7-day Private Burgundy wine tastings, ALL Provence, Nice, Monaco trip by Minivan

Day 1:  Paris — Chablis — Beaune

07:30 Departure destination Chablis

07:30  Pick up from Your hotel and Departure destination Chablis. There are approx. 190 km to drive on a highway from Paris to Chablis by our air conditioned Mercedes minivan. It takes around 2,5 hours. One stop at a rest area will be made.

10.15 - 11.30 Visit of Jean-Marc Brocard Domaine

10:15 - 11:30 Arrival in Chablis area. Visit of Jean-Marc Brocard Domaine surrounded by the vineyards with Cave visit and wine tasting of 5 wines with cheese: Chablis, Chablis 1-er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru. The experienced staff will give You all explanations about the process of wine making in Chablis and point out the differences between Chablis, Chablis 1-er Cru and Chablis Grand Cru.

11:30 - 12:30  Chablis village. Second Wine tasting

11:30 - 12:30 Arrival in Chablis village. We offer the second Wine tasting by one of the local Chablis wine producers with 5 wines: Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru. 

12:30 - 14.00  Lunch time in Chablis.

12:30 - 14.00 Free time in Chablis village. You can enjoy the small town or we reserve for You a gastronomic lunch.  

14.00 - 15:00  Visit and Wine tasting at Maison Régnard Chablis

14:00 - 15:00  Visit of Maison Régnard Chablis founded in 1860 with 5 Wine tasting and explanations about wines by the local sommelier. 

15.00 - 16:00  Visit and Wine tasting in Chablis

15:00 - 16:00. Visit of the fourth Maison in Chablis with 5 Wine tasting and explanations about wines by the local sommelier. 

16:00 Departure to Beaune (135 km on the highway). It takes 1,5 hours.

17.30 - 18:30  Hospices de Beaune — Hôtel-Dieu

17:30 - 18:30 Visit of Hospices de Beaune - Hôtel-Dieu a former charitable almshouse founded in 1443 as a hospital for the poor. The original hospital building is one of the finest examples of XV century Burgundian architecture and one of the best-preserved renaissance buildings in Europe.

19.00  Hotel accommodation in Beaune 

19:00  Hotel accommodation in Beaune. Free time

09.30 - 10:45  Wine tasting by Patriarch et Fils in Beaune

09:00 Hotel check out. 09:30 - 10:45 Wine tasting with a professional sommelier of Burgundy wines in the cellars «The Patriarch and sons». The Caves Patriarche are located in the center of Beaune. The 5 kilometers of tunnels that make it up run under the city and make it one of the largest cellars in Burgundy. It’s also a place full of history, founded in 1780, located in the former convent.

10:45 Departure to Chateau de Pommard located close to Beaune

11.00 - 12:30  Visit and Wine tasting at Chateau de Pommard

11.00 - 12:30 Arrival at Chateau de Pommard - one of the most famous domaines of Burgundy, close to Beaune and surrounded by the vineyards. Wine tasting of a selection of 5 wines from Château de Pommard and Famille Carabello-Baum "La Route des Grands Crus" with a professional sommelier. You will learn how Burgundy’s star grapes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay express themselves across Burgundy’s villages and terroirs. You will learn about: the 5 subregions of Burgundy and their specialties, about the famous wine road La Route des Grands Crus, about how the natural factors do influence the taste and about Burgundy’s classifications.

12.30 - 14:00  Lunch break in Pommard/Beaune

12:30 - 14:00  Lunch break in Pommard/Beaune, a nice medieval city in Burgundy. You can enjoy the small town or we reserve for You a gastronomic lunch.  

14:00 Departure to Lyon 160 km (highway). It takes about 2 hours (160 km). One stop at a rest area will be made.

16.00 - 18:00  Lyon city tour

16:00 - 18:00 Lyon city tour. Lyon is the third-largest city of France with its population of more than 0,5 Million inhabitants and the city where Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinematograph. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône. Former capital of the Gauls at the time of the Roman Empire, Lyon became a major economic hub during the Renaissance. The city is recognised for its cuisine and gastronomy, as well as historical and architectural landmarks like the districts of Old Lyon, the Fourvière hill, the Presqu'île and the slopes of the Croix-Rousse which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Time for Lunch in a local Restaurant in Lyon. Our Guide will advise You about the local kitchen and restaurants.

18:00 Departure to Avignon. It takes 2,5 hours (230 km). 

20.30 Avignon

20:30 Arrival in Avignon. Hotel accommodation. 

08.30 - 09:30 Avignon walking tour

08:30 - 09:30 Avignon walking tour. Avignon is unofficial capital of Provence located on the left bank of the river Rhône with a population of nearby 100.000 inhabitants. About 16,000 are living in the ancient town centre enclosed by its medieval walls. Avignon is one of the few French cities which preserved its city walls. Between 1309 and 1377, during the Avignon Papacy, seven successive popes resided in Avignon. In 1348 Pope Clement VI bought the town from Joanna I of Naples. Papal control persisted until 1791 when, during the French Revolution, it became part of France. The historical centre including the Palais des Papes, the cathedral, and the Pont d'Avignon—became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. The medieval monuments and the annual Festival d'Avignon have helped to make the town a major centre for tourism.

