Luxury self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside with overnight stops in Burgundy and Champagne
Your destination on this self-drive holiday to the countryside of Provence is the département of the Var and a rural location south of the picturesque village of Fayence. This area that lies between the reddish cliffs of the Esterel Massif near the Mediterranean coast and the rugged foothills of the Alps is a mix of rolling hills, covered with oak, chesnut, pines and Mediterranean shrubs, cypress trees, olive groves and vines and here and there perched villages of pale stone with wooden shuttered windows. There are miles of marked paths for country walks, and for water sports you have the Lac de St Cassien and the Gorges du Verdon within easy driving distance. In the Gorges of the Siagne there are cascades, caves and natural bridges as well as a chance to splash in the waters, fish and rock-climb. If you want to brave the bustle of the Riviera, the Bay of Cannes is just over 30 minutes’ drive away. Fayence is also home to an antiques fair several times a year. Your route from Calais in the north to the countryside of Provence takes you through Burgundy, along the Rhone valley to an overnight stop near Mont Ventoux, and then following the same route back but with a stop in the Burgundy wine village of Puligny-Montrachet and then in the Champagne region before reaching Calais and the return Eurotunnel crossing.
Highlights
Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais • Burgundy • Rhone Valley • Mont Ventoux • Drive through the Luberon • Visit the Gorges du Verdon • Visit Lac de St Cassien • Visit Fayence and Seillans • Discover the rural history along marked walking trails • Champagne
Day by day
You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to it’s a drive of about six hours through the Pas-de-Calais, around the cathedral city of Reims in the Champagne and then south-east passing Dijon to reach your overnight stop in Burgundy which is not far from the regional centre of Beaune.
It’s worth making an early start today as there are many places of interest between here and Vienne where you’ll stop for the night. The driving time is only about three hours so make the most of stops along the route. Initially, on your doorstep you have some of the most famous vineyards of the Cote de Nuits such as those in Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges and just a little further south is the picturesque town of Beaune, at the heart of Burgundy with its famous Hotel de Dieu. From Beaune, reject the A6 motorway for a while and take the route through the Cote de Beaune vineyards, visiting the villages of Pommard and Meursault. You return to this area for an overnight at the end of your holiday so you might want to join the motorway at this point and continue south. Tournus is worthy of a visit or even a lunch stop, and nearby, just off to the west is the Abbey at Cluny. South of Macon you enter the Beaujolais region, where you will be struck by the golden ochre of the village buildings, attributed to a local type of limestone. Continue your journey south along the Rhone valley as both the landscape and the architecture changes. Near Orange you leave the motorway to cross through the vineyards of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaume-de-Venise to reach your overnight stop in a village near the mighty Mont Ventoux.
Today’s drive should be a delightful journey through the Provence countryside visiting some of the most beautiful landscapes and villages. We suggest you drive across country, south to the Lubéron, renowned for its pretty villages, lavender beds, olive groves and vines, and a landscape immortalised by the works of Van Gogh and Cézanne. From the Lubéron head towards the Gorges du Verdon before driving south through the wooded countryside and hill villages such as Tourtour and Bargemon before reaching your hotel.
You have six whole days to relax and explore both at your hotel and in the immediate area. Your base on this self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside affords you opportunities to rest alongside activities, both within the grounds and further afield. There are walking tracks, water sports on the Lac de St Cassien and at the Gorges du Verdon, there are markets to explores and hill-top villages of pale stone houses with shuttered windows and shady squares to wander in, and there are all sorts of local products to taste and purchase. The vibrancy of the Riviera is within easy driving distance if you want a change of tempo and scenery.
This is the longest day’s drive so it’s probably a motorway route through Provence, passing Aix-en-Provence and Avignon before tracking northwards along the Rhone valley until you reach Burgundy once more, and this time the famous village of Puligny-Montrachet, at the heart of the Cote de Beaune.
It’s a drive of under four hours today, so depending upon your interests, you can linger in Puligny-Montrachet, perhaps visiting renowned wine cellars or you can make your way straight to Epernay and visit the Champagne houses here before checking in to your hotel for the night.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £3,430 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD19
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside with overnight stops in Burgundy and Champagne
You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to it’s a drive of about six hours through the Pas-de-Calais, around the cathedral city of Reims in the Champagne and then south-east passing Dijon to reach your overnight stop in Burgundy which is not far from the regional centre of Beaune.
