Dates July 9–21, 2006
Leaders Patrice Aguilar
and John Shaw
Fee $5,495 from Marseille, France
Deposit $400
Limit 16
Terms and Conditions

To enter the south of France is to cross an unseen border. The air is warmer, the pace slower, the fragrances pungent and the light-filled setting spectacular. The region has the mildest climate in France: hot, mainly dry summers, and warm, mild winters near the sea. Provence, the irresistible epitome of France, draws artists and photographers with its impressionistic palette of colors and sensuous landscapes. And no Provencal landscapes are more iconic than the rows of purple lavender and fields of brightly-colored sunflowers under the brilliance of the clear blue southern sky.

About 150 BC, ancient Greek colonies along this Mediterranean coast were invaded by Rome, which turned the area into a prosperous Roman province—or Provence. The Roman influence is visible everywhere today, with an astonishing number of arenas, theaters, temples, bridges and aqueducts—preserved by mild weather and excellent construction. They are rich in photographic possibilities. When the Romans withdrew from the area in the 5th century, Provence suffered from numerous invasions followed by a period of anarchy and decline before its union with France in 1482.

Yet, although 500 years have passed, Provence today is still a markedly different countryside from the rest of France. The mood is set by the charm of the tiled roofs of its distinct country homes and barns, of lush river valleys and the marshlands of the Camargue delta. The sun-drenched villages and the allure of alfresco food and drink create an open-air lifestyle that rewards photographers with images of outdoor produce, flower and antiques markets, and groups of men playing boules in a town square. Bustling narrow streets, ancient buildings and outdoor tables at one of the most famous boulevards of cafés in France are all part of the Provencal picture.

We have timed our tour for midsummer at the start of the lavender field harvest when the landscapes are luminous. We will visit Peter Mayle country—the amazing Pont du Gard, van Gogh’s Saint Rémy de Provence, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue and Sault, in the heart of lavender country.

Join us as we explore beautiful Provence at its best. Daydream among the sweet-scented fig trees and silvery olive groves, linger over a glass of wine and plate of Brie and create a wealth of photographic images and lasting memories.


Day 1
Depart from home.

 Day 2
Arrive in Marseille. (D)
Day 3
We drive today to Saint Rémy, with its market, tree-lined boulevards, fountains and narrow streets. This is the birthplace of Nostradamus and where van Gogh painted “Starry Night.” The afternoon, including sunset, will be at the Roman ruins of Glanum. (BLD)

 Day 4
Exploration of the charming town of Arles fills our morning. We have the afternoon to make images of the famous Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct spanning a picturesque canyon near Uzes. (BLD)

Day 5
The deserted medieval citadel of Les Baux de Provence is our next destination, as well as other picturesque ancient stone villages in the area—Fontvieille, Eygalière and Chapelle Saint Sixte. (BLD)

 Day 6
An entire day will be devoted to photographically exploring the city of Avignon. (BLD)

 Day 7
We travel south to the vast wetland of the Camargue, well known for its beautiful white horses, black bulls and flamingos. (BLD)

 Days 8–10
The city of Sault will be our base for the next three nights. The possibilities will seem endless as we photograph the brilliant lavender fields in the rich warm light of Provence. En route to Sault we’ll visit the small villages of Isle sur la Sorgue, Bedouin, Malaucene, Le Crestet and several others. On our last evening we’ll spend sunset at the summit of Mont Ventoux, at 6,000 feet the highest summit in Provence. (BLD)

Day 11
Drive this morning to Gordes. We visit the Cistercian Abbey of Senanque, surrounded by fields of lavender, and continue to Roussillon, a medieval town perched on a ridge and surrounded by brilliant ochre quarries. At sunset we’ll capture the light as it illuminates the rosy earth tones of the Provencal Colorado of Rustrel, an abandoned ochre mine. (BLD)
Day 12
We return to Marseille today, stopping at Forcalquier and Manosque. (BLD)

 Day 13
Depart for home. (B)



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