Sep 2 - Sep 12, 2024
France
Provence Canal Voyage: The Flavor of France by Barge
Program No. 21556RJ
Find out why Provence has inspired artists, writers, poets and chefs as you explore the natural wonders, famed museums, grand architecture and agricultural riches of southern France.
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11 days
10 nights
25 meals
9B 7L 9D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
Arles, Canal du Rhône, Roman History
Gallician
5
Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Aigues Mortes
Aigues Mortes
6
Aigues Mortes, Maguelone
Palavas les Flots
At a Glance
Experience the deep history, sun-splashed environments and local flavors of Provence on this voyage aboard a “hotel barge” exclusively chartered for a small Road Scholar group. Find Roman ruins, fortified medieval towns and cafe-lined streets that inspired artists like van Gogh. Absorb the rhythms of Provencal life along the canals and encounter wildlife from birds to wild horses in the Camargue.
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking up to four miles per day; some uneven terrain and cobblestones.
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
- Discover the spectacular village of Les Baux-de-Provence, set atop a rocky outcrop topped with castle ruins.
- Taste the flavors of Provence: sun-ripened vegetables, olives, seafood, fresh herbs, wine and more.
- Explore the medieval streets of Avignon and the monumental 14th-century Palais des Papes, home to seven Popes.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Ian Tucker
After graduating with a degree in English and history from The University of London, Ian Tucker's interests in European culture initially took him to Barcelona, where he lived for 3 years. Ian's early career was spent teaching in Spain and later at a higher education college in London. He became involved in educational travel, and since that time has traveled throughout Europe, North Africa, and Asia, both on a professional basis and independently. He also spent two years living in Tokyo.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Ian Tucker
View biography
After graduating with a degree in English and history from The University of London, Ian Tucker's interests in European culture initially took him to Barcelona, where he lived for 3 years. Ian's early career was spent teaching in Spain and later at a higher education college in London. He became involved in educational travel, and since that time has traveled throughout Europe, North Africa, and Asia, both on a professional basis and independently. He also spent two years living in Tokyo.
Alexandra Chambon
View biography
Alexandra Chambon has been working in the river/canal cruise field since the early 2000s. She likes to share her passion and enthusiasm about her homeland of France and its culture, traditions, history, art and architecture, and she strives to make it come alive for the participants. Outside of being a Group Leader, Alexandra is a foodie and wine connoisseur, and she enjoys playing sports. She loves having convivial moments with a good glass of wine and music.
Suggested Reading List
(16 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.
Provence Canal Voyage: The Flavor of France by Barge
Program Number: 21556
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
Provence A-Z
A companion to all things Provencal, from bouillabaisse to lavender and vinaigre, by the British expatriate and Francophile Peter Mayle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Edible French: Tasty Expressions and Cultural Bites
French food-related idioms are explained and delightfully illustrated in this playful meditation on the French language.
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.
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.
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