Pound.
and include Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute
Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhone, Var,
Vaucluse, and the Drome Provencale.
Start a search with either the region you desire or
the price range you seek. Some villages are more
expensive than others but the area is well served by
good roads so that you can base in one place and
reach many villages and walled cities in an hours
drive.
Provence Rental Houses and Apartments
Transportation will be of crucial importance. Will you
have a rental car? (35-70 USD per day and plentiful
in the major cities and TGV stations) If not, lodging
in one of the larger towns or cities would be a better
option unless you want the solitude and isolation of
a country villa or retreat.
Provence Rental Cars
Transportation: Local buses make trips between
major cities stopping at towns and villages along the
way. Schedule.
France: Exchange Rates ; prices for rentals could
list in Euros or the British Pound.
Rental in What Region
Medieval Castles
English writer Peter Mayle's "A Year In Provence,"
prompted a herd of Europeans to fan out in the
countryside of the Luberon and Vaucluse looking
for distressed cottages and old farms to buy as
fix-up vacation homes and rentals. These rentals
are now available to the vacationer, hiker biker, or
hobby chef on a culinary vacation.
You can start your search for a vacation rental on
the web and see what is available.. The countryside
of Provence has changed little in five hundred
years. No massive development, no malls, and just
a few high-speed roads. The one major innovation,
the high-speed TGV train; with top speeds of 180
MPH put Avignon two and a half hours from Paris.
prompted a herd of Europeans to fan out in the
countryside of the Luberon and Vaucluse looking
for distressed cottages and old farms to buy as
fix-up vacation homes and rentals. These rentals
are now available to the vacationer, hiker biker, or
hobby chef on a culinary vacation.
You can start your search for a vacation rental on
the web and see what is available.. The countryside
of Provence has changed little in five hundred
years. No massive development, no malls, and just
a few high-speed roads. The one major innovation,
the high-speed TGV train; with top speeds of 180
MPH put Avignon two and a half hours from Paris.
A Year In Provence
A Villa or Vacation rental
at the foot of a walled city
could accommodate up
to 15 or more and give
good access to
recreation, culture,
shopping
at the foot of a walled city
could accommodate up
to 15 or more and give
good access to
recreation, culture,
shopping
Saignon on the hilltop
overlooking Apt is
postcard perfect and
near enough to the larger
city to offer transportation
overlooking Apt is
postcard perfect and
near enough to the larger
city to offer transportation
Arles was a roman city in
the first century
the first century
A limited menu family run
mom and pop style
restaurant in the Village of
Apt, La Manade on Rue
Rene Cassin should not be
missed
mom and pop style
restaurant in the Village of
Apt, La Manade on Rue
Rene Cassin should not be
missed
Avignon Palace of the Popes
Plane Trees
(Sycamore)
(Sycamore)
Non-lethal bull fighting
Markets in Arles
Season: High, Mid, Low
High: July August
Mid: April, May June, September, October,and
School Vacations
Low: November,December, January, February,
March
High: July August
Mid: April, May June, September, October,and
School Vacations
Low: November,December, January, February,
March
Text and Photos David Hilbert
The Palace of the Popes in Avignon
The Roman Arena in Arles
still hosts bull fights
still hosts bull fights
The Roman Theatre in Arles
| Culinary Vacation in Provence |
| Culinary Vacation |
| Renting a House or Vacation Rental In Provence for Hiking, Biking, and the Culinary Vacation |
Each village has its
market day
market day
Provence Cooking
Non lethal bull fighting,
a Provence tradition
a Provence tradition
Copyright Soft Seat Travel
David Hilbert's www.SoftSeatTravel.com info@SoftSeatTravel.com
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A great way to
save money
on a Provence
vacation is to
rent a house
for the week
or two or
longer
save money
on a Provence
vacation is to
rent a house
for the week
or two or
longer
Do You need an International Driving Permit to
Drive in Europe.
In France and Italy you can rent a car and do not need to
show an International Permit, only your drivers license
Italian law, however, requires that..... see Article
Drive in Europe.
In France and Italy you can rent a car and do not need to
show an International Permit, only your drivers license
Italian law, however, requires that..... see Article
No Passing for
commercial
vehicles
commercial
vehicles
No Passing
zone ends
zone ends
| Rotary with yield to traffic in rotary |
| Check Auto Europe's prices and availability, gas or diesel models |
SoftSeatTravel.com is affiliated with Auto Europe because we like their selection, price, and ease of
booking on the web. . Shop online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel (more economical) or gas,
luggage space,(important) standard or automatic,(important) two door, four door and other options. Renting
for more than 17 days; see their options see renting a vehicle in Provence
booking on the web. . Shop online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel (more economical) or gas,
luggage space,(important) standard or automatic,(important) two door, four door and other options. Renting
for more than 17 days; see their options see renting a vehicle in Provence
Speed limits will be clearly marked and the Rotary will be a welcome site with its directions to various
towns. Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are
available in all large cities and at many TGV Train Stations..
towns. Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are
available in all large cities and at many TGV Train Stations..
Information for those renting a vehicle in Provence
Copyright Soft Seat Travel
Dave Hilbert's www.SoftSeatTravel.com info@SoftSeatTravel.com
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Provence:
Provence's agricultural heritage has
spawned a unique style of cooking with
many regional variations that depend
on the available produce.
The northern regions around
Montelimar and the mountains can be
arid and sparse while to the south on
the Mediterranean, the dishes will
include fish and rice.
Along the Rhone River Delta, wine and
olives grow in abundance amid Roman
ruins and below the Medieval walled
cities.
In the flat grasslands of the Camargue
of the rhone River delta, rice is plentiful.
East of Avignon you will find the June
lavender fields turning purple and the
sunflowers in bloom.
In the region around Arles you will see
intense olive oil production and
vineyards.
Marseilles in the south has a large
seafood market at the head of the old
port.
Provence's agricultural heritage has
spawned a unique style of cooking with
many regional variations that depend
on the available produce.
The northern regions around
Montelimar and the mountains can be
arid and sparse while to the south on
the Mediterranean, the dishes will
include fish and rice.
Along the Rhone River Delta, wine and
olives grow in abundance amid Roman
ruins and below the Medieval walled
cities.
In the flat grasslands of the Camargue
of the rhone River delta, rice is plentiful.
East of Avignon you will find the June
lavender fields turning purple and the
sunflowers in bloom.
In the region around Arles you will see
intense olive oil production and
vineyards.
Marseilles in the south has a large
seafood market at the head of the old
port.