France

This French Fairy-tale Trip Is a Down-to-earth Alternative to the Glitzy Riviera! Cabrière d’Avignon, our private house for a week! Before setting sail from the Azores to Gibraltar, we're enjoying an amazing week with 12 friends in France. We are discovering together the magic of the Luberon in Provence: wandering through fragrant lavender fields, marveling at the historic l’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, and soaking in the vibrant hues of the Sentier des Ocres. And let's not forget the exquisite French cuisine—every meal is an adventure in itself! Provence in lavender season is the prettiest sight and will stay in your memory forever. The best way to see all this purple magic is to embark on a road trip through the region. In the heart of the Luberon, in a landscape of breathtaking beauty, lies the Abbey of Sénanque. This majestic building is one of the most emblematic treasures of the Luberon. Founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks, the Abbey of Sénanque is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture. Its simple and austere appearance fits perfectly with the surrounding landscape of lavender fields and green hills. The abbey was built of local stone, which makes it harmonise perfectly with its natural surroundings. Sentier des Ocres We loved the intensely colored ocher deposits against the green forest on the high cliffs of Roussillon by hiking on its official trail, Le Sentier des Ocres. The easily walkable trail is along a former ocher quarry surrounded by woods. Ocher is used to make paint pigment, and many of the local shops sell jars of the pigments in a variety of colors. Sentier des Ocres Insider Tip: On a Sunday morning in L’Isle sur la Sorgue the market winds through the old town and along the quay (river walk). There are only a few Sunday [...]