It’s worth making an early start today as there are many places of interest between here and Vienne where you’ll stop for the night. The driving time is only about three hours so make the most of stops along the route. Initially, on your doorstep you have some of the most famous vineyards of the Cote de Nuits such as those in Vosne-Romanée and Nuits-Saint-Georges and just a little further south is the picturesque town of Beaune, at the heart of Burgundy with its famous Hotel de Dieu. From Beaune, reject the A6 motorway for a while and take the route through the Cote de Beaune vineyards, visiting the villages of Pommard and Meursault. You return to this area for an overnight at the end of your holiday so you might want to join the motorway at this point and continue south. Tournus is worthy of a visit or even a lunch stop, and nearby, just off to the west is the Abbey at Cluny. South of Macon you enter the Beaujolais region, where you will be struck by the golden ochre of the village buildings, attributed to a local type of limestone. Continue your journey south along the Rhone valley as both the landscape and the architecture changes. Near Orange you leave the motorway to cross through the vineyards of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaume-de-Venise to reach your overnight stop in a village near the mighty Mont Ventoux.
Today’s drive should be a delightful journey through the Provence countryside visiting some of the most beautiful landscapes and villages. We suggest you drive across country, south to the Lubéron, renowned for its pretty villages, lavender beds, olive groves and vines, and a landscape immortalised by the works of Van Gogh and Cézanne. From the Lubéron head towards the Gorges du Verdon before driving south through the wooded countryside and hill villages such as Tourtour and Bargemon before reaching your hotel.
You have six whole days to relax and explore both at your hotel and in the immediate area. Your base on this self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside affords you opportunities to rest alongside activities, both within the grounds and further afield. There are walking tracks, water sports on the Lac de St Cassien and at the Gorges du Verdon, there are markets to explores and hill-top villages of pale stone houses with shuttered windows and shady squares to wander in, and there are all sorts of local products to taste and purchase. The vibrancy of the Riviera is within easy driving distance if you want a change of tempo and scenery.
This is the longest day’s drive so it’s probably a motorway route through Provence, passing Aix-en-Provence and Avignon before tracking northwards along the Rhone valley until you reach Burgundy once more, and this time the famous village of Puligny-Montrachet, at the heart of the Cote de Beaune.
It’s a drive of under four hours today, so depending upon your interests, you can linger in Puligny-Montrachet, perhaps visiting renowned wine cellars or you can make your way straight to Epernay and visit the Champagne houses here before checking in to your hotel for the night.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £3,430 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD19
Our prices include
● Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais return for car and passengers
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic double at the Hostellerie de Levernois, near Beaune, Burgundy
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Superior room at the Chateau de Mazan, Provence
● 7 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Classic double at the Chateau de Berne near Draguignan
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Le Montrachet, Burgundy
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Classic room at Hostellerie La Briqueterie in Epernay, Champagne
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
Additional information
Driving times for this self-drive holiday
Calais to Beaune 6 hours
Beaune to Mazan 4 hours
Mazan to Draguignan 3 hours
Draguignan to Montrachet 6 hrs
Montrachet to Epernay 3 hrs 20 mins
Epernay to Calais 3 hours
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside with overnight stops in Burgundy and Champagne
The Château de Mazan is a luxury, 4-star hotel in a beautiful natural location. Luxury accommodation, gourmet cuisine and unique artistic touches afford guests a truly relaxing and tranquil experience.
Superior room
L'Auberge du Château de Berne is an exclusive 5-star hotel set amidst vineyards and a wine producing estate in the rolling hills of Provence. Gourmet cuisine and excellent spa facilities afford guests a truly relaxing and indulgent experience.
Classic double
COMO Le Montrachet is a boutique 4-star hotel in the superb wine village of Montrachet. Excellent cuisine and comfortable accommodation make this property a relaxing haven and an excellent spot to explore the Burgundy wine region.
Classic room
Hostellerie La Briqueterie is a 5-star boutique hotel, perfectly situated for exploring the wineries of the Champagne region, including some of the most prestigious champagne houses. Delicious cuisine and excellent spa facilities afford guests a truly tranquil experience.
Classic room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
Excellent. So much easier coming to you than trying to book accommodation ourselves. Will certainly come to you again, especially for a self-drive holiday.Mr D, Sep 2023
Holiday price guide Prices from £3,430 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code FRSD19
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside with overnight stops in Burgundy and Champagne
About Burgundy
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Burgundy is an opportunity to explore an area which is famous throughout France as being a region rich in wine and gastronomy as well as in history and art. The best-known area of Burgundy is that of the Cote d`Or and the Cote de Beaune located close to Beaune with its villages whose names are those of some of the most famous wines; Gevrey Chambertin, Nuits St Georges, Pommard, Meursault and Montrachet. Beaune itself, deserves a visit with its enchanting 15th Century Hotel Dieu and wine museum. While on holiday in Burgundy you will find that almost everywhere there are offers of wine tastings and direct sales. This area of eastern France is all too often visited just en route from the north to the south, but we would urge you to linger a little longer and enjoy a longer holiday in Burgundy to explore the region in detail. A self-drive touring holiday is an excellent way to explore Burgundy, offering the chance to discover the vineyards of northern France; to combine a stay here with one in Beaujolais; to travel further south en route to Provence; or to enjoy a tour around the whole of France.
