Your spirits are continuously lifted, driving through fields of lavender, sunflowers, olive groves and fruit orchards. This is an immensely fertile and productive area which is reflected in the villages’ weekly markets where you can buy the local produce and immerse yourselves in the Provençal daily life. Dotted around this verdant countryside are medieval villages, some perched high above you like Gordes with its cobbled streets and roof tops which inspired Van Gogh and Cézanne. You are spoilt for things to explore from historic Roman aquaducts to one of our most favourite expeditions – a visit to the 12th century Abbey of Senanque hidden in a lavender-filled valley.

Cistercian monks still live there producing honey, lavender essence and liqueurs. We would also recommend a visit to the Ochre Museum in the village of Roussillon and to the town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, known as the little Venice of Provence as it is criss-crossed by canals and rivers.

This is where you go to hunt down that Provençal treasure as it is really just one big antiques market from the shops to the stalls. These are just a very few ideas – there really is almost too much to do!

We would strongly encourage you consider a visit out of the height of the summer season, when the sun is less fierce but the skies are still blue. It is still pleasant to sit in the warm sunshine watching the world go by from a local café and enjoying a long lunch, or better still a glass of wine from your own poolside sun bed. And Autumn is the time of Vendage, the grape harvest, which makes for its own special buzz. Spring is when the valleys and hillsides are covered in fruit blossom.

Provence is Provence at any time of the year and there to be enjoyed!