“Live in Provence Next May!”
A note from French Affaires founder Elizabeth New Seitz, Ph.D.
“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 ‘live in Provence’ for a glorious two weeks.”
“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, chances to meet French locals, and more. You’ll love soaking in the ambiance of Provence during this unique immersion into the best of southern France.”
Dr. Christopher Seitz will host your Aix-en-Provence immersion experience and connect you personally with French culture, the language and the people. This special trip is ideal for individuals, couples, friends, and adult families. After our Provence adventure, you’ll be speaking French like never before – and you’ll have a lifetime of memories of your authentic French living experience in Aix! He is joined by his Paris associate, the professional guide Maud Hacker.
Our Provence Immersion Trip Highlights
- Fourteen nights in your modern, centrally located Aix apartment
- French language classes according to your level at Aix’s premier language institute
- Historical Walking Tour of Aix-en-Provence & Tour of the wonderful outdoor Aix market
- Excursion to the charming port town of Cassis on the Mediterranean & Calanques Boat Excursion
- Medieval village & fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence
- Van Gogh’s asylum of St. Paul de Mausole where he painted his best works
- Exploring the Luberon region including Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes & the magical Abbaye de Sénanque
- Guided tour of Cézanne’s Provence & his former art studio
- Special visit to one of France’s finest pottery makers founded in the 1800’s
- Gourmet Provence dinners & lunches with wine
- Special tastings of local wines, cheeses, olive oils, calissons (Aix’s special sweet)
- Meeting French locals & residents
- Living for two fantastic weeks in Provence & so much more!
About Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence is a gorgeous, vibrant, small city in the heart of Provence. With a rich history and 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, wonderful cuisine, colorful outdoor markets, popular universities and schools, lively arts and music scene, and impressive main 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’ in wonderful Provence!
Our Custom Provence Immersion Program in September 2024
Day 1: Friday, August 30, 2024
Depart your home city & fly to Marseille, FRANCE. Dinner & breakfast provided by your airline.
Day 2: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Arrival at the Marseille airport, Transfer to your apartment in the center of Aix
Arrival in Marseille! Gather your bags to start on our Provence adventure. Our group will be picked up at the Marseille airport via pre-arranged transport & taken to our apartments in the heart of wonderful Aix-en-Provence. Check in with time to freshen up & unpack. Then, we’ll meet with our guide Maud Hacker who will give us a short orientation to Aix including a beautiful stroll on Aix’s main street, the famed Cours Mirabeau, before dinner. Maps, brochures & other Aix information will be provided. We’ll celebrate our Provence arrival with a welcome apéritif followed by a wonderful three-course meal with wine at a special local restaurant. Return to our apartments. Turn in & get a good night’s sleep! (Dinner included)
Day 3: Sunday, September 1, 2024
Luberon Excursion: Provence Market day at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence Lunch, Guided Visit of the Abbaye de Sénanque, Charming Luberon Hilltop Villages
Our fabulous full-day excursion begins with a visit to the colorful outdoor market at Ile-sur-la-Sorgue via pre-arranged transport. This festive market is famous for its fruits & vegetables, Provence pottery & linens, artisanal products & antiques flea market. And the town itself is full of amazing antiques shops – all open on Sundays! Wonderful long Provençal lunch with wine at a local restaurant. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a guided visit of the magnificent 12th century Cistercian Abbaye de Sénanque. We’ll also stop by Gordes to take photos of this incredible hilltop village, known in French as a ‘village perché.’ If time, we’ll see the pretty villages of Bonnieux & Lourmarin as we head back to Aix in the late afternoon. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 4: Monday, September 2, 2024
French Lessons Begin, Guided Visit of Historic Aix-en-Provence, Calisson Tasting
