It Isn’t Too Late To Book The Ideal Provence Vacation This Summer

Provence Emotional Escapes introduces three new gorgeous luxury villas for your dream vacation. Whether you envision a Provencal gourmet escape with a personal chef, an outdoor getaway filled with tennis, hiking, and biking, a retreat with your own personal lavender field, or the ultimate Provencal shopping adventure, these luxury homes offer something for every kind of traveler.

Rent a Provence Emotional Escapes luxury villa and encounter an entirely new way to travel. Enjoy a cooking class in Provence, tour a Chateauneuf du Pape vineyard, discover the lavender harvest in the Luberon, the possibilities are endless. At the end of each day you will find yourself in your very own short-term dream home to fully enjoy a stress-free vacation. Should you desire an intimate meal cooked in your villa by a private chef, an in-home spa treatment, a walking tour, a yoga session, a cooking class or a language lesson, Provence Emotional Escapes, will find you the perfect luxury service provider to complete your holiday experience. Provence Emotional Escapes’ portfolio of luxury rental properties has been amassed over 12 years with most discerning clients in mind. The company relies on local managers at each of their destinations to seek out the best properties for their clients and to ensure that their current portfolio of properties are being maintained at the highest standards. They corner the market on offering an unprecedented selection of quality rental properties in the most beautiful destinations in France.  Their local specialists work together to pool regional knowledge, offering expertise on a global scale. Just relax, indulge, enjoy, breathe and let Provence Emotional Escapes do the rest. www.provence.emotional-escapes.com

Fontaine de Saumane (Isle sur la Sorgue, sleeps 18)

Fontaine de Saumane is a spectacular property dominating the countryside close to Isle sur la Sorgue and the Luberon. Undoubtedly one of the most stunning properties in Provence, it has all that a discriminating visitor could want: a long and fascinating history; an impeccable and careful restoration, which, while keeping many aspects of the ancient building, melded them perfectly into the newer construction. The estate has a superlative location close to the Luberon, with views on the national park and the Monts de Vaucluse. La Fontaine de Saumane is centrally located, thus an ideal place from which to visit the many Provençal attractions travelers want to see.

This is a grand estate was restored by English designer and architect, Giles Vincent with both comfort and authenticity in mind. The main house has seven bedrooms, each with bathrooms en-suite. There is an apartment in the main house as well, and a guest house set away from the main house, with two bedrooms, sharing a bathroom. The estate was named after the many magnificent water features on the 40 acre site. La Fontaine de Saumane has an extraordinarily rich history. During its existence the property has been used as a tile making factory, and at one point as a Benedictine Priory. It was given over to agriculture and silk worms in the 19th century before silk worms were devastated by disease.

Key features include:

·        10 minute drive from L’Isle sur la Sorgue, the famous market and antique center, 30 minutes from Gordes and the Luberon, with many of the perched villages classified among “france’s most beautiful villages,” 30 minutes to Carpentras home to the oldest synagogue in France, and 40 minutes to some of the most famous Cotes-du-Rhone wine villages of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueras, and Beaumes-de-Venise

·        An on-site housekeeper and gardener

·        Fresh bread and croissants delivered daily

·        Tennis, jogging, hiking, biking and extensive parkland at your doorstep

·        A quick drive to Bedoin, one of three access points cyclists take to climb the world famous Mont Ventoux, the highest mountain in Provence, made famous by the Tour de France

Chateau Condrieu (Isle sur la Sorgue, sleeps 10)

A stunning, historical luxury vacation rental enjoying an elevated, dominating position with far-reaching views over the Ventoux valley, Château Condrieu was built on remains of a 12th century fortress, but has been enhanced with all the modern conveniences. Making for a truly hedonistic stay, the on-site chef will prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for you daily so that you can enjoy the site, its vistas and your vacation to the maximum. You can expect to be treated to regional and seasonal specialties during your stay: asparagus, mushrooms and strawberries in the spring; cherries, peaches and melons in summer; mushrooms, game and truffles in fall and winter. Meals can of course be accompanied by the fantastic local wines. The house is filled with special finds from the world-famous antique center of L’Isle sur la Sorgue, just minutes away.

La Maison des Fragrances (St-Remy-de-Provence, sleeps 13)

Enjoy your own personal lavender field at La Maison des Fragrances, a luxury vacation rental in the outskirts of St-Rémy-de-Provence, one of the most beautiful small towns in Provence. This beautiful home owned by descendants of the family that introduced aromatherapy to France, boasts 20 acres of olive orchards, pine groves, lavender fields and cypress trees, a large swimming pool and total privacy. Just a few minute walk from the center of town, there are six bedrooms with bathrooms en suite, sleeping 13 guests. Past meets present in this stunning home. The interior is a mix of beautiful, authentic Provencal furniture in a home that has been fully modernized. The estate is quite large, with a large welcoming entry courtyard, lots of tables under mature trend trees for outdoor dining. St-Rémy-de-Provence, is known as a sophisticated country town with some of the best Provence has to offer including:

·        Central location, with great historical significance including the ancient Roman town of Glanum, the birthplace of Nostradamus and St. Paul de Mausole, with its 12^th century cloister and chapel, and the hospital where Van Gogh lived for most of the last year of his life

·        Excellent cafes and restaurants including excellent regional cuisine and world renowned Michelin star restaurants

·        Famous Wednesday morning Provencal market, excellent permanent foods, local boutiques and galleries

·        Close to excellent Alpilles vineyards as well as Cotes-du-Rhone, Chateauneuf-duPape, Gigondas, and Vacqueryas

A perfect Weekend In Marseille.

