A Trip to the Roman South of France

In May 1996, I took a five day driving holiday in France, packing quite a lot of history into the journey.

The first day in France was simply a long drive from Cherbourg to St Etienne, and simply an overnight/eating stop before driving down to Avignon the next day. Having booked into the Hotel Ibis for two nights, I walked into the old city, and out onto the Pont de St Benezet, watching a Rhone cruise go past from the end of the bridge half-way out; before spending a few moments in the Chapel of St Nicholas, two arches out from the gateway.

A long walk up steps to the Palace des Papes, and needed moments of rest in one of the chapels there; before an evening meal in a restaurant close to my hotel.

The third day of the holiday was perhaps too busy. Early morning visit to the Pont du Gard - strangely the memory that carries is buying a flaked ice cream from a van in one of the car parks there in 32 degree temperature - before a drive westwards to Nimes, and a visit to the largest Roman amphitheatre still extant. A wonderful site to explore old corridors and steps - the site being used today for various musical and other events.

Lunch followed a little to the south-east in a square in Arles a short distance from another amphitheatre - more intimate in size (if an amphitheatre can be called intimate) - before heading out to the village of Menerbes in the Luberon to post a couple of cards . A final visit to the Abbey at Senanque - famous for it’s adjoining lavender fields, and a tired return to Avignon for a meal and well-deserved sleep.

Day four was another long drive up to Orleans, stopping off at the Viaduc du Garabit and the cathedral at St Flour on the way. Day five was less of a strain, albeit with a drive into central Paris and a visit to Pere Lachaise cemetary before driving back around the peripherique and the toll A13 to a late evening return crossing back to Portsmouth.