Friday June 16th

We will be on French Riviera June 16th to June 21st. Will arrive at Nice at 15:35pm coming from Budapest , flying Wizzair. Take an Uber or taxi to go to our apartment on 43 Rue James Close in Antibes. Should take Rte. du Bord de Mer for nicer views. Settling in the apartment and exploring the old town.

Saturday June 17th

Morning going to the market (farmer’s market near us is only in the morning till 12:30) Marche Provencal. Going to the beach and checking out Mediterranean Sea: Plage de la Gravette . After 2:00 pm Musee Picasso (open till 6:00pm) and checking craft market (the same Marche Provencal becomes craft market in the afternoon after 3:00pm). For Robbie: check out Musée Peynet Et Du Dessin Humoristique Walk through Antibes, try Creperie du Port for Bretagne crepes or Les Filles du Micocoulier (crepes too).

Sunday June 18th

Guided tour to St Paul De Vence, Gourdon, Tourettes-sur-Loup and Grasse with Eden Tour (Phillipe). Early train ride to Nice to get there by 8:45 am.

To see in Saint-Paul-de-Vence: place de la Grande-Fontaine, La Colombe d’Or (restaurant where famous painters were paying for dinner with their paintings), must see La Chapelle Folon ( The White Penitents’ Chapel), check out Galeries Bartoux Saint-Paul de Vence (some surprising art), quick bites to eat : L’épicerie des artistes and visit Tour de l’Espéron at the entrance ( part of the medieval town). Go all to the way toward the cemetery for a great view over the valley. To capture a view of St. Paul village from the bottom all the way to the mountain top, stop on Route des Serres.

To see in Gourdon: Old town, Église?Church Saint-Pierre. From the side of the Church of Saint-Pierre you can continue along a path to reach the ruined castle above the village. Another interesting church in Gourdon is the Church of Notre-Dame des Cordeliers, dating from the 13th century

To see in Tourettes-sur-Loup : Église(church) Saint-Grégoire and old town, eat violet ice-cream at Tom’s

To see in Grasse (the world capital of perfumery): free tour of Fragonard perfumery, International Perfume Museum

Afternoon in Nice exploring the Old Town, Promenade Des Anglais.

Monday June 19th

Train trip to Monaco and Menton. Probably meeting with Florin and Angelo in Menton.

Monaco:

Taxi or Uber to Prince’s Palace (up on a rock). Enjoy the view from the lookouts. Check out the view from Ruelle Sainte- Barbe. If there at 11:50 am watch the changing of the guards. Walk around old town or go to Casino de Monte-Carlo (taxi/uber otherwise half an hour walk). Around 12:30 pm go back to the train station or uber to get to Menton.

Menton:

Meet with Florin and Angelo. Maybe lunch at La Madragone or Little Italy or light lunch at Fleur De Seul (creperie). Visit old town (13 Rue de la Conception, Place Fontana, Quai Imperatrice Eugenie, Rampe Saint-Michel) and Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel. Go to the beach (Plage des Sablettes). Visit Museum Jean Cocteau (film director). Visit Jardin Maria Serena if open , Jardin Fontana Rose (Spanish style garden). Need to get tickets ahead from here. Maybe visit Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical Garden (no advance tickets required).

Tuesday June 20th – Eze and Nice

Trip to Eze and Nice. Early morning travel by train to Villefrench-sur Mer . Taxi/Uber to Eze. Must see La Jardin Exotique for views but not only. Check out Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. Wander through old town. Take Uber back to Nice to Cimiez Monastery. Check out the garden of the monastery for the views also Thermes romains de Cimiez (Roman ruins) for Cristi. Then go down the hill to visit Chagall Museum (open Monday 10-5pm). Take a Uber to old town (otherwise 26 min walk) Explore old town. Have socca at Chez Teressa and ice cream at Fenocchio (rose, jasmine and orange blossom). Pass by Musee du Palais Lascaris.(10am-6pm) and Cathedrale Sain Reparate de Nice, Opera De Nice , Hotel Negresco, Cours Saleya (farmer’s market)

Wednesday June 21st – Fête de la Musique

Morning:

Going to the beach in Antibes

Afternoon and evening: Enjoy Fête de la Musique’ the music concerts on the Antibes’ streets.

Useful websites:

Omio – trains schedule in France

Sncfconnect – train tickets (DOWNLOAD APP on phones)

Menton city

Antibes city

Map of Antibes, Nice, Villefranche-sur mere, Eze, Monaco and Menton:

Provence – Luberon Valley

Thursday June 22nd

travel to L’Isle Sur la Sorgue , rent a car from Avis Antibes train station and drive directly to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. Go to the market directly. Maybe check-in before. Explore L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. Try to find all 7 water wheels. Or drive to Velerron for 6:00pm farmer’s market.

Friday June 23rd

Lavender field trip:

Plan A – if we did the L’Isle Sur la Sorgue ‘ market then we start a loop to see a couple of Luberon villages and the lavender fields on the way there.

Rouissillon: Place de la Mairie , the church and Belvedere lookouts

Goult: not as touristic ..maybe have lunch here. walk to the old mill to see the view over Luberon valley, eat at La Terrsase or Le Carillon ( ! lunch 12-1:30pm)

Menerbes:

Plan B : if we didn’t get to L’Isle sur la Sorgue farmer’s market we can start with Bonnieux farmer’s market (start early only 25 minute drive)

Bonnieux: Friday Market, Boulangerie Museum, Bonnieux – église haute, (maybe get lunch on the go – picnic style)

next Roussillon (the orange city- the color comes from the ochre pigment extracted from the nearby hills), Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, Gordes (maybe only the lookout , depending how busy it is).

Both plans we will stop by lavender fields on our way. It’s not really possible to pin them on the map.

Diner in L’isle Sur la Sorgue