The Best of Southern France: Provence and the Cote d'Azur

Great adventure!

Magnifique! An immersive experience in the history, and culture of Southern France.

This tour of Provence was both informative and pleasureful. We were introduced to a number of small villages, observed magnificent art and saw several sites such as the Pont the Gard that were quite impressive. The group leader and local guides were generally excellent although we believe the timing and quality of the visit to the Palace of the Popes can be improved. As with many tours, meals were not always of consistent quality but a couple were a delight. If you have a smattering of interest in the beauty of Provence, its food, art and history this tour is for you.

Would recommend this program. Thank you.

Our first Road Scholar trip and certainly not the last. Thank you.

A lovely and educational interlude. Every day was touched with the beauty and breezes of Provence.

Very well run tour and gave us a sampling of Southern France. The Total cost for this trip was very reasonable I wish the food experience would have been better.

A trip that covered a lot of towns and a good variety of experiences. Downside was too many days with no meals and some included meals were not good. Overall an excellent, interesting program with great guides!

What a beautiful area and so historic! I loved it. Penny was a good humored tour leader but unfortunately, quite sick during our tour.

If you love art, history and nature, this program is for you. It has taken me to places I have not heard of and they were all beautiful.

Thank you for making my dream come true, going to Europe, in a safe and friendly environment.

I did use the program materials provided during the entire trip. There were about 11 of us that had just completed the Northern France trip and both were good, but most of the food in Northern France was better as I remember best.

This was an excellent trip (September 2023), with a small group of about 21. Great group leader and compatible group members. Some highlights were: 1) Arles and learning about Van Gogh’s time there; 2) Aix-en-Provence and visiting Cezanne’s studio; 3) the Picasso Museum in Antibes; 4) the Matisse Chapel in the hills above Nice; 5) the Chagall Museum outside Nice. My son participated in the Ironman World Championship in Nice several days before the RS program started in Avignon, so I was able to spend precious time with him and his family. We were able to visit Cannes (loved it) and Monaco. This independent travel enhanced the entire trip and allowed me to work on my poor French! Altogether, a delightful several weeks in southern France.

The BEST. We cannot recommend this trip enough! We just returned from this incredible trip where we had the most excellent guide (Martin), and in addition, two other guides (Fred and Christine) whose knowledge of and enthusiasm for their country's history was unmatched. We spent a week prior to this trip and visited Paris on our own as we were concerned about being with a group of strangers for the entire length of the tour, but that was unfounded. I have nothing but praise for the entire experience. We're looking forward to planning our next Roads Scholar trip. So grateful for the guidance , knowledge and humor that Martin and the other guides shared!

This is a wonderful part of France to visit. The impact of the Romans on the area was interesting to discover. The insights and in person experience of the artists was moving and informative. The atmosphere of Nice is like visiting a movie set and the food of the area is spectacular. I am still having boulangerie withdrawal!

This Trip to Southern France was Wonderful! Penny, our Leader, was very Knowledgeable and Full of Good Humor and Flexibility! The Trip was Well organized and the Group was Great Fun!

The Provence trip was delightful. We had a fun group, an amazing leader in Susana, and the food was wonderful! We saw so many of the places you would hope to visit, and even though I had visited this area several times, I learned a lot about the art and history of Provence.

I would definitely recommend a trip with Road Scholar to learn about and travel to another part of this vast, complex world.

Provence and the Côte d’Azur is a fabulous trip. Visiting both areas is fascinating, beautiful and takes you to the places where the artists lived and created their masterpieces. Well run, excellent transportation, tour guides and free time to shop and have a few dinners/lunches on your own. My only disappointment is in the hotel selections. I think that is the one area that can be improved for future trips.

Martin Penicaud was a FABULOUS tour guide! I could listen to him all day and night!

This was a wonderful trip. Our tour guide, Martin, was warm, welcoming, and very knowledgeable and engaged well with the group. Our lecturers in Provence (Fred) and Nice (Christine) provided in-depth discussions of the art, history, and culture of the region. The towns we visited in Provence were charming and historical, with interesting museums, markets, Roman ruins, quaint streets and artisan shops, and much more. Our stay in Nice was enhanced by the walk along the harbor in Antibes and the Picasso and Chagall museums. The only downsides were the hotel in Avignon (Novotel Avignon Centre, which was a somewhat shabby hotel with poor service) and the restaurants, which were subpar. The Splendid Hotel in Nice was fine. I would highly recommend this trip for its leader and lecturers, the depth of information we received about the region, and the sites visited. I would recommend that Road Scholar change the hotel in Avignon and increase the quality of the restaurants that are part of the tour.

We routinely recommend Road Scholar to others. It always provides a learning experience with great accommodations and, most of all, great leadership and guides.

