Holiday in Vaucluse, Provence and then St Mandrier - any tips? Vineyards? Velo?

[MmeLindt]

We have one week in Provence, then on to the south of France.

Two DC, DD 8yo, DS 6yo.

Any good ideas? We would like to take the bikes and perhaps do a bit of touring, but it would have to suitable for the DC.

Good vineyards to visit?

bump

Just as well I am not driving, since no one is drinking with me. I might finish the bottle soon.

It's a large area - where will you be staying? you could go to the vineyards open nearest to where you're staying. A visit to Le Palais des Papes is interesting & cooling plus great park there as well.

We are staying in Sablet for one week then St Mandrier the second week.

Can't help with Provence, really, but we had a lovely holiday in Toulouse/Bordeaux a few years back. Not sure if that's too far or what you want to do, but it's all I got! Let me know if it helps and will dig out references.

My sister has done Provence a few times and loved the Camargue. She stayed at some fabulous hotel (as she always does) and met some rustic cowboys and all that. A bit different to the riviera and vineyard route.

Lovely MmeL thank you. It's a great region - you could have a super time just cycling in the early mornings, swimming & resting in the afternoon & making an evening meal with the best veg & fruit ever

When are you arriving, MmeLindt?
I'm right down in south-east Luberon; it is farking boiling at the moment. Where you are going is currently one of the hottest areas in France.
I'd only be planning early morning cycling, TBH, and vineyards if there are nice plane tree-lined avenues for shade. I don't know that area at all: I'd say you need to be looking for a lake/pool or other swimming spot to cool off, with good shade.
Maybe heading in the morning to a market and then picnicking somewhere shady with lovely fruit/veg/local cheese, etc? Melons are still lovely just now, cherries too. And the apricots are brilliant this year.
Avignon is tourist land at this time of year, and it gets v, v hot. Except in the Palais des Papes, true enough.

We are going in two weeks, AuldAlliance. We are used to warm weather here in Geneva so wont suffer too much.

I like the idea of early morning cycling and then relaxing in the afternoon.

Will check out the Camargue, have read about it before.

We thought we would do a bit of sightseeing the first week and more relaxing when we are in St Mandrier.

Thanks all for the tips.

There seems to be a plan d'eau 2km from Sablet. Well worth checking out. And VTT trails the same distance away.

Beaumes de Venise vineyards maybe interesting.

Around Gordes is lovely, but perhaps a bit far away from your base.

The Camargue is nice, but again, there's almost no shade at all, and down there the heat is often blistering, so prepare carefully!

"We have one week in Provence, then on to the south of France."

Provence is the south of France, at least to everyone up here!

When we were on holiday in the Drôme a few years ago, everybody recommended 'la ferme aux crocodiles' in Pierrelatte, just off the A7, south of Montélimar. We didn't go because we thought DCs were too young but I should think 8 and 6 is an ideal age.

LOL, Othersideofthechannel. I have bought a map so can now tell you that we are spending a week in Vaucluse then a week in Var & Iles d'Hyeres. (Or that is what the map says)

Crocodiles sound just perfect for DS.