Arrive in Lyon on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), a private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Brigid Kennedy and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel followed by dinner.

(D)

This morning, begin the exploration of Lyon with a walking tour of the medieval and Renaissance district of Vieux Lyon, whose remarkable preservation has seen it inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walk through the narrow cobbled alleyways and the famous traboules (passageways) that reveal superbly renovated architectural treasures.

Then, embark on a private, guided tour of the historic covered market Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. Learn about the city’s rich culinary culture, meet local producers and indulge in a selection of food tastings in the ‘Food Capital of the World’.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to further explore Lyon at your own pace.

(BL)

Today, travel along the Northern Rhône Valley to the village of Ampuis, home to the distinctive Côte-Rôtie AOC, renowned for its prestigious Syrah-based wines. Enjoy a tasting at the Caveau du Château E.Guigal, one of France’s most revered vineyards, including a Condrieu and a Côte-Rôtie.

Continue down the Rhône Valley to the town of Tournon-sur-Rhône, located in the heartland of the Northern Rhône wine region.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Northern Rhône
This small ‘sub-region’ of the large Rhône wine region is distinguished by steep, south-facing terraced hillsides overlooking the Rhône River and a continental climate characterised by harsh winters and warm summers. Syrah is the only red grape variety permitted in red AOC wines from this area, though it is sometimes blended with white wine grapes such as Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.

The powerful and versatile Syrah grape, which is believed to have originated in or close to the Rhône region, is also widely known as Shiraz, especially in Australia and other English-speaking countries. A mere 60 km long, the Northern Rhône district is responsible for just 5% of all the wines from the Rhône region but features eight different Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designations: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château-Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray.

Enjoy a morning at leisure to walk through the narrow streets of Tournon-sur-Rhône or to stroll across the Rhône on the historic suspension bridge to Tain-l’Hermitage, home to the world-famous Valrhona chocolate factory.

In the afternoon, tour the Hill of Hermitage, one of the wine world’s most famous appellations and the spiritual home of the Syrah grape variety. The terraced vineyards supported by low dry-stone walls are the legacy of successive viticultural practices.

Then, discover the history and wine-making process of the Cave de Tain, which produces five cru wines and single varietal Vins de Pays from over 1,000 ha of vines. Enjoy a tasting of their Saint-Péray, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage wines.

(BL)

Depart Tournon-sur-Rhône and meet a local winemaker for a walking tour through the terraced vineyards in Cornas, offering breathtaking views of the majestic Crussol Massif, followed by a tasting in nearby Saint-Péray.

Enjoy lunch at a Michelin-star restaurant near Valence before continuing to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. The numerous canals and branches of the River Sorgue have given the picturesque Provençal town the nickname ‘Venice comtadine’.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Today, travel through the magnificent countryside of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. Discover the complexities of the area’s terroir sampling local wines at a family-run estate. With 13 grape varieties and exclusive soils, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape designation displays an almost boundless aromatic palette.

After lunch in the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, enjoy some time at leisure in the walled city of Avignon, the capital of the Vaucluse region and the ‘gateway to Provence’. Highlights include the grand, fortress-like Palais des Papes, built by the Popes during their temporary exile from Rome in the 14th century, and the Pont Saint-Bénezet, the medieval stone bridge across the Rhône which inspired the famous rhyme Sur le Pont d’Avignon.

Return to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in the late-afternoon for an evening at leisure.

(BL)

Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wines made predominantly from the classic Southern Rhône grapes of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The climate here is Mediterranean and very dry, with irrigation strictly forbidden during the growing season except in extreme cases.

Until the early 20th century, the area’s wines were anonymously grouped together with others from the Avignon area. In the 1920s, Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié (owner of Château Fortia) drafted a set of quality-focused production conditions for the town’s wines – a document which became the precursor of France’s famous appellation system. The official Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation title declared in June 1929 was one of the country’s very first, and remains one of the most prestigious today.

On Sundays, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the site of France’s largest antique market outside Paris, with more than 300 dealers offering furniture, paintings, curiosities, fabrics and more. Spend the morning wandering through the market, or walk along the town’s canals dotted with waterwheels that once drove the wheels of silk, grain, oil, paper and leather mills.

In the afternoon, explore the Luberon villages of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, where the River Sorgue has its source, and Gordes, built on the foothills of the Monts de Vaucluse. Artists have been drawn to the inspiring beauty of Gordes for decades, and numerous studios and art galleries are dotted around its narrow cobbled streets.

(BL)

This morning, visit the Mas de la Dame, a family estate once painted by Van Gogh and mentioned in Nostradamus’s prophecies, beautifully located at the foot of the Alpilles hills. Mas de la Dame has been producing wine and olive oil for four generations, using solely natural processes.

Enjoy lunch in the magnificent medieval village of Les Baux-de-Provence, perched atop a rocky spur in the heart of the Alpilles and known for its organic and biodynamic red wines.

Then, see Claude Monet’s life-like compositions come to life at the Carrières de Lumières (Quarries of Lights), a former limestone quarry transformed into an immersive art space.

(BL)

Provence wines
As France’s oldest wine region, with a history dating back 2,600 years to Greek settlements near Marseille, Provence has become the world’s leading producer of premium rosé wines, which account for about 90% of its production. Key appellations include Côtes de Provence, Bandol, Cassis and Palette, with primary grape varieties being Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Tibouren and Vermentino (locally known as Rolle).

Numerous mountain ranges texture the landscape, creating a mosaic of elevated plateaus, gentle slopes and sheltered valleys. The area’s diverse geography encompasses limestone-rich soils in the west (remnants of an ancient seabed), crystalline schist in the east, and a small volcanic zone. The region benefits from a Mediterranean climate with abundant sunshine and the influence of the powerful mistral wind, which helps keep vines dry and disease-free.

Today, depart L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and journey into the countryside for a day at the Château La Coste winery. This extraordinary estate combines fine wine, contemporary art and architecture, and verdant gardens in an enchanting Provençal landscape. Explore the cuverie designed by Jean Nouvel, taste a range of fine organic wines and sample Provençal cuisine while overlooking the vines.

Arrive in the vibrant coastal city of Marseille in the late-afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.

(BL)

Start the exploration of Marseille with a walking tour through the heart of the old Panier quarter with its narrow streets, artisans’ shops and terraced houses. See the Vieille Charité, a former alms-house, now functioning as a museum and cultural centre.

The afternoon is at leisure to further explore the city at your pace. A visit to the stunning Mucem, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, is highly recommended. This architectural masterpiece, built on reclaimed land at the mouth of Marseille harbour, forms a bridge between the Mediterranean and Europe.

(B)

In the morning, drive to the charming fishing village of Cassis for a last tasting at one of the ten wine estates in the Cassis AOC, which produces primarily white wines with mineral and saline characteristics.

Then, board a small boat for a cruise around the stunning calanques, small bays surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs that plunge into the Mediterranean.

After some time at leisure for lunch and a stroll along the waterfront, return to Marseille in the mid-afternoon.

Tonight, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Brigid and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

For those returning home today, make your way to Marseille Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)