I was very nervous to visit a country that I have never learned the language spoken so that is the reason I wanted someone to help me plan this trip with my children. Emilie was …
I was very nervous to visit a country that I have never learned the language spoken so that is the reason I wanted someone to help me plan this trip with my children. Emilie was wonderful. The B&Bs that she booked were some of the very best places I have ever stayed and I have traveled quite a bit. The cell phone that we were given was priceless for getting around, the language barrier and checking in with others back home. I would recommended using Emilie to everyone. It was fantastic. A trip of a lifetime with my children who are 18 and 25.
Southern France during the Middle Ages
tour
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Your accommodations
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#1 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne townStay in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...
#1 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...and enjoy a warm welcome from your hostesses.
#1 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne townRelax in a large and well equipped room...
#1 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...and taste delicious homemade breakfasts.
#2 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseStay 3 miles from Carcassonne Medieval Town in a quiet ambiance
#2 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseYour lovely hosts are happy to share many tips or help with restaurants
#2 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseRelax in a welcoming suite-room
#2 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseenjoy a drink or a plancha in the garden
#2 - A charming Boutique-Hotel in a 17th c. Bastide houseor refresh in the pool !
#3 - A restored farmhouse in the heart of ProvenceA restored farmhouse surrounded by horse fields
#3 - A restored farmhouse in the heart of ProvenceRelax in a comfortable room equipped with a kitchenette...
#3 - A restored farmhouse in the heart of Provence...or in the garden
Step by step
Dordogne
In Black Perigord, you will stay in an old stone Perigord style house for 4 nights, nestled in a lovely and typical Dordogne town. From there you have several dining options walking distance, you can also relax by the very cute Chapel, along the river.
You are very close to Sarlat and the prehistoric caves and we will be happy to recommend some intimate visits for you, in 20,000 year old caves. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, these are a must!
Visit the old city of Sarlat and feel the buzz of activity on market days. We'll also tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
Canoe down the Dordogne river and enjoy the gorgeous views over the cliff hanging middleages castles along the way. Also, one of the most famous castles of the area is only a 30 minute walk from your B&B. And four of the "most beautiful villages of France" are within a 4 mile drive.
Carcassonne & the Cathar Country
Carcassonne and the Cathar country are the perfect stop over on the way to Provence. Carcassonne's medieval “Cité” will amaze you by its size and conservation.
Stay at a 3 mile drive from Carcassonne Medieval Fortress, in a charming and quiet Boutique-Hotel, owned by a lovely couple. After Carcassonne day crowds, you can relax in the comfortable suite-room, reading in the garden or at the swimming pool.
Walk on the Cathars footsteps with a private guide in Carcassonne. Your guide will take you to the "citadelle" and introduce you to the medieval history in the south of France.
In the Cathar country, walkers/hikers will be rewarded with breath taking landscapes and fortresses such as Quéribus or Perpeytuse. History lovers will be intrigued by the Cathar history. Wine lovers may be surprised by the quality of the “Minervois” wines which have improved a lot in the past 10 years. They are now on the wine lists of some of the most famous restaurants in the world.
On the 9th day, you will drive about 2hr30, along the Mediterranean Sea, to get to Provence.
Provence
You will spend the last 5 nights in a typical Provencal stone house, perfectly located to explore Avignon and Isle sur la Sorgue (famous for its antiques). Your hostess and her family will welcome you warmly and give you hints and tips about the surrounding area. You will stay in a very comfortable room equipped with a small kitchenette if you wish to have a light dinner in the rose garden.
So many things to see in less than an hour's drive from your B&B: beautiful Avignon, also referred to as “the City of Popes”, where you can visit the Palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”. Enjoy hilltop villages on market day, and walk in the footsteps of famous painters such as Cézanne or Picasso. We will also tell you about some hidden jewels - off the beaten track villages where you will stroll around charming streets or have a drink at a provençal café with locals. We can also recommend a farmer’s market and wine cellar for each day of the week!
Trave Vincent Van Gogh's footsteps with a private guide in Arles. Your guide will also take you to the Roman theater and amphitheater - a great introduction to Provence history & art !
If you are interested in history, don’t miss the Roman ruins at Arles, Orange and the Pont du Gard. We will also take you to smaller sites – less famous and much quieter.