09.30 - 11:00 Avignon Palais des Papes

09:30- 11:00 Visit of the Palais des Papes. Listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, the Popes' Palace is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France with 650,000 visitors per year. Built in the 14th century, this 15.000 m2 masterpiece of a monument is the largest medieval fortress and biggest gothic palace of Europe.  Palais des Papes was built in less then 20 years starting in 1335, the Popes' Palace is the amalgamation of two palaces built by two popes: Benedict XII, who built the Old Palace to the east and north, and his successor Clement VI who built the New Palace to the south and west.  There are more than 25 rooms open to the public: the ceremonial halls, the courtroom, the consistory, the chapels with their magnificent frescoes by the famous painter Matteo Giovanetti and the popes' private apartments.

11.15 - 12:15 Wine Tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Visiting of Châteauneuf-du-Pape village which is close located to Avignon for Wine tasting.

12.30 - 13:30 Avignon. Lunch break

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch break in Avignon. You can enjoy the city centre of your own or we can reserve for You a good restaurant.  

13.30 - 17:30 Baux-de-Provence

13:30 Departure from Avignon to the Medieval village Baux-de-Provence. It takes 45 minutes (40 km).

14:15 - 16:45 Visit of Baux-de-Provence. Baux-de-Provence is located in the mountains, northeast of Arles, atop a rocky outcrop that is crowned with a ruined castle offering magnificent panoramic views. it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and has over 1.5 million visitors per year having just about 20 residents in the upper part of the commune.

16:45 Back ride to Avignon taking 45 minutes.

17:30 Arrival in Avignon. Free time. Overnight in Avignon.

Day 4:  Avignon — Pont du Gard — Nîmes — Arles

08.30 - 11:00  Pont du Gard - Roman aqueduct-bridge

08:30 Departure from Avignon to Pont du Gard. Approx 30 km to drive. 

09:00 - 11:00  Pont du Gard visit. The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water over 50 km (31 mi) to the Roman colony Nîmes. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges, as well as one of the best preserved. It was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in 1985 because of its exceptional preservation, historical importance, and architectural ingenuity. 

11:00  Departure to Nîmes. It takes about 30 minutes (23 km).

11.30 - 14:00 Nîmes

11:30 - 12:30  Walking tour Nîmes. Nîmes is located about 50 km from Avignon and has an estimated population of about 150 thousands inhabitants. Nîmes has a rich history dating back to the Roman Empire when the city was a regional capital with 50 to 60 thousand inhabitants. Several famous monuments are in Nîmes, such as the Arena of Nîmes and the Maison Carrée etc.

12:30 - 14:00 Free time for Lunch in the city center of Nimes. 

14.00 - 15:00 Visit of Roman Arena in Nîmes

14:00 - 15:00  Visit of Roman arena in Nîmes. The Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes is the best-conserved Roman arena. It was used for gladiator combats from the end of the first century AD. The amphitheatre is 133 meters long and 101 meters wide. The facade is 21 metres high, made up of two levels of arcades and divided into 60 spans. Numerous staircases and five circular galleries provide optimum circulation. Divided according to their social rank among the 34 tiers of seats, more than 23,000 visitors could attend combats between gladiators or animals. Today, the amphitheatre forms a fine venue for many occasions—bullfights, congresses, concerts and sports events.

15:15   Departure from Nîmes to Arles. There are about 35 km to drive. 

16.00 - 18:00 Arles

16:00 - 18:00 Arrival in Arles. Walking tour. Arles has a more than 2000 years history being one a very important city of the Roman empire. The Roman Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. Many artists have lived and worked in this area including Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin and the Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh who lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889. He paintedover 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. 

18:00 Departure from Arles to Avignon. There are about 40 km to drive.

18:45 Arrival in Avignon. Free time. Overnight in Avignon.

Day 5:  Avignon — Gordes — Roussillon — Moustiers-Sainte-Marie — Nice 

08:00 - 12:00  Visit of Gordes and Senanque Abbay

08:00 Departure from Avignon to Gordes. It takes about 1 hour drive on the picturesque National roads. Short stop at Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque for photos of Lavender fields and the Abbey.

09:30 - 10:30 Visit of the pictoresque Medieval village Gordes.

10:30 Departure from Avignon to Roussillon. Short stop at Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque for photos. It takes about 1 hour drive on the picturesque National roads. 

11:30 - 12:30 Roussillion

11:30 - 12:30 Short walking tour Roussillion and visit of its famous natural Park. Roussillon is located within the borders of the Natural Regional Park of Luberon. It is a small Medieval village in Provence with population of about 1,300 inhabitants. It is famous for its large ochre deposits found in the clay surrounding the village. Ochres are pigments ranging from yellow and orange to red. One of the former ochre quarries can be visited via the "Sentier des Ocres" (Ochre Path). 

12:30 - 14:00  Free time for Lunch. You can enjoy the city centre or we reserve for You a good restaurant.  

14:00  Departure to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. It takes about 2 hours (100 km).

16:00 - 17:00 Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

15:00 You will stop at the mountain village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie which has been listed since 1981 as one of the most beautiful village of France. The church, the old village walls, the chapels, the aqueduct, the fountains represent an alliance of water and stone. The pastel colours of the tiles and the lime stones create a living architectural whole. Moustiers has approximately 700 residents. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a tourist destination and is also famous for its hand made ceramic production (’faïence’) which you can find easily. 

17:00 Departure to Nice. It takes about 2,5 hours (150 km) on picturesque National roads. 

19:30 Arrival in Nice

19:30 Arrival in Nice. Accommodation at the central located hotel. Free time.