Four Days in Provence

Morning

Wander the Palais des Papes, then cross the Rhône to Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. The gardens of the Abbaye Saint-André offer one of the region's most beautiful views — the city, the river, the distant hills.

Afternoon

Continue through the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. No need to rush — a few estates, a tasting, the smaller roads through the vines.

Evening

Arrive at Château Saint-Victor-la-Coste — quieter, more intimate, remarkably untouched. Stay for dinner.

Morning

Head to Le Barroux, its château rising above vineyards and cypress, with Mont Ventoux beyond. Drive to the summit, or simply follow its lower roads — among the most beautiful landscapes in Provence.

Afternoon

Arrive at Crillon le Brave — and stay. The mistake most travellers make is treating it as a stop. It isn't. The pool, a long lunch, a glass of rosé, the light changing across the vineyards below.

Morning

Reach Gordes before the coaches arrive — the village still belongs to itself. Nearby, the Abbaye de Sénanque hides among stone walls and lavender fields.

Midday

Follow the roads through Roussillon and Bonnieux, the heart of the Luberon. Lunch at Racines.

Afternoon

Drift between vineyards and olive groves — Domaine de Fontenille, then La Bastide de Marie. Somehow, it is even better in reality.

Morning

Begin in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue — antique dealers along the canals, coffee beside the water. Then Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: the old town, Glanum, the landscapes that inspired Van Gogh. For wine lovers, Domaine Henri Milan is worth the detour.

Evening

Finish in Les Baux-de-Provence, late, when the crowds have gone and the stone begins to glow. Walk to the château, look out over the Alpilles. Dinner at Baumanière — a final glass of wine beneath the trees, and one last sunset.