Explore a family owned olive oil mill in the slopes of Luberon, with breathtaking views. In a private tour, you will be explained the whole olive oil farming process from the tree to the bottle.
Discover quaint villages of the Luberon, riding an electric bike. You will have several itinerary options, from easy to more sporty, for you to explore hidden hamlets, chapels in the vineyards, wineries, road-trails in the olive trees and evergreen oaks. A great day, at your own pace.
You may return the car in Marseille, Avignon, Aix or the location which will suit you best.
This is a perfect highlight of Southern France for history and gastronomy lovers.
Activities included
Canoe Down the Dordogne River
Go down the Dordogne river at your own pace in a canoe...we have selected the best section for you to see several castles standing guard high above you!
E-Biking Day in Provence
Spend a day in the Luberon gorgeous landscapes driving an electric bike. Several itinerary options for you to enjoy biking at your own pace.
Carcassonne Guided Tour
Walk on the Cathars footsteps with a private guide in Carcassonne. Your guide will take you to the "citadelle" and introduce you to the medieval history in the south of France.
Olive Oil Farm in Luberon
Explore a family owned olive oil mill in the slopes of Luberon, with breathtaking views. In a private tour, you will be explained the whole olive oil farming process from the tree to the bottle.
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We …
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We exchanged several emails (Emilie’s response time was always immediate) and, within a couple of days, Emilie created an amazing itinerary for our 2 week stay in France that allowed us to do everything we hoped for and several things we would not have thought about on our own. Emilie is an incredible listener which was very evident when we received our itinerary. She had arranged for everything including a French Smartphone with Google Maps, a rental car, skip-the-line tickets, a stay in a castle, wine tastings, etc. All of our accommodations were superb with hosts that spoke fluent English, were very knowledgeable about their area, and had great suggestions from restaurants to local “must do’s” and everything in-between. When Emilie says she has visited all of the accommodations in person, she means it. Each host talked very highly of Emilie and reminisced about her visits. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Paris, we knew we were in for a great experience. Emilie’s detailed notes (all in a spiral bound, 400+ page book with our itinerary, addresses, suggestions,etc.) on where to pick up our French Smart Phone (an absolute must and one of our best friends during our visit - loaded with our tailored book and several other great programs) and then our rental car, made the start to our journey very easy - relatively important to us since neither one of us spoke more than 10 words of French. We had the privilege of meeting up with Emilie in her hometown and she was just as delightful in person as we experienced with our email exchanges over the last few months. While the trains were sporadically on strike, depending on the day, Emilie was there to follow the schedule and be ready to make an alternative plan for us if needed. When we hit a small snag turning in our rental car, Emilie was right there to figure things out and get us on our way. We’ve traveled quite a bit, yet we both thought this to be our Best Trip Ever. Thank you Emilie and France Just for You!
Sharon & Bob
We couldn't recommend France Just For You highly enough. After visiting various parts of Europe on our own we were delighted to have someone else attend to all the details. Emilie was a joy to work with and couldn't have chosen better B&B's, tours and day trips to meet our needs. I can't wait to call upon her services again!
We couldn't recommend France Just For You highly enough. After visiting various parts of Europe on our own we were delighted to have someone else attend to all the details. Emilie was a joy to work with and couldn't have chosen better B&B's, tours and day trips to meet our needs. I can't wait to call upon her services again!
Matt from Australia
A "Pinch Me" Tour. Expertly organised. We just spent the most wonderful month in France on our honeymoon curated by Laura and Emilie in such a way that we felt we experienced the very essence of France. From the Loire Valley, through the Biarritz area, the Basque region and finally to Provence. The itinerary gave us so many "pinch me" moments that …
A "Pinch Me" Tour. Expertly organised.
We just spent the most wonderful month in France on our honeymoon curated by Laura and Emilie in such a way that we felt we experienced the very essence of France. From the Loire Valley, through the Biarritz area, the Basque region and finally to Provence. The itinerary gave us so many "pinch me" moments that we lost count.The whole trip was just what we wanted, traveling at our own pace, selecting where we wanted to go and when, expertly guided by the FJFY personalised app which included so many fantastic day trip options from each of our accommodations, all of which have been tried and tested by Laura and Emilie. We can't think of a better way to have traveled and cannot recommend France Just For You more highly.
