
10 Best Markets & Shops in Provence
FranceIt’s no wonder why we’ve spent decades roaming Provence: this Southern France beauty has too many things going for it. Here is an ancient ...
READ MOREWith sprawling fields of fragrant lavender, Forcalquier’s incredible market and indescribably soft sunlight that captivated the likes of Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso, Provence’s picture-perfect beauty can seem almost unreal. Maybe that’s why we’re drawn to the lesser-known, hidden heart of Provencal life: games of boules with our friend Bernard, nights in the magical La Bastide de Marie and wine tastings with local friends. As good as it looks?
No—much better.
Go Bespoke: Whatever your heart’s desire, one of our seasoned Trip Designers will dream up a totally custom B&R experience that you’ll never forget.
All of our scheduled trips can be booked as private trips (your dates, your group).
The right number of like-minded travellers to make new friends.
Your dates. Your group. Our expertly-designed itinerary.
Tailored to your interests, a bespoke travel experience.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain with a few small hills—all very manageable for people trying their first biking trip.
Walking – 6-10 km (4-6 mi.) a day on country lanes, footpaths and coastal or forest trails, all on relatively flat terrain, perhaps with an occasional hill.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over terrain that’s relatively flat but will include inclines and the occasional climb or two.
Walking – 8-12 km (5-7 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain, with occasional steeper climbs.
Biking – 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day in gently rolling countryside, with occasional longer climbs to points that are well worth the effort.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over rolling terrain on a variety of surfaces. Most days, one or two steeper climbs to spectacular viewpoints or places of interest.
Biking – Roughly 50 km (30 mi.) a day in consistently rolling countryside, with repeated climbs and longer options available.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) over terrain that varies between rolling and hilly, with a few steeper climbs.
Biking – 50-60 km (30-45 mi.) a day over both level and tougher, hillier terrain with multiple 100 km (62 mi.) options. The routes are designed for avid cyclists and include plenty of chances to push yourself.
Walking – 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day over fairly hilly terrain offering lots of challenges. Routes are along high meadow paths and/or well-maintained cliffside or alpine trails, with a few steep ascents to make you feel invigorated.
We use premium hotels that are unique expressions of the region. Often they’ve had a previous life as a monastery or a castle, but in every case they offer an exceptionally comfortable stay.
These are stylish 4-star properties that offer a casual and comfortable stay. Often without a 24-hour concierge or room service, they tend to be smaller family-run hotels that are perfect for the region.
We craft extraordinary experiences, tailor made to meet your every need,
with every stitch of every day crafted just the way you want it.
We’ve been in Provence so long, our
friends have an open gate policy.
This was our fourth B&R trip and it was magnificent. Provence was the most beautiful landscape yet! We are busy planning next year’s trip as we are always so pleased with the quality of the hotels, the food and wine, and of course the cycling. Thank you once again B&R!
It’s no wonder why we’ve spent decades roaming Provence: this Southern France beauty has too many things going for it. Here is an ancient ...
READ MORESouthern France conjures up images of leisurely sun-soaked afternoons, the heady perfume of lavender fields, and the rustic charm of provincial ...
READ MOREWith a diverse array of soils and one of France's largest outputs of wine, narrowing down the best rhone valley wines is as challenging as it is ...
READ MOREWe've rounded up a few of our favourite things to do in the quintessential Provençal town that inspired Van Gogh’s The Starry ...
READ MOREFrom Van Gogh to the Marquis de Sade, the corner of Provence known as the Luberon has long called to creatives—and with good ...
READ MORE"A convivial game to play with friends" (albeit one with a competitive edge), petanque revolves around le cochonnet (the ...
READ MORE"On the shaded terrace of Le Bistrot de Pierrerue, in a drowsy, sunbaked old village close to the middle of nowhere, our Lycra-clad gang has a Sunday lunch to ...
READ MORE"Take the slow road. Organize bespoke hiking and biking trips through the prettiest Tuscan and Provencal countryside between the best hotels, restaurants and vineyards. They transport your luggage and lay on guides and ...
READ MOREWith a languid pace perfectly representative of life in Provence, the game of boules, also known as pétanque, has become a quintessential symbol of Provençal ...
READ MOREReal Provençal cuisine is high-spirited but simple, focusing on preserving the taste and texture of seasonal, fresh ingredients. ...
READ MOREHome to the Côtes du Rhône and the world famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in Provence the vineyards stand out as distinctly as the fields of ...
READ MOREDeciding what to see in Provence when you only have a few days to explore is a little bit like choosing which Beatles song to listen to when you only have a few minutes: you know you can't really go wrong, but it's still so hard to ...
READ MOREThere are myriad reasons to visit Provence, but after years spent wandering the countryside, we've narrowed it down to ...
READ MORECheck out what some of our amazing travellers have to say about the land of lavender fields, ...
READ MORE"(Provence) has a certain elegance in the presentation of itself," says B&R guide and Provence specialist Thilo Erhardt. ...
READ MOREThe Greeks believed that the cultivation of the olive tree was the hallmark of a civilized society, and they may have been on to something. ...
READ MOREB&R Trip Planner Olivier Maillard enjoyed an opportunity to sit down with chef Christophe Renaud to get a taste of what feeds this young phenom’s ...
READ MOREWe set out just after dawn to get a head start on the day’s heat, pedaling fast under a tattered blanket of fog. The night before, a strong, cold mistral wind had swept away the last of a long and languorous ...
READ MORE“It was exhilarating to cycle down local farm roads, surrounded by fields of luscious lavender, olive groves and five or six-foot high sunflowers.”
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