It was a pleasure to visit various sites (e.g., a Roman aqueduct, a papal palace, a Chagall museum, the blue Mediterranean) with congenial companions, especially as we were led to a greater appreciation of our visits by excellent local guides, Fred and Christine. Both were friendly and welcoming, and full of information as they helped us to absorb the significance of what we were seeing and clearly conveyed their own love of French history and culture. This was all made even better by our group leader, Martin, whose knowledge of the area complemented that of Fred and Christine, and whose careful attention, sympathetic ear, sense of humor, and good cheer kept us all happily moving along.

My week in Provence and the Cote d'Azur was fantastic, thanks in large part to the efforts of our group leader, Martin, whose knowledge of the region, affability and generous and energetic spirit made the trip one of the best I've ever experienced. Our local guides, Fred and Christine, were also terrific. The places we visited were varied and attractive, the food was excellent, and the accommodations were close to perfect. Lots of history and art, and the people in the towns and villages were friendly. I highly recommend this program.--H. Kole

This program was the perfect introduction to Southern France! Martin was a top-notch group leader, leading us with boundless, positive energy; deep knowledge of the history, culture and geography of Provence and Cote d'Azur; and a profound connection and responsiveness to the needs and interests of our group of 24 participants. Seeing the highlights of Avignon, Arles, Les Baux de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, St. Paul de Vence, and Antibes was a great sampler. Our local experts, Frederic (Provence) and Christine (Cote d'Azur) were outstanding: deeply knowledgeable, responsive to questions, and passionate about these regions and very personable - a great team with Martin. Walking in the footsteps of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse gave us a deeper understanding of their personalities and their art. And strolling the local markets and sampling delicious local delicacies and vin rose at the cafes and restaurants were "icing on the cake!" Highly recommended!!

Interesting people, great food, spectacular setting and scenery AND I came home with a knowledge of what I saw. A wonderful experience.

This Provence and the Cote d'Azur tour is amazing! You get to see all of the major sites in these 2 incredible parts of France, plus, our guide was fabulous along with the 2 educators. I've visited France many times and couldn't have asked for a better tour! Thank you RS!

This was an extremely well organized and well planned tour. I learned, I had a lot of exercise, and I even had a roomate which worked out well!

Great program. Strongly urge being familiar with some of the readings suggested by RS and read them before the trip.

Five Stars Our group leader, Sebastien Choux, made sure that this trip exceeded all of my hopes and dreams. He set the tone for a fantastic experience that I will never forget. He was kind, knowledgeable, funny, and went out of his way to be sure that every traveler had the trip of a lifetime. I'm not sure that other guides could live up to the standard he set. The trip itself was well-planned and went seamlessly. The local experts had deep knowledge of what we were seeing and could also answer any question. They were great teachers and also great communicators. I learned more than I expected and the things I learned have made me grow and have given me much to think about for the rest of my life. The schedule was crammed and I wish that there had been more time to rest and reflect, but there's not one thing that we saw that I would have wanted to skip. Because we were with Road Scholar and our guides, we frequently skipped lines and went through areas without wasting time waiting. That helped squeeze even more in. Our accommodations were comfortable and as a single woman traveling alone I always felt safe. Because of the tone that Sebastien set, the group was warm and friendly and I always felt included by the other travelers when it came to mealtimes or other times when we were on our own. It was just enough togetherness. I have stayed in touch with several people and have new friends, I hope for a lifetime. When Road Scholar says that this trip will have you stand a lot and walk 3 miles a day, they mean it. Fortunately it wasn't 3 miles at once but throughout the day. I've been in cancer treatment and don't have my strength back, but I was able to do it all except climb to the top of the aqueduct, which I might have tried if there had been a handrail. Still, I saw plenty. This was my first Road Scholar trip. (Sept. 2022). I hope to go on more. Thanks, Sebastien, for making it the trip of a lifetime. Anne Creed Columbia, SC My first Road Scholar trip

I tested positive to covid early on in the trip. From that point forward I was moved from the program and despite the best and considerate efforts of the Group Leader I became a pariah. Road Scholar's treatment was inadequate and at times demeaning. I am waiting to hear from a representative of the program to discuss in detail my assessment. If we do not have a meaningful discourse shortly, I will review my trip on any platform I can locate to discourage others from using RS ser

Southern France is beautiful. The weather was pleasant and sunny and our guide Sebastion is wonderful. Hope you have him as your guide.

Loved this trip. Great variety. Our group leader, Martin, was fun, educated, extremely organized and made the days enjoyable

Exceptional group leader (Christopher); we have traveled on 6 RS trips, and he was our best guide so far. So full of surprises! We loved the Avignon home base and all the amazing excursions surrounding Avignon. Pont du Gard (ancient Roman aqueduct) will simply amaze you! Fred and Clemence were two fantastic local guides who had so much enthusiasm and knowledge. Nice France hotel (splendid) was in an excellent location. Don’t forget to go to the rooftop bar at sunset for a cheese plate and Aperol Spritz. Enjoyed the Promenade des Anglais and Antibes, but for me the highlights were Arles and other amazing excursions out of Avignon.