Highlights of Burgundy
Cultural highlights include Burgundy wines and marcs, local wine festivals, the Beaujolais vineyards, and the Romanesque architecture.
Climate of Burgundy
Average air temperatures in centigrade: Jan: 6.1, Feb: 5.9, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 15.3, May: 15.8, Jun: 23.8, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 26.1, Sep: 21.2, Oct: 15.5, Nov: 9.1, Dec: 6.2. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside with overnight stops in Burgundy and Champagne
About Champagne
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Champagne offers the chance to explore one of the great historic provinces of France. Known in the 9th century under Charlemagne for its agricultural riches, it became famous for its produce and celebrated fairs. Today, though known of course for its eponymous sparkling wine, and despite lying en route from the UK to the south of France, Champagne is one of the least visited regions in France, an under sung gem waiting to be explored. Naturally, bubbly looms large on the list of attractions for visitors to the region, with Epernay, a lovely town on the chalky hills southwest of Reims, the undisputed champagne capital of the world. Here, you can enjoy tastings at the home of several champagne producers, including Moet & Chandon and Perrier-Jouet. Smaller producers can also be visited between the pretty towns of Bar sur Aube and Les Riceys. Champagne can also be tasted at the celebrated Taittinger cellars in Reims, the largest town in the Champagne. A bustling university city, Reims has all the feel of a busy regional capital, with a fabulous old town and magnificent 13th century cathedral, one of the greatest gothic buildings of northern France. Largely made up of undulating hills and pretty farmland, Champagne's landscape rises in the north towards the densely wooded, river-riven walker's paradise of the Ardennes, with the Plateau de Langres in the south home to the fortified Roman hill town of Langres, sometimes known as the Carcassonne of the North - without the crowds. Due to its proximity to the north coast of France, the Champagne region can easily be incorporated into a self-drive touring holiday of the Northern Vineyards or can be used as a stopover en route to the French Alps and Lakes.
Highlights of Champagne
Champagne cellar visits in Reims, Epernay and in vineyards along the Aube; the old town of Charleville Mezieres, capital of the Ardennes department; Charles de Gaulle's country residence and burial site, Colombey les Deux Eglises; Reims, with one of the finest medieval cathedrals in France, once the coronation place of French kings, now with one of the best son-et-lumieres in France; Reims' magnificent Roman triumphal arch; Lac du Der, the biggest reservoir in Europe, one of the most important migration routes for Europe's waterfowl, sheltering vast flocks of cranes, passing through in their thousands in spring and autumn; the fortified hill town of Langres, ‘Carcassonne of the North’ - minus the crowds; la foret d'Orient near Troyes and Montagne de Reims, both Regional Natural Parks; river trips along the Seine, the Marne, and the Aube; the 13th century gothic cathedral of Troyes, with its spectacular stained glass windows; autumn wine festivals.
Travel around the Champagne region
The Champagne region is reached very easily from the UK by air and rail. With the most extensive rail network in Western Europe, France is a great country to explore by train. The nationally owned SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer) runs fast, efficient services between the main towns. Buses cover the rural areas, but services can be rather sporadic, with departures often at awkward times. To visit Champagne's cellars - the main reason for being here - by far the best option is to rent a car.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury self-drive holiday to the Provence countryside with overnight stops in Burgundy and Champagne
About Provence
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Provence, the land which is the ancient province of the Romans, offers a rich tapestry of landscapes, culture and traditions. From the sunflower fields of Van Gogh`s Arles, to the sandy marshes of the Camargue, from the Cezanne like landscapes of Aix inland to the olive groves and lavender beds that surround the perched hill top villages, and finally to the dramatic coastline of the azure Mediterranean where the sandy beaches, craggy corniches and fishing villages have been transformed into a sophisticated holiday playground you experience a multitude of contrasting and complementary senses and images. The perfumes of lavender, thyme, rosemary, citrus, pine and olive mingle in the air and the light is bright and clear. Add to all these sensations a wonderful climate, good food and local wine and unlimited sporting and sightseeing activities and you can understand why Provence is not just an ideal holiday destination but a romantic way of life. Provence still has miles of open road across country, tiny, sleepy villages, dramatic hills and craggy peaks, beautiful, sense enriching panoramas and aromas all waiting for you to explore and enjoy.
Highlights of Provence
Cultural highlights include santons, Souleiado Provençal fabrics, herbs and lavender, wine and olive oil, melons and pastis, boules and berets.
Provence Climate
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: January: 12.2, February: 11.9, March: 14.2, April: 18.5, May: 20.8, June: 26.6, July: 28.1, August: 28.4, September: 25.2, October: 22.1, November: 16.8, December: 14.1. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.
