Provence for the Holidays a Christmas Tour

Holidays in Provence

Tree branches drip with sparkling white lights and the spicy fragrances of clove, cinnamon and star anise scent the air. Laughter bubbles from the market stall selling vin chaud.

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” ~Alice in Wonderland

No indeed.

Provence is magical during the Christmas season. France is affected by the commercialization that snares the rest of the world, at this time of the year. However, holiday traditions remain entrenched and the decorations are magical.

Are you looking for a unique Christmas gift this year? We have the answer. Goût et Voyage is offering a small group tour for six (6) guests in December 2022 – A Taste of Provence for the Holidays is booking now.

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 have plenty of seasonal flair and gourmet temptations.

Martine Bertin-Peterson needs no introduction to our regular readers. The founder of boutique tour company Goût et Voyage runs sold-out tours in Provence and Tuscany every year. This new tour – A Taste of Provence for the Holidays – promises a delightful combination of seasonal shopping, gastronomic discoveries, and an introduction to the cultural traditions of the region.

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 seven (7) days later, everything is included and expertly coordinated by Martine.

“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. Cook with local chefs in their homes, preparing recipes you can serve your family and guests throughout the year. Tour wineries and taste the renowned wines of the Côtes du Rhône. Complete your holiday shopping at the local markets and in the shops of Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. A Taste of Provence for the Holidays is limited to six (6) guests and is perfect for friends, couples and single travellers.”

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

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 Sunday markets and antique stores in Isle sur la Sorgue are legendary, but in December, the town turns on the charm. Discover the history behind the santons (little saints). Begin collecting figures for your own Christmas creche at the Salon international des santonniers in Arles or the Foire aux Santons in Chateaurenard.

Tour Details

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

December 11 – December 17, 2022, $5600 per person

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