Pilgrim Tours

Southern France Tour

May 1-10, 2009

Day 1: Departure
Today we begin our 10-day getaway with an overnight flight to Zurich.

Day 2: Arrive Zurich
After arrival in Zurich, we have time for sightseeing and shopping as we anticipate this tour to Southern France. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Montana, Zurich, Switzerland.

Day 3: Motorway of the Sun, Provence
We leave Zurich and travel south to lake Geneva, enter France and continue to Lyon. Here, we will take route A7 (Autoroute du Soleil in French, or in English, Motorway of the Sun) to our host city, Orange, in the Provence region of southeastern France. This is one of the most rewarding and most visited parts of France. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mercure, in Orange.

Day 4: Orange, Roman France
Today we will visit the charming city of Orange, renown as the “Gateway to the Provence” and also for its spectacular Roman monuments. We will see the Triumphal Arch, built in 10 B.C. with its fabulous reliefs and, of course, the well-preserved Roman Theatre that is still used today and most appreciated for its excellent acoustics. Following our guided city stroll, we will be able to visit the Arena for a fee. Then on to Pont du Gard, one of the best known landmarks of southern France, built around 19 B.C., as an aqueduct to carry water to Nimes, 25 miles away. This is the highest bridge ever built by the ancient Romans. Other highlights include a panoramic drive that takes us to the romantic wilderness of the Ardeche. We will also view the stone arch of Vallon-Pont-d’ Arc. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mercure in Orange.

Day 5: Medieval Avignon
This morning, we will visit the city of Avignon, the ancient city of the popes. The city boasts one of the most beautiful medieval cities of France. A most spectacular memory will be Avignon’s most famous bridge, St. Benezet Bridge, built in the 12th century over the Rhone River. Only four of its originally seventeen arches are still standing. After our guided visit, we will enjoy a scenic drive to the ruins of Les Baux de Provence set in a typical Provence landscape. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mercure in Orange.

Day 6: Van Gogh’s Arles, Camargue Natural Park
We begin with an excursion to Arles and the Camargue. Arles, a small town, lies on the edge of the Camargue’s Natural Park. It is most famous for two things—its Romans ruins and its association with the painter Van Gogh. While living in Arles, Van Gogh painted over 300 pictures, including “Sun Flowers.” We will have a guided city tour of Arles, including seeing the inside of the Roman Amphitheatre. Built between the 1st and 2nd centuries, it is a large round structure once used for gladiatorial competitions. Leaving Arles, we will drive through the Camargue’s Natural Park, an area famous for its very attractive fauna (animals, birds, etc.) and flora (flowers and plants), amazing ponds and plains. The symbol for the Camargue is a cross for faith, heart for love, and an anchor for home. You will see this symbol quite often in this area.

Day 7: , Mediterranean
We will stop in the Gipsy town of St. Maries de la Mer, which attracts people from all over the world and is famous for its folklore music. The fortress-like church in the center of town dates back to the 9th-15th centuries. From the roof of the church, there are excellent views of the town and of the Mediterranean Sea. At one of the churches, there are bells suspended in archways that play as the wind passes through the open spaces. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mercure in Orange.

Day 8: Alpine France
This morning, depending on weather conditions, we will drive over the legendary Mont Ventoux and are sure to be rewarded with a spectacular view into the Vaucluse and the Luberon mountains. We will drive on to Sault and our lunch stop in the charming small town of Fontaine de Vaucluse. Later in the afternoon, a photo stop will be made at the hilltop town of Gordes. Its castle was built in the 16th century. Before returning to our hotel, we will visit the old abbey of Senanque, which is set among the lush lavender fields. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mercure in Orange.

Day 8: Cevennes National Park
Leaving Orange this morning, our hotel for six nights, we will travel west-northwest through the Cevennes National Park. Today’s tour highlight will be the scenic drive through the Tarn River gorge, one of Frances’ most spectacular natural areas. Our destination is Clermont-Ferrand, capital of the volcanic Auvergne region. Dinner and overnight in Clermont-Ferrand.

Day 9: Switzerland
Today we will travel through France’s Burgundy region, noted for their vineyards, and enter Switzerland’s gateway city of Basel. We will continue through Switzerland and arrive in Zurich for our last night at Hotel Montana. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Montana in Zurich.

Day 10: Home
We leave from the Zurich-Kloten Airport for our return flight to the States.