TWO POPPIESTours

Provence

Monastic Implantation

Three days among the great abbeys of Provence — Sénanque, Thoronet, and Silvacane — tracing how monastic life took root in these valleys.

Duration
3 days
Price
Price on request
Group size
3 to 5 guests
Season
September 1 – November 20 and March 1 – May 31 — dates on request
Photo coming

Three abbeys, three answers to the same question: what drew men to build lives of silence in these particular valleys? Over three unhurried days we visit Sénanque, Thoronet, and Silvacane, reading each site’s architecture and landscape for the story of how monastic life was planted — and how it endured — in Provence.

The tour details published on this website are designed to give a general idea of our offer. Please inquire with us for specifics.

Highlights

  • Visit the Abbaye de Sénanque in its lavender valley
  • Walk the cloisters of the Abbaye de Silvacane
  • Marvel at the acoustics of the Abbaye du Thoronet's limestone vaulting

Day by day

  1. Day 1 — Sénanque

    Pick-up outside your hotel at 9 a.m. We drive to the Abbaye de Sénanque for the morning's visit, share a pre-booked lunch, then discover the Gordes region in the afternoon. Back at your hotel by 5 p.m.

  2. Day 2 — Thoronet

    Pick-up outside your hotel at 9 a.m. We drive to the Abbaye du Thoronet for the morning's visit, share a pre-booked lunch, then conclude with a visit of the Var region. Back at your hotel by 5 p.m.

  3. Day 3 — Silvacane & La Quille

    Pick-up at 9 a.m. Morning visit to the Abbaye de Silvacane, followed by a catered picnic and a short walking tour of the medieval ruins of La Quille. We return by 5 p.m. and close with a farewell aperitif hour; the tour ends at 6 p.m.

A variation of this tour is available in May to include a very special experience — the hilltop Abbaye de Valsaintes, where we tour their hundreds of rose bushes in full bloom and take in views of the valley. Inquire for more details.

What's included

  • Private transport throughout
  • Two restaurant lunches and a catered picnic
  • Farewell aperitif hour
  • All tickets, entrance fees, and tips

Comfort & pace

Expect walking and stairs, with some uneven ground — we recommend bringing a telescopic walking stick. Standing is kept to a minimum; lectures happen while seated, in the vehicle, at a café, or on a bench. Day 3 includes a short uphill of about twenty minutes (about 4 km / 2.5 mi in total).

Inquire about this tour

Or call Heather directly: +33 6 45 95 46 54