Provence is one of the most idyllic and dreamy corners of France, and if you know where to look, there are plenty of places that will leave you breathless at their quaint beauty and sense of history. Ophorus Tours, a French, family run tour group, know exactly where to look for the most surprising, authentic and outright gorgeous sights and experiences – including a day tour of Aix-en-Provence and beyond…
Aix en Provence
Aix en Provence is a great place to use as a base for exploring the region. Founded by the Romans, it is simply dripping in history. A city of beautiful architecture, its narrow streets, café filled squares and ancient monuments have inspired many different artists over the centuries, such as the famous Paul Cezanne. And from Aix, you can take several day tours with Ophorus tours, of the sizzling city itself, the vineyards, historic cities and little villages. One of our favourites though is a tour that takes you to the most captivating of places – Cassis, the Calanques and the incredible Cosquer Cave in Marseilles. You’ll have an English-speaking guide, travel in a premium air-conditioned article and entry tickets are included.
Cassis
From Aix, head to the coast and discover enchanting Cassis. With a history that dates back to 600 BC, Cassis was an important trade route stop, and in due course it became a fortified town. It has a stunningly pretty fishing port and harbour where the refection of shuttered houses in muted tones of ochre, soft pinks and sandstone, shimmer in the dazzling blue Mediterranean Sea to a theme tune of the gentle chime of yachts and boats moored in front of quayside restaurants and cafés.
Surrounded by pine forests, rocky hills and vineyards, Cassis has oodles of charm. You’ll have time for shopping in the lovely boutiques and enjoy lunch at the harbour’s edge, where you’ll enjoy local produce – don’t miss the freshly caught seafood washed down with the area’s famous local rosé wines.
Calanques National Park
Before lunch in Cassis, you’ll take boat ride (ticked included) in the Calanques National Park, a UNESCO-listed area and nature at its most stunning. There are hidden fjords and inlets, and sandy beaches with crystal clear water whilst above, vast rocky limestone hills famous for their flora and fauna hang over the water. The boat trip includes a visit to two of the most famous, exquisite inlets – Port-Miou and Port-Pin.
The Calanques have a dramatically beautiful landscape and sailing along the tranquil cuts and curves of the coast with little more than the sound of the lapping water and the cicadas singing from the shore, gives you a real sense of the past as well as the impressiveness of nature in this region.
Cosquer Cave
After lunch, your driver will take you, via the scenic route to Marseille with panoramic views of the Mediterranean, to visit the magnificent Cosquer Cave replica site. Discovered in 1985 by professional diver Henri Cosquer, the entrance to the cave is 37 metres under the water and the walls are covered in an incredible display of nearly 500 prehistoric drawings on the rock walls some of which date back between 33,000 and 19,000 years. The drawings include a variety of animals, humans and marine life and it’s an incredibly rare representation of life in the Paleolithic period.
In order to protect the cave, whilst still giving visitors an opportunity to experience this extraordinary pocket of the past, the Cosquer Cave replica (ticket included), is a fascinating experience as you explore in a special vehicle (Jurassic Park-like!) that takes you through the replica of the original underwater entrance and into the cave so that you can see and feel the atmosphere within. With helpful information and interpretation of the many drawings, it’s a fascinating experience and a chance to get underwater without actually getting wet.
A unique way to explore and discover
Ophorus tours have created a number of unique ways to discover some of these stunning and unforgettable corners of Provence. Better still, they take all the hassle out of visiting places like Cassis (where parking is extremely limited) and also operate on a Sunday when this corner of France tends to go a little quiet with many attractions shut.
To find out more or to book, visit: ophorus.com and use the code FRANCEWITHOPHORUS to get 15% off…
