If you’re looking for things to do in Provence whilst you’re staying at Benvengudo Hotel this summer, you should visit the Festival d’Avignon; a world renowned annual French performing arts festival. Tour Avignon If you want to make the most of your time in Provence whilst staying at Benvengudo Hotel, why don’t you drive across to the historic city of Avignon. Only a 30 minute drive away from your Hotel, this ancient settlement has a rage of fascinating tourist attractions for to explore including Avignon Cathedral, Pont Saint-Bénézet and most famously of all, the Palace of the Popes. Festival d’Avignon The city also hosts the Festival d’Avignon every July. This is an annual French art event that was founded in 1947, by celebrated actor and theatre director Jean Vilar. As the 20th Century progressed, the Festival d’Avignon developed into one of the most important performing arts events in the world. The festival is primarily held in the courtyard of the Palace of the Popes, however it’s also hosted by a range of other iconic attractions such as Cloître des Carmes and the Opéra Grand Avignon. These venues host between 35 and 50 theatre, music, art and dance shows from France and all over the globe, every year. Meanwhile, the Festival also hosts a variety of other events for lovers of the performing arts. These include readings of original texts, film screenings, exhibitions and panel debates which allow audiences to gain a greater understanding of the work of artists featured at the Festival d’Avignon. 69th Festival d’Avignon This year will mark the 69th anniversary of the Festival of Avignon. It will run from 4th July 2015 – 25th July 2015, and feature the work of celebrated performance professionals such as Gaëlle Bourges, Samuel Achache, Fanny Ardant, Alain Badiou and Emmanuelle Vo-Dinh among many, many others. The Festival is slated to host an itinerary of truly fascinating shows this year. Highlights are set to include a retelling of Anthony and Cleopatra, a screening of A Woman Under the Influence and an exhibition of the work of Guillaume Bresson, along with numerous theatre productions, film screenings, dance shows, workshops of thought and ‘encounters’ with some of France’s most iconic performance artists. Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading  

Located around an hour’s drive from Benvengudo Hotel is the commune of Orange, the locations for the Chorégies d’Orange, a summer opera festival held each year in an ancient Roman theater. Orange Orange was established in 40 BC by veterans of the Roman Second Legion and was named Arausio or “the Julian colony of Arausio established by the soldiers of the second legion”. Arausio is a significant name in Roman history, because it was in this region that the Battle of Arausio took place. This battle is regarded as one of ancient Rome’s worst defeats and significant because it paved the way for Gaius Marius, the man who reformed the Roman armies. Marius authorised recruitment of landless citizens, eliminated the manipular military formations, and reorganised the structure of the legions into separate cohorts. Théâtre antique d’Orange The Ancient Theatre of Orange was constructed in the early 1st century AD and is owned by the municipality of Orange. The theatre played a major role in the life of the citizens, who spent a large part of their free time there, the theatre was seen by the Roman authorities not only as a means of spreading Roman culture to the colonies, but also as a way of distracting them from all political activities. The Festival The festival in modern day Orange began in 1860 and was held periodically until its restoration in 1869, after which it became the location of the popular ‘Roman Festival’ celebrating the glory of Rome and included a performance of Méhul’s opera, Joseph. The name Chorégies was assigned to the festival in 1902 and can be traced back to the tax that was imposed on wealthy Romans to pay for theatrical productions. Until 1969 the Chorégies consisted of plays, alternating with musical works, opera and symphonies. However, after that date, Orange became solely an opera festival and theatrical works were performed at Avignon. Since 1981 UNESCO has recognized the theatre as a World Heritage Site. Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading

If you’re looking for things to do in Provence when you’re staying at Benvengudo Hotel, why don’t you drive across to La Roque-d’Anthéron and visit the International Piano Festival. This unique event is a must for any music lover. Drive to La Roque-d’Anthéron Benvengudo Hotel is located in the charming village of Les Baux-de-Provence. This puts you within an hour’s drive of the quaint French village of La Roque-d’Anthéron. It’s particularly famous for hosting the International Piano Festival of La Roque-d’Anthéron every summer. International Piano Festival This is a global music event that’s held every year primarily in the park of Castle Florans; one of the most beautiful green spaces in Provence. The event is also held in a number of other picturesque La Roque-d’Anthéron sites such as Theatre Forbin, Silvacane Abbey and the Temple de Lourmarin. Founded in 1980 by the celebrated La Roque-d’Anthéron mayor Paul Onoratini, the Festival draws together a range of instrumental talents, both new and established, from around the world of music. It features a variety of concerts, showcases and sets primarily from piano artists, but also from artists who are experts in other musical genres such as orchestral, baroque and even jazz, giving it a reputation as one of the greatest music festivals in Europe. 35th International Piano Festival This year marks the 35th edition of the International Piano Festival. It will be held between 24th July and 21st August 2015, and will feature concerts from five great performers of the younger generation, including Duo Jatekok, Sanja Bizjak and Nathanael Gouin, as well as a range of sets by amateur pianists. A trip to the 35th International Piano Festival is a day out the whole family can enjoy. As well as attending concerts, you can visit the refreshment bar in-between sets, or take a shopping trip and buy souvenirs, books photos and CDs. The event also offers a catering service between sets on its famous piano nights, which sees the best artists in the world of piano music show you what they can really do. You can also delve into La Roque-d’Anthéron and buy some authentic Provençal wares during your trip. Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading  