Dive into French language & culture with French lessons at Aix’s premier language school. Your engaging & experienced language instructors will take your French to the next level in no time! Our first day will also include a guided walking tour of the rich history & architecture of Aix-en-Provence. This is a perfect moment to capture Aix in photos for your Provence immersion scrapbook! We’ll also have the chance to taste the local Aix sweet treat – the calisson – on our tour. Lunch on your own today, with good suggestions provided. Evening free. (Breakfast, Calisson tasting)
Day 5: Tuesday, September 3, 2024
French Lessons, Visit to the Amazing 17th Century Mansion Museum the Hôtel de Caumont – French Afternoon Tea & Special Life-of-Cézanne Film
This morning, you’ll continue your French immersion experience with French language & culture lessons. After lunch on your own, we’ll enjoy French afternoon tea at the extraordinary Hôtel de Caumont in the heart of old Aix. This former aristocratic mansion has been wonderfully restored & turned into a museum with period decorated rooms as well as a fantastic short film on the life of Aix artist Paul Cézanne. After tea, we’ll see the film in the museum theatre. Then you’ll have plenty of free time to visit the beautiful mansion including its great gift shop. NB: The Cézanne film will be terrific preparation for our ‘In the Steps of Cézanne Art Tour’ on Thursday. Evening free. (Breakfast, Afternoon Tea)
Day 6: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
French Lessons, Free Time to Enjoy & Explore Aix, Provence Tastes Experience
On Wednesday, our French language & culture lessons continue in the morning. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time living in Aix & relaxing at your leisure. There are numerous cultural attractions, shops & other sights to see in this charming city, including the famous Aix thermal baths & spa – with Aix’s hot springs discovered by the Romans 2000 years ago. And the French Affaires team will share a shortlist of favorite Aix spots so you can start there & then find more on your own! Then our group will meet for aperitifs where we’ll get to know Provence through a special tasting of foods, cheeses, olive oils & wines from the region. We’ll hear the stories behind some of these Provence specialties & what makes them special to the culture. Rest of the evening free. (Breakfast, Aperitifs & Tastings – this often serves as dinner!)
Day 7: Thursday, September 5, 2024
French Lessons, Cézanne Art Tour with Local Art Historian
After breakfast, we’ll continue our French language & culture lessons in the heart of Aix. Take time for a quick lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we’ll be joined by a local art history expert to walk in the steps of the artist Paul Cezanne. Via pre-arranged transport, she will lead our special tour of the locales in & around Aix-en-Provence where the French painter Cézanne found his inspiration. Evening free. (Breakfast)
Day 8: Friday, September 6, 2024
French Lessons, Free Time to Enjoy Living in Aix-en-Provence
After breakfast, we’ll wrap up our first week of French language & culture lessons. You will have reached significant milestones in your French language journey & are poised for more progress as your Aix living experience continues. In the afternoon, take advantage of your free time in Aix to enjoy the town’s culture, history & people. Afternoon & evening free. (Breakfast)
Day 9: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Aix Outdoor Market Visit, Lunch of the BEST Crêpes Ever at Aix’s Favorite Spot
This morning, Maud will lead our tour of the fabulous Saturday outdoor market in Aix. This has been one of her favorite Provence markets for years & there will be lots of wonderful sights, smells, tastes & vendors you won’t want to miss. Fruits, vegetables, cheeses, breads, charcuterie, honeys, sweets, pottery, linens, soaps, antiques & more are available at this market. Be sure & bring your shopping bags for the great souvenirs & products you can buy to take home! It’s also a marvelous time to absorb the lively culture & ambiance of Aix-en-Provence. Free time to shop & wander the market. Then, we’ll have a very casual lunch of the BEST French crêpes ever at Elizabeth Seitz’s favorite spot which she first came to know as a student there in 1985. It’s been an insider Aix thing since 1979! Late afternoon & evening free. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 10: Sunday, September 8, 2024
Stunning Village of Les Baux-de-Provence, Fabulous Provençal Lunch, Van Gogh afternoon – Dutch Artist Talk & Van Gogh’s Asylum Where He Lived & Painted
