The best chefs of the region give cooking classes in the ancient XIXth century kitchen of La Mirande**** in Avignon. In a warm ambiance, practical courses of 6 to 12 participants. They are usually in French, sometimes bilingual, uniting French and foreign participants. Rates from €70 to €120 /person for a class+meal for the year-round programme of courses.

Hôtel-Restaurant La Mirande**** in Avignon
www.la-mirande.fr

Thyme, rosemary .... gathering aromatic herbs is a long-standing tradition in Provence. Stroll in the hills to identify the plants, visit the markets, and breathe in the fragrant smells. During the cooking class, learn how to use them in a recipe. Prepare a dish with the other participants, and all together create the meal, full of aromas - and fun and friendship !

Rate : €137.50/person for 1 one-night break, including accommodation in double room half-board (wine included), a cooking class and the visit to a local herb grower.
Valid from 15 March to 15 November 2008

www.maison-trevier.com

In the heart of these world-renowned vineyards, you will stay in a delightful three-star hotel and benefit from its chef’s cooking tips. Beside the cooking class and a fantastic dinner, your stay will also include a visit to a wine estate and the possibility to go cycling around the vineyards for one day.

Rate : €250 /person, including 2 nights’ accommodation in double room bed and breakfast, one dinner, one cooking class, the loan of a bicycle and the visit of a wine estate.
Valid from 15 February to 3 April 2008

Hôtel La Sommellerie*** in Châteauneuf du Pape
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La Ferme is a small hotel on La Barthelasse, an island on the Rhone River facing Avignon. Its nature is preserved and is perfect for biking. Discover the area and join the team in the kitchen to prepare the evening meal and Provencal recipes.

Rate : €154/person for a weekend break including accommodation for 2 nights in a double room half-board, cooking class and loan of the bicycle. Lunch and beverages not included
Valid from 15 March to 31 October 2008

Hôtel La Ferme** (Logis de France) on L’Ile de la Barthelasse, in Avignon
www.hotel-laferme.com

 Itinerary : Cavaillon, Robion, Coustellet, Les Beaumettes, Isle sur Sorgue, Velleron, St Didier, Carpentras.
 60 kilometres

In Vaucluse, having a fondness for food is a good thing. The range of its produce is indeed both varied and vibrant, as nature is particularly generous. Markets are full of fruits and vegetables of all flavours and colours, offering a wide variety of aromatic herbs and fresh or dried plants, olive oils, tapenade, sweet-smelling honey, etc. In the culinary workshops, pleasant fragrances hang over the copper cauldrons in which jams, candied fruits, nougat and boiled sweets are prepared. There is so much to be tasted !

Be sure to see :

Cavaillon :
 it is famous for its melon and related specialties : liqueur, “Délice de melon”, “Melanis”, “Melonnettes”, “Cigales”, etc. (tours on the melon theme are offered in the summer by the Tourism Office)
 the market on Monday mornings
 “Melons en fête” (melon festival), in mid-July
 a stroll up St-Jacques hill and to the chapel
 the 18th-century synagogue and the Judeo-Comtadine museum
 the St-Véran Romanesque cathedral

Robion :
 the “La Roumanière” traditional jam factory

Les Beaumettes :
 the “Saint Denis” traditional candied fruit factory

Coustellet :
 the Farmers’ Market on Sunday mornings, which is ranked as an “outstanding market”
 the Lavender Museum

Isle sur la Sorgue :
 The Provençal market on Sunday mornings, which is ranked as an “outstanding market”
 The “Délices du Lubéron” (makers of tapenade and other olive-based produce)

Velleron :
 the Farmers’ Market, which is ranked as an “outstanding market”, in the late afternoon.

St Didier :
 the “Comptoir des Douceurs”, offering the produce made by the Sylvain nougat makers
 the “Musée des Appeaux” (Decoy Museum), presenting whistles that imitate birds

Carpentras :
 the market on Friday mornings, which is ranked as an “outstanding market”
 the Truffle market, on Friday mornings between late November and early March
 the Berlingot boiled sweets, a local specialty (the two last remaining confectioner’s shops)
 candied fruits made by the “Confiserie Bono” and the “Pâtisserie Jouvaud”
 the Truffle and Wine festival in February
 the 14th-century synagogue, the oldest one in France
 the Gothic cathedral
 the Hôtel Dieu (general hospital) and its pharmacy
 the museum of decorative arts and the museum of Comtadine traditions