During your stay at Benvengudo Hotel you should take some time to explore the history of Provence and visit the city of Marseille. Located approximately 1 hours drive from Benvengudo, Marseille is the cultural and historic hotbed of France’s Mediterranean coast. The Old Port of Marseille The Old Port dates back to 600 BC, when Greek settlers from Phocaea established a trading post in the hills on the northern shore. It has been the natural harbor of Marseille since the time of antiquity and is one of the most popular places in Marseille. Since 2013, the harbor has been mainly pedestrian. Notre-Dame de la Garde  This Catholic basilica dates back to the Neo-Byzantine period and is perched on the highest natural point in Marseille; the site of an ancient fort. The church towers 149 meters over the south side of the Old Port of Marseille and is to this day, an important landmark to the local people and the location of a popular annual pilgrimage which takes place every year on Assumption Day, August 15. Calanque de Sugiton The Marseille and Cassis Calanque (a narrow, steep-walled inlet that is developed in limestone, dolomite, or other carbonate strata) is perhaps the most famous of the Marseille Calangues. Calanque de Sugiton is popular among hikers and, since it’s open during the hot season, it’s also very popular with tourists. Palais Longchamp   The Palais Longchamp is home to the city’s musée des beaux-arts and natural history museum. The monument was built to celebrate the construction of the Canal de Marseille, which was designed to bring water from the Durance River into Marseille. Surrounding the monument is the Parc Longchamp, listed by the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France. Marseille Cathedral This Roman-Catholic cathedral is a national monument of France and has been the basilica minor since 1896. The cathedral is also the seat of the Archdiocese of Marseille (formerly the Diocese of Marseille until its elevation in 1948). Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading

During your stay at Benvengudo Hotel you should take some time to explore the fascinating history of Provence. Today we visit Avignon; the city that once served as the heart of Medieval Christendom. Drive to Avignon Benvengudo Hotel is located in the quaint Provençal village of Les Beaux-de-Provence. As luck would have it, this puts you within a 40 minute driving distance of Avignon; a historic settlement that was originally established during the age of High Antiquity. The origins of Avignon Avignon was established as a trading post by the Phoenicians; an ancient civilisation who lived along the coast of modern Lebanon. The city was eventually conquered by the Romans, who turned Avignon into a flourishing hub of Imperial trade, before it was overrun by barbarians when the regional power lost its grip on its Western territories. Seat of the Papacy Yet Avignon is most famous for its connection with the Catholic Church; specifically the Popes of the 14th Century. In 1309, Pope Clement V decided to move the seat of the Papacy from Rome to Avignon, which became a territory of the Papal States in 1348. What has become known as the “Avignon Papacy” lasted until 1377, when Pope Gregory XI moved the Papal capital back to Rome. This created a “Great Schism” within the highest levels of the Catholic Church, which spawned a series of “Antipopes” who continued to reside in Avignon until 1417. Avignon remained a territory of the Papal States until the onset of the French Revolution, when it was incorporated into France. It faded into obscurity in the 19th Century before re-emerging as a cultural capital in the 20th Century, when it became the cradle of the Félibrige movement; a revival of Provençal literature. Discover Papal Avignon The city’s turbulent history with the Catholic Church has made it a popular tourist attraction. More than 650,000 tourists flock to Avignon every year to visit the Palace of the Popes; the home of the Pontiffs who anointed Avignon the capital of Christendom. The Palace of the Popes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the largest gothic palace in the world, the monument has a range of fascinating attractions for you to explore including the Pope’s private chambers, stunning frescoes, four impressive towers and an exhibition centre. Yet the Palace wasn’t the only mark the Popes of the 14th Century left on Avignon. They constructed a number of monuments that still stand today including the 14th Century city walls and the Petit Palais, which is located at the far end of the square of the Palace of the Popes. Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading

