Discover the perfect south of France Tour base

When Julia Girard-Gervois, founder of TripUSAFrance was searching for the perfect base for guests for a special south of France tour – she wanted somewhere that ticked a lot of boxes. A hotel in a lovely town with plenty to do and see including restaurants, sandy beaches, shops on the doorstep, but peaceful. It had to be close enough to the ionic sites of Provence, the Languedoc and Camargue that guests would be transported to – without too much time travelling. And rooms had to have balconies, great sea views and air conditioning. It took a lot of research, but eventually there was one place that really stood out – Le Grau-du-Roi between Montpellier and Arles.
Julia wasn’t the first to discover this place, Ernest Hemingway chose it for his honeymoon to second wife Pauline in 1927. It clearly made an impression – his novel Garden of Eden opens in Grau-du-Roi.

Discover the perfect south of France Tour base

Today this beautiful seaside resort at the gateway to the Camargue, and though livelier than 100 years ago, Le Grau-du-Roi retains the uncomplicated spirit that made Hemingway fall for it. As the sun rises, fishing boats make their way back from the sea along the canals that cross the town and café terraces start to come to life, restaurant board menus get updated with the catch of the day (perfect with a glass of chilled, local rosé) and markets on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings create a buzz. In the evening, the cotton candy-colours sunsets over the bay are spectacular. And although there’s a holiday atmosphere, this is an authentic fishing town with endless soft sandy beaches, where visitors get to experience real southern France – which perfectly mirrors TripUSAFrance’s tours – discovering the France that locals know and love.

But the joy of staying here is only part of the story. As a base for TripUSAFrance’s 8-Day South of France Tour it’s perfect to discover the most stunning parts of this spectacular area with passionate local guides via airconditioned transport. You’ll visit some of the most beautiful medieval villages of Provence, grand castles, and historic cities. You’ll enjoy wonderful wines including a wine tour at a history wine estate and gastronomy, and be immersed in culture and the French way of life from a game of Petanque to browsing at street markets.

An authentic and fabulous South of France Tour

For your first dinner together – you’ll head to Aigues-Mortes just a few minutes from Le Grau-du-Roi. In the 13th century, Louis IX – AKA Saint Louis – developed the town as his Mediterranean port, and the Seventh and Eighth Crusades departed from here. With time to explore the cobbled streets followed by dinner as the sun sets, it’s a dazzling introduction to the tour.

Over the next few days you’ll head to gorgeous St-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages and a stop on the UNESCO-recognized Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, and to jaw-droppingly pretty Les-Baux-de Provence. You’ll explore Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, where Van Gogh stayed and painted some of his most famous paintings. You’ll also follow in his footsteps in the magnificent town of Arles with its astonishing Roman arena and sites you’ll recognise from Van Gogh paintings. Meet Camargue cowboys and cowgirls who ride the famous local white horses to manage the equally famous black bulls.

Discover Montpellier with its stunning old town where the King of Malta had his palace and where the cobbled streets are lined with ancient buildings and superb shops. Wander the medieval city of Carcassonne and feast on the cassoulet, a cult dish in France. Visit Avignon, home to 7 popes in the 1300s and explore their monumental palace, and dance on the Pont d’Avignon (it’s not obligatory but it’s definitely encouraged!). Be wowed by the site of the breathtaking Pont du Gard, a 2000 Roman aqueduct. Explore elegant sun-kissed Aix-en-Provence on market day and learn about Paul Cezanne’s life here and admire the wonderful Renaissance architecture.

Along the way you’ll dine at superb restaurants, drink fine wines, and make new friends. And with everything so close to your base, you won’t spend all day travelling and you’ll have plenty of time to wind down, take a dip in the sea, hop on a train to see more of this superb part of France (the train station is just a few minutes from the hotel).

And at the end of the day, returning to your lovely home base overlooking the sea in Grau-du-Roi is the icing on the cake!

Truly a tour where you’ll make the most amazing memories that will last a lifetime.

Find out more and book your place on the 8-Day South of France tour at: tripusafrance.com

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