Become familiar with the efforts of local fishermen to improve their methods and increase the industry’s sustainability. While following a seasoned fisherman around the Old Port of Marseille, you will learn some of the issues affecting the profession. The challenges include water pollution, climate change, over-fishing and even poachers taking endangered species from no-fishing zones. Fishing nets create another problem, as they are often lost, discarded, or abandoned at sea, yet they still continue to unintentionally trap marine creatures in a practice known as ghost fishing. As the fisherman will explain, using biodegradable nets is just one way the industry can protect the marine environment and improve the profession. Feel free to ask questions about what’s being done to raise awareness of the issues and provide acceptable solutions. As a memento, you will receive a cube of green diver’s soap made with olive oil in an eco-responsible way and wrapped in biodegradable packaging.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Discover some of ecological issues that fishermen face and how they are being addressed.
• Follow a veteran fisherman around the Old Port for a candid look at the profession.
• Receive a bar of diver’s soap made in an eco-friendly way as a memento.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Venture into the Provençal countryside with a truffle hunter and a truffle-hunting dog for a demonstration of how to find these coveted fungi, after which you will sample them with several local wines. Your adventure will take place near Rognes, a village known its wine, quarried stone and the cultivation of black truffles. These delectable fungi delicacies, sometimes called Provençal black diamonds, grow underground near the roots of specific host trees. Their locations are closely guarded, as the truffles are highly prized for their pleasant aroma and earthy flavor. Accompanied by a truffle hunter and a specially trained truffle-hunting dog, you will head into the vines in search of black truffles. Once the dog sniffs out a truffle, the hunter will show you how to extract it from the soil without damage. It is a slow, methodical process that reflects the value of these black fungi. After truffle-hunting, you will enjoy a tasting of truffles paired with local wines.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hunt for black truffles in the Provençal countryside with a guide and truffle-hunting dog.
• See how to methodically extract the truffles from beneath the soil without damaging them.
• Enjoy a sampling of black truffles thoughtfully paired with local wines.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Gain an insider’s understanding of the challenges in building two avant-garde landmarks by touring them with an architectural historian. Perched along the waterfront, La Villa Mediterranée was designed to embody Marseille’s deep bond with the sea. Instantly recognized for its prominent cantilevered overhang, this three-level public space also features a conference center with portholes beneath the sea. As you will discover, that lower floor presented all sorts of unusual circumstances that pushed the boundaries of architecture. The building faces MUCEM, a national museum devoted to Mediterranean civilizations. Its audacious design includes elements such as tree-like columns, a lacy façade that resembles a fishnet and a slender footbridge that connects it to the towering ramparts of Fort St. Jean. The square-within-a-square shape of MUCEM is classical in one sense but radically different because of the building materials. The concrete filigree that shields much of the structure is particularly stunning.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour two futuristic landmarks with an architectural historian that will describe the designs.
• Discover how the challenges of building an underwater conference center were overcome.
• Recognize how a national museum used revolutionary materials to achieve its design.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Savor a selection of Provence wines paired with locally produced cheeses in Aix-en-Provence, a medieval town that begs to be explored. You will begin with a walk along the leafy Cours Mirabeau, a wide boulevard framed by cafés, bookshops and elegant mansions with wrought-iron balconies. The beloved plane trees that shade the boulevard are about 200 years old. You will likely see landmarks such as the Mousse Fountain, which is fed by a natural thermal spring where the Romans bathed. In time, you will stop at La Fromagerie du Passage, a shop that sells extraordinary cheeses and wines. During the tasting that follows, you will sample a selection of wines paired with a charcuterie of local meats and cheeses produced through traditional methods. Chances are, one of the wines will be a rosé, which is by far the dominant wine produced in Provence.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a wine tasting and charcuterie at a cheese shop in Aix-en-Provence.
• Learn about the wines produced in Provence, especially the most prevalent rosés.
• Meander along Cours Mirabeau, a leafy boulevard that runs through the heart of Aix-en-Provence.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a wine tasting at Domaine La Dona Tigana, an esteemed winery in Cassis that former soccer star Jean Tigana has owned for the past few decades. As an introduction to the Bordeaux region, you will first explore Cassis on an enlightening walk. The town couldn’t be more enchanting, especially around the port, an area that has inspired countless artists over the years, including painters Raoul Dufy, Paul Signac and Georges Braque. The winery is equally alluring as you will discover while touring the cellar and vineyards, where certified organic white grapes are most prominent. You can expect to learn about the history of Domaine La Dona Tigana, the Cassis terroir and the particulars of the winemaking process. During the tasting, you may be offered a crisp Blanc de Blancs blend, a white varietal made entirely from Marsanne grapes and a charcuterie as an accompaniment.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour the extraordinary Cassis winery that former soccer star Jean Tigana owns.
• Sample a selection of the estate’s premier wines served with a charcuterie of local products.
• Enjoy a walking tour through Cassis that focuses on the picturesque port area.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore some of the most photogenic destinations in the Luberon, an area in the heart of Provence known for its forested valleys, craggy limestone hills and medieval villages. While meandering along the narrow cobbled streets of Lourmarin you will surely be inspired, much like Winston Churchill, who painted there in his later years. Roussillon is even more colorful as much of the village is tinted with red, orange and yellow ochre pigments quarried nearby. Following the guided tour, during which you may see Roussillon’s historical yellow-hued St-Michel Church, you will enjoy free time to wander about and dine on your own. Lavender takes center stage in Coustellet. In early summer, the purplish flower blankets the surrounding hills and is so synonymous with the village that there is a Lavender Museum. While browsing the exhibits, you will learn how lavender is harvested and distilled to create essential oil for soaps and perfumes.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Visit three absolutely gorgeous medieval villages in the Luberon area of Provence.
• Wander about the cobbled streets of Lourmarin and the ochre-tinted village of Roussillon.
• Browse the Lavender Museum in Coustellet, where the flower is distilled for essential oil.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.