Sep 5 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,849
France
The Best of Southern France: Provence and the Cote d'Azur
Program No. 21096RJ
Discover open-air markets, medieval villages, Roman monuments and renowned museums as you walk and learn about the unique cultural heritage of the French Riviera.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 26 - Oct 4, 2024
Starting at
2,849Oct 3 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
2,849Oct 17 - Oct 25, 2024
Starting at
2,649Oct 24 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
2,649DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 5 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
3,579Sep 12 - Sep 20, 2024
Starting at
3,579Sep 26 - Oct 4, 2024
Starting at
3,579Oct 3 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
3,579Oct 17 - Oct 25, 2024
Starting at
3,199Oct 24 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
3,199Not seeing the date you're looking for?
To be notified if dates of this program become available, click the button below.
9 days
8 nights
13 meals
7B 2L 4D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
9
Program Concludes
Nice
At a Glance
From the green hills, sunbaked villages and lavender fields of Provence to the brilliant azure waters and billowing white sails of the French Riviera, absorb the colors — not to mention the sights, sounds and flavors — of Southern France on this journey that combines field trips led by top-notch Road Scholar experts with plenty of time for independent discoveries.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to 3 miles per day; cobblestone streets, uneven and hilly terrain.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Explore Provence’s lively open-air markets, medieval villages and natural environments.
- Discover the famed medieval city of Avignon and the historic city of Nice on expert-led excursions.
- Enjoy independent time to experience this beautiful and unique region on your own.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials. Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with select dates of "The Best of Northern France: Paris and Normandy" (#21095) for even more learning in France!
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Bill Snowden
Bill Snowden was a geography master at Harrow school, a boy's boarding school that counts Lord Byron and Winston Churchill among its former pupils. In 2014, he retired from teaching to devote more of his time to travel and leading travel adventurers. Since 1984, Bill has worked during spring and summer breaks as a group leader. He is fluent in French and Spanish, providing him the opportunity to lead educational travel programs across Europe, most notably in France and Spain.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Bill Snowden
View biography
Bill Snowden was a geography master at Harrow school, a boy's boarding school that counts Lord Byron and Winston Churchill among its former pupils. In 2014, he retired from teaching to devote more of his time to travel and leading travel adventurers. Since 1984, Bill has worked during spring and summer breaks as a group leader. He is fluent in French and Spanish, providing him the opportunity to lead educational travel programs across Europe, most notably in France and Spain.
James Higginson
View biography
After spending his early years in Africa, James Higginson was educated in the UK and studied French and politics at the University of Essex before training for the theater in London. James has worked extensively in Europe, especially in France as a group leader with theater companies. He is passionate about travel and French culture. James has also traveled extensively in the U.S. and worked with Americans for over twenty years.
Suggested Reading List
(18 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Southern France: Provence and the Cote d'Azur
Program Number: 21096
Provence: Food, Wine, Culture and Landscape
A stunning portrait of an alluring, sun-drenched region. Whet your appetite for Provence with over 700 jaw-dropping images of the food, landscape, and local people.
F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders
An alphabetized catalogue of quirky French culture and history tidbits.
Four Queens, the Provencal Sisters who Ruled Europe
Transporting you back to back to the apogee of independent Provençal power in the Middle Ages, Goldstone captures the drama of 13th-century Europe in this history of the four daughters of the count of Provence -- future queens of France, England, Germany and Sicily.
Two Towns in Provence
Celebrated food writer M.F.K. Fisher contrasts village life in Aix-en-Provence with bustling Marseilles, evoking both with anecdote and loving description.
Tasting French Terroir: The History of an Idea
This book explores the origins and significance of the French concept of terroir (the specific taste of a particular place), demonstrating that the way the French eat their food and drink their wine today derives from a cultural mythology that developed between the Renaissance and the Revolution.
The Yellow House
Gayford chronicles the turbulent three months and texture of the daily lives of Van Gogh and Gauguin in Arles, where they worked side by side in 1888. With 60 B&W reproductions.
Cezanne and Provence: The Painter in His Culture
Cezanne departed from Paris in 1886 to permanently resettle in his native Aix-en-Provence. This book explores the importance of this place for the artist as well as the regionalist politics of his day.
The Food & Wine of France: Eating & Drinking from Champagne to Provence
Behr seeks out the best of French food, in encounters from Champagne to Provence, to tell the stories of French artisans and chefs who work at the highest level. He shares what he learns from these experts on French traditions and how to best enjoy this food.
The Popes of Avignon: A Century in Exile
Grounded in the architecture and papal legacy in Avignon and the surrounding area, this engaging history sets the 70-year period of papal exile in the south of France against the context of Europe's turbulent transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Provence A-Z
A companion to all things Provencal, from bouillabaisse to lavender and vinaigre, by the British expatriate and Francophile Peter Mayle.
A Year in Provence
The original best-selling tale of an ex-pat settling down in Provence, told with warmth and a great deal of humor. It offers a wonderful inside look at the charms and quirks of the people and the countryside in the south of France.
My Life in France
The touching and famous story of Julia Child in France, where she learned to cook and fell in love with French cuisine, all in her own words.
Van Gogh in Arles
A study of Van Gogh in the stunning setting of Arles in Provence, the place of his death.
The Markets of Provence: Food, Antiques, Crafts, and More
An in-depth pocket guide to 30 of the best markets in Provence. Dive into the heart of Provencal culture and navigate the markets like a local with maps, tips, and handy phrases.
Edible French: Tasty Expressions and Cultural Bites
French food-related idioms are explained and delightfully illustrated in this playful meditation on the French language.
Camembert: A National Myth
Camembert - delectably fragrant, creamy-centered, neatly boxed - is the most popular and most famous French cheese. Originally made by hand in the Norman countryside, it is now mass-produced internationally, yet Camembert remains a national symbol for France, emblematic of its cultural identity. In this witty and entertaining book, Pierre Boisard investigates the history of Camembert and its legend.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
Made in Marseille: Food and Flavors from France's Mediterranean Seaport
An enticing portrait of a historically mischievous town, followed by a robust collection of recipes.
Recommended For You
