Page 232 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

230  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
SPECIALIST HOLIDAYS AND

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Everything is on offer from sun and sea the Iles d’Hyères. There are also plenty of
bathing to skiing and extreme sports in opportunities for canoeing and whitewater
this extraordinarily varied region of France. rafting in the Verdon and Gard inland.
Watersports are extremely popular and Opportunities for walking, cycling,
sailing boats can be rented in most towns. mountain-biking and horse riding are
For windsurfing, the experienced will want endless. The Féderation Française de
to head for Brutal Beach, just west of Toulon, la Randonnée Pédestre publishes the
although boards can be rented at most widely available Topo Guides, which give
coastal resorts. Some of the best diving in descriptions of the tracks with details of
the whole of the Mediterranean is around overnight stops and transport.
Arts and Crafts ingredients. The Hostellerie
The French Institute is a good Bérard in La Cadière d’Azur
resource for courses in learning runs excellent cookery courses
French combined with other and workshops.
activities. Students can under­ Olive oil is the lifeblood of
take a French­speaking holiday Mediterranean cuisine and
by working part time on the many olive oil producers offer
restoration of historic sites with visits to their moulins, such as
Union Rempart (Union pour Château Virant in Lançon de
la Réhabilitation et Entretien Provence. The Olive Tree route
des Monuments et du in Canton de Levens takes you A cookery course in progress at
Patrimoine Artistique). to see oil presses in action. Hostellerie Bérard
You can also learn sculpting For lovers of figs, the family­
on a weekend course in a run specialist, Les Figuières du Perfumery and
beautiful rural setting. Contact Mas de Luquet, is the perfect
Provence Verte for details. place to learn about this Aromatherapy Courses
Several specialist tour oper­ delicious delicacy. In Grasse, perfume initiation
ators organize dedicated courses allow perfume lovers
painting holidays. For infor­ to create their own eau de
mation, contact the Maison Lavender Fields and toilette with the help of a
Vineyards
de la France tourist board. “master perfumer”. These
The regions of Provence most courses are available at Le
associated with the growing Studio des Fragrances at
Cookery Courses
and processing of lavender are Galimard. The Perfume
An extensive range of around Le Mont Ventoux, the Workshop at Molinard also
gastronomic courses providing Luberon and the Provençal offers courses. The other major
training in regional or classical Drôme. Musée de la Lavande, perfumery is Fragonard, where
cuisine is available. These located in Lagarde d’Apt, aroma­synergy workshops are
courses are often combined organizes guided walking tours on offer. These courses allow
with visits to markets to learn of a lavender field on a family­ participants to learn the virtues
how to source the best run lavender farm. and benefits of plants and
There are also plenty essential oils. Lessons are given
of opportunities in the by professional aromatherapists
whole of the region for and plant experts.
dégustations. If you are
looking to combine a Extreme Sports
trip to Les­Baux­de­
Provence, Les Alpilles The exciting sport of snow­
or St Rémy­de­Provence kiting is skiing with a stunt kite
with a visit to vineyards, to help with the jumps. Join the
contact the Les best snow­kiters on the Col du
Vignerons des Baux. Lautaret between the Grave, the
For dégustations and Meije peak and Serre Chevalier.
tours of the wines of For an even more extreme
Beautiful, aromatic lavender fields in the Luberon, contact sport, try a different kind of
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Vins Luberon. diving – under ice. Other