After breakfast, we head to Les Baux-de-Provence superbly situated at the top of its limestone cliff. This living village with its medieval château & fortress has breathtaking views of Provençal vineyards & olive orchards below. We’ll enjoy the renown Carrières des Lumières light show followed by a private guided tour of this picturesque town officially rated as one of the most beautiful villages in France. After our visit, we will gather at a French Affaires’ favorite local restaurant near Les Baux for a marvelous Provence lunch with wine on its lovely terrace (weather permitting). Joining us will be a special Dutch artist who paints in the style of Van Gogh to describe his work in Provence. Then we’ll visit the former monastery & asylum of St. Paul-de-Mausole near St. Rémy-de-Provence where the artist Van Gogh produced some of his best works. You will see Van Gogh’s former bedroom, the chapel & also the gardens with their lavender fields. Not to miss are the reproductions of Van Gogh’s works that line the monastery’s garden paths. Late afternoon return to Aix; evening free. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 11: Monday, September 9, 2024
French Lessons, Free Time to Enjoy Living in Aix-en-Provence
This morning, you’ll continue your French immersion experience with French language & culture lessons. In the afternoon, you can relax & enjoy your free time living in Aix. Afternoon & evening free. (Breakfast)
Day 12: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
French Lessons, Special Visit to Ansouis and Lourmarin
After your morning of French lessons, take time for lunch on your own. Then we will head to two of the charming perched villages of the Luberon, classed as “les plus beaux villages” in France and visit the winery La Verrerie in Lauris. Rest of the afternoon & evening free to enjoy Aix. (Breakfast)
Day 13: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
French Lessons, Free Time to Enjoy Living in Aix-en-Provence
This morning, you’ll continue your French immersion experience with French language & culture lessons. Afternoon & evening free to explore & live in Aix. (Breakfast)
Day 14: Thursday, September 12, 2024
French Lessons, Picnic Lunch, Excursion to the Mediterranean village of Cassis, Boat tour of the Calanques, French Apéritifs Overlooking the Sea
No trip to Provence would be complete without an excursion to the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean. After our morning of French classes, we’ll have a quick picnic lunch and then depart via pre-arranged transport for the picturesque port town of Cassis. We’ll be treated to a boat excursion along the coast to see the magical white cliffs called ‘calanques.’ Be sure to bring your camera for amazing photos! Following the boat cruise, we’ll have apéritifs overlooking the blue water as the sun goes down – you can even put your feet in if you wish! Late afternoon return to Aix. Evening free. (Breakfast, Picnic, Apéritifs)
Day 15: Friday, September 13, 2024
French Lessons Conclude, Farewell Celebration Dinner!
Enjoy your final French language & culture lessons of our Provence trip. You’ll want to bid a special ‘au revoir’ to your French instructors & friends you have made in your French classes. Make the most of your final afternoon in Aix strolling its medieval streets, visiting cultural venues, shopping the fun French boutiques or people-watching in your favorite café. This evening, we’ll enjoy our special farewell celebration dinner with wine at a wonderful Aix restaurant. We’ll toast our Provence immersion experience & the fabulous French skills you have acquired while living in France. Bravo! (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 16: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Farewells & Trip Departure
Enjoy a final Provence breakfast & check out of your apartment. Pre-arranged transport to the Marseille airport for your flights back to the U.S. Au revoir et à bientôt! (Breakfast)
France specialist Elizabeth New Seitz personally designed her one-of-a-kind France trips to offer guests deep expertise and interesting commentary throughout the journeys, as well as provide trip-goers ultimate ease and comfort knowing that everything is arranged for the perfect vacation. Our outstanding, upscale France experiences are unmatched in the world of travel. Contact us for the Provence immersion itinerary details and registration information. Her husband, Dr. Christopher Seitz, has been alongside her on this and her many trips. He will be your host, connecting with all of the local specialists Elizabeth had engaged over the last decade. To confirm your space, please click here to make a deposit. There are guest spaces available at this time.