● Take the train from Paris to Aix en Provence and then rent a car
● Spend a full day driving to see the lavender fields and all the sweet little towns on the way!
● Stop at Lourmarin village or Bonnieux for a quiet breakfast stroll
● Visit the quaint town of Lacoste to take a beautiful (but not so easy) walk up to the Chateau
● Book lunch ahead of time at @labastidedemarie for a charming experience dining in the garden and enjoying the gorgeous hotel property. This was our group’s favorite part of the trip, so it was well worth the pricier lunch!
● Nearby the bigger town of Gordes is the Abbey Notre-Dame de Sénanque which is worth the stop to see this picturesque lavender field with the church backdrop
● Make sure to stop for a drink and snack at @airellesgordes to enjoy this beautiful hotel and views (it was featured on Emily in Paris!) You can stroll through the village after to do a little shopping for soaps and Provençal fabrics
● Château La Coste @chateaulacoste is close to Aix en Provence and is a large winery estate with lots of restaurants and tastings to choose from
● Valensole is one of the most beautiful areas to see the lavender fields, but it’s an hour outside of Aix, so you’ll need to plan ahead for it. We drove further afterwards to see the Gordes du Verdon which was such a stunning view!
● Plan a day trip to Cassis on the coast to see the gorgeous blue water and do a boat tour, but be ware the group tours don’t stop for swimming
● Explore the town of Aix en Provence with cute shops and open markets at Cours Mirabeau (we snagged some amazing paintings as our best market finds!)
● Visit the @villagallici for a glass of champagne on the hotel terrace and then stop at the nearby Cezanne museum, before heading to a long, outdoor dinner at Le Poivre d’Ane in town.
