Booking Now a Magical Christmas Holiday Tour in Provence

There are encouraging signs for travellers hoping to venture to international destinations. Halfway through 2021 and six months from Christmas day, it’s time to give yourself a present – the gift of travel.

Goût et Voyage is booking spots on the Provence for the Holidays tour for this December. At the time of writing, there are only two (2) spots left on this trip that takes place between December 12 – 18, 2021.

Provence in December

Beginning in mid-November through early January, Provence is magical during the Christmas season. Although France is not immune to holiday commercialization, holiday traditions remain entrenched, and the decorations are beautiful. Tree branches drip with sparkling white lights, and the fragrances of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise scent the air. Patrons gather at market stalls selling vin chaud, enjoying the festive season with animated discussion and hearty laughs.

©Access Riviera

Christmas Markets

The sparkling, festive ambience of Europe’s Christmas markets is legendary. The Strasbourg Christkindelsmärik is one of the largest in France, with some 2+ million visitors attending during the month-long market. Although much smaller than Strasbourg, the holiday markets in Provence are equally joyful. The weather is warmer than in northern France, and these events deliver seasonal flair and gourmet temptations.

Martine Bertin-Peterson, the founder of boutique tour company Goût et Voyage, runs sold-out tours in Provence and Tuscany every year. A Taste of Provence for the Holidays – promises a delightful combination of seasonal shopping, gastronomic discoveries, and an introduction to the region’s cultural traditions.

©Chef François de Melogue

What’s in Tour

Provence warms the heart every season, and winter is no exception. A Taste of Provence for the Holidays includes many of the same highlights from the Goût et Voyage regular tours; cultural visits, gourmet meals, cooking classes and wine tasting. As always, guests will stay in a charming boutique hotel. From arrival at the Avignon TGV station to the return a week later, everything is included and expertly coordinated by Martine.

“Provence has its charms every season and winter is no exception. The festively decorated shops, the village Christmas markets and the soul-warming dishes you’ll prepare are guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.” ~Martine Bertin-Peterson

Enjoy hands-on cooking classes and delicious results, including hardier Provencal dishes such as bouillabaisse, beef daube, pintade farcie (stuffed guinea hen with foie gras). Learn the techniques for some of the traditional 13 desserts of Christmas in Provence, including sweet and savoury versions of fougasse.

©Maison Mirabeau

Provence Holidays and Traditions

The group will visit the Marché de Noël in beautiful Aix-en-Provence, where the market stands inside small wooden cabins line the famous Cours Mirabeau. Walk in the footsteps of painter Paul Cézanne who lived in Aix and painted many of his brilliant canvases in the surrounding countryside. The markets in Provence are legendary, but in December, every village really turns on the charm. Discover the history behind the santons (little saints). Begin collecting figures for your own Christmas creche at the Foire aux Santons in Marseille or Aix-en-Provence.

©Remember Provence

Tour Details

What is included in the Taste of Provence for the Holidays tour?:

• 7 days/ 6 nights, fully escorted, all-inclusive from Avignon, multi-lingual guide
• Pick-up and transfer to and from Avignon TGV station
• Accommodations at an elegant boutique hotel
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Travel by private vehicle throughout your trip
• Cooking classes, winery tours, tastings as per itinerary
• Entrance fees (museums, historic sites, et al.) as per itinerary
• No single supplements or hidden fees!
• Tips and Taxes
• Flexible booking terms

December 12 – 18, 2021

For more details or to book your spot, please contact Martine here.