The trip to Provence and the Cote d'Azur provided a very comprehensive view of this region of France. We visited all the major cities. The food was wonderful. The group leader, Christopher Roche, was outstanding. The added visit to the Carriere de Lumiere was a nice surprise. My only note of caution is that participants might want to make their own airline reservations as I missed the first day of the program and had an excessively long return flight booking through Road Scholar.

This trip was by far the best organized travel experience Ive ever had. Our leader, Bill Snowden, escorted us to the many sights of southern France seamlessly and without a glitch. He took care of every need we had, had interesting historical information to add to every place we went, and even left plenty of room for free time. Had I done this trip alone, I would never have been able to see or learn so much. I wouldn't hesitate to plan another trip with RoadScholar in the future.

This program provided an interesting and convenient way to learn more about artists Van Gogh, Matisse, Chagall, Cezanne and Picasso. Having knowledgeable and enthusiastic local guides added to the educational experience.

I like the website. Would appreciate a smart phone app for use during a trip.

this is a lovely trip, based in 2 cities, avignon and NIce, with day trips by bus. it is jam packed with walking tours mainly to art museums and open markets. the food and wine were outstanding. my only criticism is, I would have liked some free time blocks of time during the day in the actual cities in which we were based, in order to swim in the 5-minute walk to the Cote d'Azur Mediterranean. one memorable free 4pm afternoon time was spent on the rooftop of our hotel having provencial rose with trip companions.

This was my first trip with Road Scholar and it won’t be my last. I’m an artist and seeing Provence and the Cote d’Azure was magical and inspiring! I went to see the work of some of my favorite artists, including Matisse, Chagall, Picasso and to see where Van Gogh and Cezanne lived and worked. I was not disappointed. The trip was very well run and our group leader guides were excellent. Bill, our group leader was always attentive to any questions and concerns. The food of course was excellent. I would highly recommend this trip if you want to learn about the artists and experience the beauty of Southern France.

This program is a little more strenuous than I anticipated, but it was mostly due to the extreme heat. All of the cities were well worth seeing and our city guides were excellent as was our group leader. My ony really disatisfaction was with the hotels. The Avignon choice was probably necessary due to options in the city, but I would look at another place. The hotel in Nice was old, but nice enough. And in a good location. Overall this was a good choice of trip for me.

This was a truly wonderful trip! I went alone, on my first Road Scholars trip and was pleasantly surprised by my companions ! We saw so much and experienced so many things. Our group leader Alexandria was truly amazing at keeping us on schedule and seeing to everyone’s individual needs!

This was a wonderful trip. Excellent tour leader and smart, enthusiastic local guides. A beautiful part of France, so special to see where Van Gogh and Matisse painted. Good food and wine, too! Lindy

This is a fantastic program, don't miss this one. I learned a lot as we visited points of interest, museums, and a few surprises thrown in. Our group leader and all the local guides were so enthusiastic, it rubbed off on everyone in the group. They were really knowledgeable in their fields. And the locations, well, it's France! How could it be bad?? All the food was delicious as well. Great restaurant choices.

This was a wonderful trip with real emersion into the French Provincial Culture. Road Scholar is organized to provide the maximum number of activities into a trip, while still leaving you time to savor each one.

It took a bit of courage to travel to France just as the world was opening back up from the pandemic but I am so glad I did! This trip was loads of fun and in true Road Scholar tradition full of education. Our guide Emma Leslie was terrific and made sure things went smoothly even when faced with some challenges due to Covid. We were a small group of 12 but friendships were quickly made and everyone traveled well together. We had acceptable hotels in both Avignon and Nice. Our program was full of good sites, food and learning. We had several excellent local guides that added to our enjoyment of each location. If you are considering this trip to beautiful Southern France I highly recommend it and please drink a glass of Rose in my honor!

Fresh food, delicious wine, great weather and interesting sites to visit. What more could you ask for?

This was the best trip I have ever taken!! It was well organizer, had an exceptional leader and was educational! I highly recommend it to anyone that loves to learn and travel

RS programs are excellent way to increase one's knowledge of the world and make new friends with intelligent, motivated people.

What a wonderful trip! You truly experience the French countryside and villages, as well as learn about the artists of Provence, not to mention the great food! The weather at this time (mid-June) was perfect.

The smaller group increased the enjoyment of our journey, being able to get to know better the other travelers on our journey.

If you enjoyed your college art history course, this tour is for you.

Be advised that there are some days in which the walking requirements exceed 5 miles.

Good trip overall. Restaurants and hotels were excellent. Trip guide was very personable. Local guides were excellent. Wish I had planned an extra night at the end in Nice to return to the Chagall museum. Guides didn't realize it closed at 5 instead of 6, We spent a lot of time the last day on Matisse, and Chagall was left with very little time. Loved the art lectures on Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall. Highlight of the trip was the Carrieres de Lumieres, a multiple projector movie in a quarry that was amazing. Our local guide in Provence was outstanding. He would show a view in Provence, then the painting Van Gogh did from that view. Very diligent and prepared.