Benvengudo Hotel is a 10 minute drive from the charming village of Saint Remy-de-Provence. You’ll find plenty of things to do when you travel to this quaint Provencal settlement. Here are five sites you should visit in Saint Remy-de-Provence. Site Archeologique de Glanum Experience the unique history that has shaped Provence by taking a short trip to the Site Archeologique de Glanum; a town built in the Roman era. Some of the ancient settlement’s most impressive monuments including the mausoleum and the triumphal arch, the oldest in France, have withstood the test of time. Visit these historic sites and learn all about life in Roman Gaul. Chateau Romanin If you’re a wine enthusiast you have to make some time to visit Chateau Romanin whilst you’re in Saint Remy-de-Provence. Located on the northern edge of the Alpilles Mountains, this charmingly rustic estate boasts a glorious 58 hectare vineyard. The area is known for producing a range of sumptuously decadent vintages that you just simply have to try when you arrive at Chateau Romanin. Jardin D’Alcinoos Nature enthusiasts should make sure they devote some time to Jardin D’Alcinoos whilst they’re in Saint Remy-de-Provence. This park features a range of gardens including a Mediterranean garden, a medieval garden and a rose garden that present you with a unique chance to explore the stunning flora of Provence. We’d advise you to head off the beaten track; Jardin D’Alcinoos is meant to be discovered, not toured. Lilamand Confiserie Those of you with a sweet tooth will find yourself drawn to Lilamand Confiserie the second you set foot in Saint Remy-de-Provence. This quaint little confectionery shop at the heart of the village is known for producing a range of decadent treats such as candied fruit, syrups, marmalade and jam that are sure to dance on your tongue the minute you pop them into your mouth. Musee Estrine Explore France’s creative past by taking some time to tour the Musee Estrine when you stop by Saint Remy-de-Provence. This stunning example of grand 18th Century architecture houses a collection of paintings and graphic art from the 20th and 21st Centuries. We would suggest that if nothing else you tour the Van Gogh exhibit. This extensive showcase will provide you with once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of one of art’s most fascinating luminaries. Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading

If the picturesque villages and rolling landscape of Provence isn’t enough to tempt you, then perhaps its rich history will be enough to make this southern French region your next holiday destination. Provence existed long before France, and the people of Provence, particularly in the interior, have kept a cultural identity that persists to this day. Provence was inhabited by Ligures since Neolithic times; by the Celtic since about 900 BC, and by Greek colonists since about 600 BC. It was conquered by Rome at the end of the 2nd century BC and became the first Roman province outside of Italy. From 879 until 1486, it was a semi-independent state ruled by the Counts of Provence. In 1481, the title passed to the Louis XI of France and in 1486 Provence was legally incorporated into France. The Greeks and Romans Around 600 B.C. the Phocaeans, Greeks from the city of Phocaea in Asia Minor, established the prosperous Mediterranean seaport of Massilia. It’s possible that the Phocaeans took their name from Phoenicians, great seafarers who possibly had a settlement on the same spot even earlier. Massilia eventually came under Roman rule. Under Roman rule the entire province covering the south of France from the Pyrenees to the Alps was known as ‘Gallia Narbonensis’. Due to the importance of this region, being sufficiently close to Rome, it was known in everyday speech as ‘Provincia’ or ‘the province’. What we know in modern French as ‘La Provence’. Over time, this name became definitively attached to the eastern part of ‘Gallia Narbonensis’, the area to the east of the Rhone, whose capital was a town called Aquae Sextiae, Aix-en-Provence in modern day France. Roman civilisation flourished in this part of southern France that was not too dissimilar to Latium, the region around Rome; the richness of this region in Classical times can still be seen today, and the the area round the lower Rhone valley has fine classical remains, including the amphitheater at Orange, the Pont du Gard aqueduct, the arena at Arles, the remarkable Roman remains at Nimes, just outside modern-day Provence, with many more sites still standing. After the Romans After the fall of the Roman Empire, Provence was occupied by many different peoples who fought for control over the region. The coastal areas in particular were occupied in their time by Visigoths and Ostrogoths, as well as by Catalans and Moors. Most of Provence was incorporated into France in 1486. So in historical terms, Provence is older than France itself, and was a center of cultural learning and commerce long before Paris and northern France acquired the territorial importance and recognition that they have today. Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading