30 May – 06 June 2012
The Provençal landscape of farmhouses or mas, vineyards and typical unspoilt villages sets the scene as we pass along avenues of majestic plane trees. Our visits encompass both traditional farmhouse-style gardens and interesting, contemporary, Mediterranean country gardens, some influenced by Nicole de Vesian, modern local landscape architects and the Land Art movement. Most gardens are privately owned. Wild poppies in the cornfields, roses and lavender abound. The craggy limestone Alpilles are a focal point around St Rémy, while the forested Luberon hills have perched hill-top villages.
We stay for the first few days at the most comfortable, elegant Château de Mazan on the edge of the medieval village of Mazan, overlooking the Luberon hills. We then move to the historic centre of Arles to the welcoming Hotel d’Arlatan with its attractive courtyard garden and pool. A visit to the Camargue has been added, not to be missed when in the region. Train travel available – London to Avignon.
Itinerary
DAY ONE – WEDNESDAY 30 MAY
Flight or train to Avignon / Marseille where you will be welcomed and transferred to Château de Mazan. Time to relax or discover the village. Aperitif and short talk on the programme before dinner together in the hotel restaurant.DAY TWO – THURSDAY 31 MAY
Leave for the Luberon to Bonnieux to visit a renowned garden designed and owned by the late Nicole de Vesian. Clipped clouds of Teuchrium fruticans, lavender, santolina and rosemary around the charming village house reflect the garrigue of the surrounding countryside. An exceptional private garden in a nearby perched village is our next visit where we also enjoy a relaxed buffet lunch in the garden under the shade of cherry trees. Dinner together in the hotel restaurant.DAY THREE – FRIDAY 01 JUNE
Morning visit to a privately-owned bastide and its garden, north of Aix-en-Provence, with magnificent long views to Mont St Victoire, which often featured in Cezanne’s paintings. The house dates from the mid seventeenth century, the garden was laid out later with box parterre, pools, fountains and woodland walk. We enjoy lunch with the owner. Afternoon visit to an 18th-century chateau garden still owned by the original Florentine family who settled in the papal city of Avignon in 1600. Inspired by Tuscan garden design with water features, statues, cypress, box hedges and a magnificent Magnolia grandiflora. We enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.DAY FOUR – SATURDAY 02 JUNE
Departing from Mazan we arrive at Hotel d’Arlatan in the centre of Arles where we stay for four nights. Time to visit the extensive, buzzing weekly market. We leave in the afternoon for the Camargue with its rice fields, tamarisk trees and marshland with flamingos, local white horses and black bulls grazing in the wild Rhone delta. Dinner at a nearby restaurant where we can enjoy local specialities.DAY FIVE – SUNDAY 03 JUNE
Van Gogh painted extensively during his stay at St Rémy de Provence – he came south drawn by the quality of the light. Morning visit to the attractive cloister and gardens of the clinic where Van Gogh stayed and painted the surrounding landscape. Time to visit the museum. Lunch in the village of Eygalierès. Visit to Mas de la Brune to discover the owner’s recently created contemporary garden designed by Arnaud Maurières and Eric Ossart, renowned for their landscape architecture in France. Free evening.DAY SIX – MONDAY 04 JUNE
Our morning visit is to a spectacular private garden on the edge of the Alpilles where Tim Rees, a London-based landscape architect, has worked over a number of years, and previously Rosemary Verey. An extensive garden with rooms on a hill-side, the head gardener gives a superb insight into the development and planting. Lunch in the delightful town of St Rémy. We continue into the limestone hills to visit a privately-owned garden near Mouriès, recently created and influenced by the surrounding garrigue-covered hills with long views of the Alpilles. Free evening.DAY SEVEN – TUESDAY 05 JUNE
Our morning visit is to the garden of a well-known designer. A personal, inspirational garden where ideas for her professional garden design projects were born. Pergolas, rills and cloud clipped shrubs combine with superb perspectives and an artistic ability to combine shapes and colour. We enjoy lunch in the garden with time to absorb its many aspects. Our afternoon visit is to a private summer residence in St Rémy where adjacent cottages and their gardens have been added to the main house. The end result is a stunning, Mediterranean garden with water fountains, columns of cypress trees and a checkerboard-designed bed opening up into a rural olive grove. Dinner together in Arles.DAY EIGHT – WEDNESDAY 06 JUNE
In the morning we leave for the departure airports or train station.
Tour Costs
Airflight, Hotel and Itinerary cost £1760pp
Accommodation based on 2 people sharing
b&b with private shower/bathroom
Dinner on 5 evenings/4 lunches
Supplement – single use of double room £240
Activity Level:
Level walking, terraced gardens.
Additional Information:
A particularly good collection of private gardens reflecting innovative garden design in the Provence.