from Catharism to Modern Art

Day 1 Toulouse - Carcassonne

Arrival in the morning at Toulouse Blagnac Airport. Meet your guide and bus driver and transfer to Carcassonne medieval city in order to discover the fortified town.
Walk through the fortifications, the battlements and the St Nazaire Basilica.
Check-in at your hotel.

In the morning, meet your guide and driver and reach the "The Truffle House". Discover how this precious mushroom grows, is cultivated and collected, its environment and how the farm does work;
Then, driving through the roads of the Minervois region, reach the charming little village of Minerve. Built on the top of a rocky escarpment, Minerve is stuck in between the Brian and Cesse rivers and is known as one of the "most charming villages of France". The village is also famous for the terrible troubles that happened during the Albigensian Crusade.
Lunch in a restaurant of the village.
Driving through the region, stop at le Somail, a port along the Canal du Midi. This little village is an original port from the 17th century, maybe the most charming one. Then visit Fontfroide Cistercian Abbey and its beautiful roses garden. This private abbey is nowadays famous for its Ancient and Modern Art.
Drive back to Carcassonne for dinner and night.

Day2 Minervois

Day 3 Cathar castles

Visit Queribus, a fortified castle built on a rocky peak overlooking the Roussillon plains and the Corbieres Mountains. It was the last place to resist during the Crusade against the Cathars.
Lunch in the village of Cucugnan.
Drive to the Peyrepertuse Castle. This fortified castle is one of the best examples of Medieval architecture in Languedoc. From a point of view toward the Castle let your guide comment you the history of this place and explain how it was conquered by the French army.
On the way back, stop at Maury winery and taste the sweet natural wine produced there. Drive back to Carcassonne for dinner and night.

In the morning departure toward the city of Foix. Walk through the city streets leading to the Counts Castle. The weapons room in the castle still preserves armors, swords and some other tools from the Middle Ages. Then, climb on the top of the castle and enjoy a wonderful view over the Pyrenees mountains. From the top of the castle, just ear the melodious song "Se Canto" written during the 14th century by Count Gaston Phoebus. Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, drive to Montsegur. This place was the last place of resistance during the Cathars crusade. (30 minutes to climb and 30 minutes to go down). This fortress from the 13th century replaces a fortified village and was also famous to be one of the most important refuge for the Cathar community and fallen nobles of the region.
Drive back to Carcassonne for dinner and night.

Day4 Foix - MontsÃ©gur

Day 5 Collioure - CÃ©ret

Check out after breakfast and drive in direction of the Pyrenees to visit the village of Ceret, the town of cherries. In this charming village, Picasso, Braque and Juan Gris found some inspiration for their cubist paintings. During the 1950, Picasso offered painted ceramic plates to the city Modern Art Museum one is decorated with a bullfighting thematic. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, drive to Collioure, a beautiful and charming port known for its light and colors. This little Catalan village attracted and inspired the Fauve painters such as Matisse or Derain. Visit the sumptuous church of Notre-Dame des Anges. and admire the gorgeous retable made in the Catalan baroque style. Then departure to Montpellier. Accommodation in an hotel in the city centre of Montpellier. Dinner on your own, overnight in Montpellier in the city centre.

After breakfast, visit Montpellier Fine Arts museum: Le Musée Fabre. On the occasion of the great Picasso Mediterranean Project, visit the temporary exhibition including some art works of the painter. Take a chance to admire and appreciate the paintings of Picasso. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit Montpellier historical centre. Born during the Middle Ages, Montpellier has still many secrets and treasures to show. Strolling through the city, appreciate its nice and charming narrow streets, façades and courtyards of private mansions, the pilgrimage path to Santiago of Compostella and so many other secrets. Also, enjoy some free time to stroll on your own or to shop a little. Dinner on your own, overnight in Montpellier.

Day6 Montpellier

Day 7 Nimes

Check out after breakfast, departure toward one of the most charming cities of Southern France, also prestigious for its preserving roman buildings. First of all, visit Nimes, live the gladiators fights and roman games with the visit of a roman amphitheatre. You would be surprised to visit such an exceptional and impressive site from the 1st AD. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit the Bull Fighting Old Nimes history museum. There you would admire some drawing of Picasso who was a great admirer of bullfighting. In this museum, also discover the history of bullfighting and the costumes of the fighters called the "Light clothes". Then, visit the brand-new museum of the Roman civilization. Brief few time before you leave Nimes to Aix-en-Provence. Accommodation in a 4 stars hotel in the city centre. Dinner on your own in Aix en Provence.

Departure to Arles to discover and enjoy this beautiful city and its rich heritage. With your guide walk through this two-millennium old city and discover the roman and medieval heritage in there. Admire the impressive portal of Saint Trophime Romanesque Cathedral, and then visit the Van Gogh foundation, an important gallery dedicated to Modern and Contemporary Art. An exhibition permits to admire painters and artists inspired by Van Gogh and light of Provence. Among them, obviously, Picasso found his right place. Lunch on your own. Then departure to Les Carrieres de Lumieres. In old limestone quarries a projection and animation of Picasso paintings transport the visitors in another world far from time and space. Then, short free time in the village of Les Baux de Provence. Drive back to Aix-en-Provence and overnight at your hotel. Dinner on your own.

Day8 Arles - Les Baux de Provence

Day 9 Aix en Provence

After breakfast, discover the charming city of Aix-en-Provence. Walking guided tour of the city center: The Mirabeau path walk, famous for its private mansions façades, the fountains and the colorful streets of the city. Free time to enjoy the local markets: City hall square, Mirabeau path walk and the Flower Market square. Then, visit the Granet Museum for an exhibition dedicated to Picasso and Picabia. Dinner on your own, Overnight in your hotel in Aix-en-Provence.

Check out after breakfast and departure to Marseille-Marignane Airport

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Program