Contributed by Emilie FilouLonely Planet author

Prepare to be seduced by the vibrant port city of Marseille. This charming city in France‘s Provence region has undergone an extensive facelift for its reign as and now boasts world-class museums, galleries and performing arts. Allow yourself at least 48 hours to take in Marseille’s compelling sights, and the dramatic Les Calanques – Lonely Planet’s new Provence & the Côte d’Azur guide book has a perfect weekend itinerary for your trip, as well as all the information you’ll need to explore France’s sun-kissed south.

‘Old port of Marseille’ by Alexandre Fundone / Flickr / Getty

Day 1: Marseille’s top sights

Start at the Vieux Port (Old Port), the city’s birthplace where its maritime heritage thrives. Set yourself up for the day at La Caravelle – this standout, upstairs hideaway, styled with rich wood and leather, zinc bar and yellowing murals, has some coveted spots on the portside terrace and does a good breakfast.

Now breathe in the area’s history: ships have docked here for almost three millennia. The main commercial docks were transferred to the Joliette area north of here in the 1840s, but the old port remains a thriving harbour for fishing boats (fresh-off-the-boat catches are sold each morning), pleasure yachts and tourists.

Next, stroll over to the brand new Musée des Civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée (www.mucem.org) for a spot of culture and shade. Refresh yourself with lunch at La Passarelle (52 rue du Plan Fourmiguier) – everything growing in the walled garden goes into something on the predominantly organic menu, and other products are strictly local.

Well fed, it’s time to hike up to the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde (or avoid the 1km walk by taking bus 60 or the tourist-train). Everywhere you go in Marseille, you see the opulent, domed 19th-century Romano-Byzantine basilica occupying Marseille’s highest point, La Garde. The hilltop gives 360-degree panoramas of the city’s sea of terracotta roofs below. Bullet marks and shrapnel scars on the northern facade evidence the fierce fighting of Marseille’s Battle of Liberation in 1944.

Alternatively, explore Le Panier, the site of the Greek town of Massilia. Grand Rue follows the ancient road and opens out into Place de Lenche, the location of the Greek market. It is still the place to shop for artisanal products. Don’t miss the Centre de la Vieille Charité, a former workhouse that now houses exhibitions.

Finish off your day by dining at nearby, excellent Le Café des Épices (4 rue du Lacydon)…think squid ink spaghetti with sesame and perfectly cooked scallops, or tender roasted potatoes with hints of coriander and citrus, topped by the catch of the day. Presentation is impeccable, decor is playful, staff are friendly, and the place fills up reliably (reservations essential).

‘Calanque of Sugiton’ by Thomas David Photography / Flickr Open / Getty

Day 2: hop on a boat and chow down on bouillabaisse

On day two, take in magnificent turquoise waters at Les Calanques. This wild and spectacular 20km stretch of high, rocky promontories is occasionally interrupted by small idyllic beaches, some impossible to reach without a kayak. The Marseillais cherish the Calanques, and come to soak up sun or take a long hike. The promontories have been protected since 1975 and shelter an extraordinary wealth of flora and fauna: 900 plant species, Bonelli’s eagle, Europe’s largest lizard (60cm Eyed Lizard) and longest snake (2m Montpellier snake).

From October to June the best way to see the Calanques (including the 500 sq km of the rugged inland Massif des Calanques) is to hike the many maquis-lined trails. (During summer, trails close due to fire danger: take a boat tour, though they don’t stop to let you swim). Otherwise, drive or take public transport. Marseille’s tourist office leads guided walks (no kids under eight) and has information about trail closures.

Another option is to catch the Frioul If Express to revel in Monte Cristo intrigues at Château d’If, France’s equivalent to Alcatraz. Prisoners were housed according to class: the poorest at the bottom in windowless dungeons, the wealthiest in paid-for private cells.

Whichever excursion you choose, reward your exploration with bouillabaissein postcard-pretty Vallon des Auffes. Originally cooked by fishermen from the scraps of their catch, bouillabaisse is Marseille’s signature dish. Truebouillabaisse includes at least four different kinds of fish, and sometimes shellfish, which is why it’s served to a minimum of two people. Don’t trust tourist-traps that promise cheap bouillabaisse; the real McCoy costs about €55 per person and should be reserved 48 hours ahead, enough time to procure the correct ingredients.

It’s served in two parts: the broth (soupe de poisson), rich with tomato, saffron and fennel; and the cooked fish, deboned tableside and presented on a platter. On the side are croutons and rouille (a bread-thickened garlic-chilli pepper mayonnaise) and grated cheese, usually gruyère. Spread rouille on the crouton, top with cheese, and float it in the soup. Be prepared for a huge meal and tons of garlic.