b'ClassicTour idyllic Provenal villages, view Roman influences by the Rhne and experience local gastronomy while staying in the7 DAYS fromcharming city of Avignon. 1,995 ppYOUR ITINERARYTO/FROMDays 1-2. London to Avignon, Provence, the art and history of Arles Chteauneuf-du-Pape PARISWe meet at London St Pancras before boarding the Eurostar service to Paris. Travelling in Eurostar Plus class, we enjoy a light meal on the way to the French capital. Here, we change to First Class seats on the high-speed TGV, arrivingPont Du Gard 6 Avignonin the historic city of Avignon in the early evening. Our central hotel hasUzswonderful facilities and we have our first dinner in the hotel restaurant.GordesOn Day 2, after a leisurely breakfast, we take a boat cruise along the Rhne.FRANCEWith lunch on board, we sail into picturesque landscapes, passing the riverbank chteau at Tarascon. Arriving in Arles, theres free time to exploreArlesthis historic town at leisure - from the UNESCO-listed Roman arena to the Place de la Rpublique with its Romanesque cathedral. The legacy of one of Arles most famous residents, artist Vincent van Gogh, is visible in many parts of theWHATS INCLUDED:old town. The artist lived in and painted many parts of Arles and his work is celebrated at the Van Gogh Foundation. You could visit the Place du Forum and 6 nights in 4-Star hotel bask in the scene which inspired van Goghs renowned piece Caf Terrace ataccommodation Night before catching the train back to Avignon for a free evening.Eurostar Standard Premier/Days 3-4. The City of Popes, the beautiful villages of Provence Eurostar PlusToday we set out on a walking tour of the sights of Avignon, with an expert First Class rail travelguide. We see the famous Pont St Bnezet, which features in the popular All rail, cruise and coach travel childrens song Sur le Pont dAvignon. We also stop by the Palais des Papes throughout your tour(the Papal Palace), the seat of the papacy during the 14th century, which formsExpertise of a UK Tour Manager the largest medieval Gothic palace in Europe. With an afternoon at leisure, youfrom start to finishcould stroll through the Jardin des Doms, for views of the Rhne. The citys attractive squares offer an abundance of restaurants and bars.Eurostar light mealsBreakfast each day, 1 lunch, After breakfast on Day 4, we visit a nougaterie, learning about the history of2 dinnersnougat before sampling some ourselves. Arriving in the beautiful ProvenalAll guided tours and excursionsvillage of LIsle-sur-la-Sorgue at lunchtime, we have time to explore the Venice of Provence. Surrounded by the Sorgue river, this island village is also known as the antiques capital of Provence. Our next stop is Gordes, one of the most well-known hilltop villages in the region. At the heart of the village is its 10th-century chteau. There is free time in Gordes to wander through its delightful streets. We return to Avignon and you are free to dine independently tonight.Tour Code: AVB| per person based onDays 5-7. Gastronomic tour, Pont du Gard, wine tasting, homeward bound 2 sharing. Supplement for solo travellers Like many French cities, Avignon has a vibrant culinary scene. We join afrom 450.knowledgeable guide who introduces us to artisan producers before visiting different stalls at the citys renowned food market, Les Halles. We sample2025 Departures: delicacies such as sacristain (an almond pastry), Camargue salt toffee, andAPR, MAY, JUN, AUG, SEP, OCTcallison (soft, melon-flavoured sweets). Your afternoon is free to explore independently. You could opt to pay to enter the Palais des Papes for a tour or head to the cobblestone Rue des Teinturiers (Street of Dyers) with its stream and waterwheels. Avignons squares are ideal for a meal or a glass of wine. MobilityRating 1 2 3 4On Day 6 we visit the iconic Pont du Gard. Constructed in the first century AD, this UNESCO-listed aqueduct used to transport water to the Roman city of Nmes. A highlight of our holiday follows as we enjoy a presentation and tasting of Chteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the most celebrated wines in theSecure your place nowworld. We return to Avignon in time for our final dinner together at our hotel. with a 400pp depositLeaving Avignon on Day 7, we board the direct train to Paris then switch to the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.Search greatrail.com/AVB25FRANCE 59'