Bienvenue a Provence! Our trip starts at the country estate of Château Saint Roux. Located in southern Provence, it is a short drive to Saint Tropez, Nice, Cannes or Marseille which you can visit before our tour. Château Saint Roux dates back to the 15th century and the secluded and private estate set among the vineyards makes for a very relaxing and enjoyable setting to start our culinary adventure through Provence! The estate has its own winery, garden, and goat herd. We recommend starting the day with brunch at the restaurant- the farm to table restaurant creates amazing dishes you are sure to enjoy! In the afternoon, enjoy some of the “foodie” experiences offered at Saint Roux. Learn about the cheese making process and sample some divine homemade goat cheeses, try their wines, and/or visit the vineyards and learn about the innovative methods they are using to be able to adapt to producing wine with global warming. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant. 

Today we head to the famous Luberon. On the way, we make a stop at Aix-en-Provence, one of the more well known towns in Provence. We will visit the local market, learning about the various cheese, meats, fruits, and vegetables for sale from the local vendors;  to pick up fresh ingredients from the local vendors for our upcoming cooking lessons; many of these we will purchase for our upcoming cooking lessons! You have the afternoon to explore and have lunch, and then we continue to the Luberon and the town of Gordes, a breath taking hilltop village considered to be one of the most beautiful in all of France! We will stay here for the next two nights at a stunning country estate. In the evening, award-winning Chef O will introduce you to the joys of French cooking (and eating!). Over the next few days, her cooking lessons will give you the knowledge and resources to make delicious French cuisine at home. You can choose how hands on (or hands off) you want to be with the cooking lessons- you can help out every step of the way with the preparation and cooking, or you can sit back and enjoy the finished meals. 

Start the day off either relaxing by the pool or with another cooking lesson- this time focusing on breakfast and brunch! Brunch is one of Chef O’s favorite meals to prepare at her restaurant, and she loves sharing how to cook as well as how to create visually stunning presentations. In the afternoon, partake in an optional bike ride through the surrounding countryside, or enjoy relaxing at the estate. In the evening, you will have a chance to practice what you have learned and improve your cooking skills even further with another lesson from Chef O!

After a delicious breakfast, we say farewell to the country estate and head to Avignon where we will spend the next two nights. Avignon is an incredible city to visit- the Pope used to reside here and the abundance of historical buildings will not disappoint! You have the afternoon and evening to explore on your own. For those wanting a fine dining experience, check out one of the Michelin star restaurants in the city. 

In the morning, there are three different options you can choose from- a food tour of the city, a bike ride in the surrounding countryside, or exploring Avignon on your own. In the afternoon, you can either do one of the activities you opted out of in the morning, or you can visit a few of the wineries just outside the city in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This area is world-renowned for its red wines, and you will get to learn about them directly from the wineries and vintners! We then return to Avignon for the evening.

Au revoir! As our tour comes to an end, you can spend additional time in Avignon or elsewhere in France, but our recommendation is to head to the Loire Valley for our second France Culinary Highlights tour!