Dear France Travelers,
Provence is possibly the most beautiful and rewarding region in all of France. It is known for picturesque villages, stunning countryside, flavorful cuisine, wonderful wines, colorful markets, fragrant gardens and relaxed culture. Please join us for this extra-special immersion experience where you will have the chance to really ‘live in Provence’ for a glorious two weeks in May, 2014.
The extraordinary hilltop village of Gordes
We’ve arranged everything for a perfect stay – private accommodations in modern, fully furnished apartments in the center of Aix-en-Provence, French lessons for your level at Aix’s premier language school, superb cultural excursions in and around Aix organized especially for our group, wonderful dinners and lunches featuring Provence cuisine with wine, visits to colorful outdoor markets, several chances to meet and interact with Aix locals, and a variety of optional activities including cooking classes, painting classes, hiking in the countryside, musical events and more. You’ll love soaking in the ambiance of Provence during this unique immersion into the best of southern France.
I will host our Aix-en-Provence immersion experience and connect you personally with French culture, the language and the people. This trip is ideal for individuals, couples, friends, and even families traveling together. After our Provence adventure, you’ll be speaking French like never before – and you’ll have a lifetime of memories of your time in Aix!
A bientôt,
Dr. Elizabeth New Seitz
Overview of Our Custom Provence Immersion Program – May 10 to 24, 2014
Day 1: Friday, May 9 – Depart your home city & fly to Marseille
Day 2: Saturday, May 10 – Arrival at the Marseille airport, Transfer to your apartment in the center of Aix, Orientation walk, Welcome Dinner with wine at a special local restaurant
Day 3: Sunday, May 11 – Luberon Excursion: Market day at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence lunch, Guided visit of the Abbaye de Sénanque, Luberon Hilltop Villages
Day 4: Monday, May 12 – French Lessons begin, Guided Visit of Historic Aix-en-Provence, Calisson Tasting
Day 5: Tuesday, May 13 – French Lessons continue, Cézanne Art Tour with Acclaimed Provençal Artist Jill Steenhuis, Visit to Jill’s home & art studio, Apéritifs at Jill’s
Provence Artist Jill Steenhuis painting in Cassis
Day 6: Wednesday, May 14 – French Lessons continue, Wine Tasting Featuring Provence Wines
Day 7: Thursday, May 15 – French Lessons continue, Lunch & Visit to the Gardens & Winery of Château Val Joanis
Day 8: Friday, May 16 – French Lessons continue, Optional French culture activities
Day 9: Saturday, May 17 – Aix Market Visit, Lunch at the legendary Les Deux Garçons on the Cours Mirabeau
Day 10: Sunday, May 18 – Village of Les Baux-de-Provence, Lunch at La Cabro d’Or, Moulin Castelas Olive Oil Tasting, Van Gogh’s Asylum
Day 11: Monday, May 19 – French Lessons continue, Optional French culture activities
Day 12: Tuesday, May 20 – French Lessons continue, Visit to a local Provence Pottery Maker, Dinner with French hosts
Day 13: Wednesday, May 21 – French Lessons continue, Provence Cheese Tasting
Day 14: Thursday, May 22 – French Lessons continue, Excursion to the Mediterranean village of Cassis, Boat tour of the Calanques, Apéritifs at Le Vieux Port
Day 15: Friday, May 23 – French Lessons conclude, Apéritifs on the Cours Mirabeau, Farewell celebration dinner!
Day 16: Saturday, May 24 – Farewells & Trip Departure
Your Provence Trip Host Dr. Elizabeth New Seitz
A native Texan, Dr. Elizabeth New Seitz is a specialist in French and founder of French Affaires, a company celebrating French travel, culture, language, and l’art de vivre. She received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and with Vanderbilt-in-France in Aix-en-Provence. She has lived, worked and traveled extensively in France since 1983. Her specialty is making France personal and special to everyone through her trips, classes and lectures. She still loves to teach the French language and is currently writing a travel book on France. www.frenchaffaires.com
About Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence is a gorgeous, vibrant city in the heart of Provence. With a rich history and a welcoming southern French culture, Aix provides a superb base for your immersion stay in France. Aix is known for its majestic monuments and architecture, beautiful old town full of winding medieval streets, centuries old fountains, fascinating museums and cultural institutions, popular universities and schools, lively arts and music scene, and impressive boulevard the Cours Mirabeau, noted by many to be the prettiest main street in all of Europe. There is nothing better than to immerse oneself in French daily life – and Aix is the ideal place to do it. So come relax, learn, enjoy and experience that magical French ‘joie de vivre’!
The Provence Language & Culture Immersion trip cost is $4895 early registration, $4995 regular registration (double occupancy) & includes 14 nights accommodation in modern apartments in the center of Aix, 10 mornings of French language & culture lessons at Aix’s premier language institute, multiple special cultural excursions, daily breakfasts, many lunches & dinners with wine, various tastings, aperitifs, transfers to & from the Marseille airport, interaction with Aix locals, a personal introduction & connection to Aix by Dr. Seitz, & more. For the detailed trip description, please email us at info.french@frenchaffaires.com. You can also reach us at 214-232-5344 – we’d be happy to discuss the trip details with you!