Discovering authentic Provence with France Passion

 

+ info on Péripléties here

To discover the French regions in a campervan in an authentic and original way, there's nothing like the France Passion network! We share our experience in Provence, in the Alpilles massif.

Who wouldn't be tempted by a stay in Provence? But when it comes to choosing between picturesque villages and landscapes, irresistible lavender fields, the azure coastline or the hinterland, the choice is relatively difficult! So we pointed our finger at random on a map and came across the Alpilles massif.

France Passion, an essential guide in a campervan
The Alpilles in Provence? It's a small mountain range between the south of Avignon and the Camargue. This is a region that we don't know yet! To be sure to discover this territory in a campervan in the best possible way, we can count on the France Passion guide and application.

Parking in a camper van at French producers and winegrowers
You don't know the concept yet? France Passion allows you to park for free for 24 hours at wine estates, farms and agricultural holdings in France. All you have to do is join the network, every year! This subscription gives you access to the guide and the application where you can find the addresses of the welcoming producers.

With the 2023 sticker stuck on the windshield and guided by the France Passion application, we set off for a first address in the surroundings of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, at independent winegrowers.

We discover the wine of the Alpilles
A small family is already there with their van. We settle into the shaded field of our host, who comes to meet us. We talk about the region, their profession and this small family farmhouse. It is quite natural that we continue the discussion around a tasting.

His children have just taken over the estate. They are among the 12 winegrowers in the massif, generally known for their AOP Vallée des Baux de Provence wines. Thanks to their location, our hosts have the particularity of producing, under the IGP des Alpilles, fairly light and fruity wines.

The France Passion spirit in Provence
We will take a few bottles. Not that we feel obliged to, but we always appreciate discovering the richness and diversity of a terroir. For us, it is also a way of supporting local producers and promoting responsible and sustainable tourism…. The France Passion spirit!

Itinerary ideas thanks to the hosts
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is only 4 km from the estate along a small canal. We would never have guessed it without talking to the owners! It is ideal for getting there by bike and discovering, at the same time, the ancient site of Glanum and Saint-Paul de Mausole. We discover these Provençal landscapes so dear to Vincent Van Gogh: these rocky mountains covered with scrubland, between vineyards and olive groves as far as the eye can see.

Discovery of the production of artisanal olive oil
The Provençal olive culture is omnipresent. The olive oil of the Alpilles is considered one of the best olive oils in France!

We leave for a new France Passion stage near an old mill. The family perpetuates the tradition by using artisanal and environmentally friendly methods. We discover the manufacturing process, from the olive harvest to the bottling, followed by a small tasting of the mill's products.
A few artisanal olives as an aperitif are always welcome, especially when you share them with some fellow campers met on the large reception area!

Stops in the most beautiful Provençal villages
We leave with new advice and ideas for visits. Head to Les Baux-de-Provence for a visit to the village and the castle, not forgetting the magical spectacle of the Carrières de Lumières and a few breaks in villages with typical Provençal charm.

We end this discovery in France Passion with a goat breeder in Aureille, at the foot of the massif. It is still more bucolic than most parking areas and campsites! The little kids have just been born, we have fun watching their clumsy gait. But we must especially admit that goat cheese and olive oil go together wonderfully!

In short, we could not have dreamed of a better way to discover the natural beauty and culture of Provence. And all this, thanks to France Passion!