Penny & Ray

The tour of Avignon’s secret gardens includes an invigorating walk through parks and orchards, secret squares, fountains, and the flower market.

Located in the heart of Burgundy, Chalon sur Saône is an important center for France’s wine trade. From here, the couple will journey to nearby Beaune to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a charitable hospital founded by the Chancellor of Beaune in 1443. Marvel at the multicolored roofs of this architectural jewel, which has become one of the symbols of Burgundy. The hospice monks were given some vineyards in the 15th century so they could make wine to auction in order to help support charities, and to this day, the tradition continues.

Vincent van Gogh found inspiration in the charming town of Arles. Under the spell of the Provençal light and the vivid colors of nature, he spent a period of intense and impassioned work under these bright sunny skies. In fact, he produced more than 300 paintings and drawings in 15 months, including Starry Night. During the walking tour, Penny and Ray will discover Van Gogh’s Arles as well as a fascinating wealth of Roman monuments, such as the Amphitheater and Constantine’s baths.

Lovely Viviers, developed around its Romanesque cathedral, retains much of its historic charm. The tour of Viviers starts in Old Town with an introduction to the city. The newlyweds will take the Rue Chévrerie to Porte Riquot, then climb Rue du Château to reach St. Vincent Cathedral, where they will enjoy an organ concert.

After the Tain L'Hermitage wine tasting the tipsy couple will cross the Marc Seguin suspension bridge and visit Tournon and its historic castle.

Flight from Marseille, France back to the USA

Flight to Lyon, France

Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of history, culture, art, and life, and you will capture all of that on your walking tour of the “City of the Popes.” The tour starts at the fortification walls and continues to Clocktower Square. In truly Provençal style, under the shadows of the sycamores, the colorful café terraces face the magnificent architecture of City Hall, the Opera Theatre, and the classic mansions. Next, it’s on to Popes’ Palace Square for an inside view of the maze of galleries, chambers, and chapels that make up the grand Palace of the Popes.

Lyon is the country’s lively and creative capital of gastronomy. The newlywed's tour starts with an intimate exploration of Lyon’s Heritage on foot. From Fourvières Hill, take the funicular down to the Saint Jean old quarter, where they’ll venture into the maze of alleyways, courtyards, and traboules (historic passageways)

Nestled among famous vineyards, the twin cities of Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage are an ideal destination for those who are true connoisseurs of wine. Celebrate the region by indulging in some Côtes du Rhône mid-valley wines.