France - The South

Over the years I have grown to love France as a holiday destination, it has a real wealth of art, fine food and historical buildings that is difficult to beat. My favourite region is the South, not just the coast, but further inland up as far as Avignon, Orange and the perfect little hill town of Vaison la Romaine. Avignon is steeped in culture and history with the famous 'pont' and the home of the 'alternative' pope the Palais de Papes
The region is home to the famous Chateau Neuf du Pape wine, and is not far from Orange which has a Roman ampitheatre and it's own collection of historical buildings and stories to tell.
I was fortunate to 'discover' the town of Vaison La Romaine which began life as a fortified village sometime in the Middle Ages, but has now overflowed into the valley below. This town is famous for it's Roman remains and the market which brings in visitors from miles around.
I was lucky to find bed & breakfast in the old part of the town where the buildings date from the 14th Century - I enjoyed this place so much that I visited again many years later with my wife and was delighted to find the same family still running the bed & breakfast. There is nothing to beat waking up in one of these beautifully restored ancient rooms and enjoying the view from the balcony as far as the tip of Mont Blanc in the distance. If you are ever in this area, I hope you too get the chance to stay at M. & Mme. Verdier's.