Provence, discovering the Romans

Figueres, Empurias, Perpignan, forte Des Salses, Arles, Les Beaux, Glanum, Chateaucanard, Avignon, Orgnac grottos, l'Aven, Orange, Vaison la Romaine, Briançon

 

From Playa de Aro to Empurias

We start after lunch at Playa de Aro (Costa Brava) to accompany my sister in Lloret de Mar, where to take a direct bus to Milan. Visit the shops and the center where there is a very pretty church. Lloret de Mar is famous for being the Rimini Costa Brava, as a result the shops and all facilities are adequate to an Italian tourism of children aged between 15 and 20 years.
After a walk to start immediately Figueres along the highway number 11, very good to stop in La Escala, a village near the archaeological site of Empurias. (camping Hermite, 3400 Pts)

Empurias (Spain), Perpignan and Ales

We leave the campsite to start a visit to the archaeological site of Empurias. The entrance to the greek-roman city is at 10 and has great parking, remember to look for a place in the shade. Rent driving sound for 700 Pts and the input costs 800Pts head is easy to get discount cards to university students). The site is interesting and fairly well preserved. Empurias was an old Roman port and still has many buildings including mosaics. But the sun is hot and the shade rare. After lunch we continue the journey to France. The highway is very good and use up a lot of confusion Perpignan.Abbiamo found and blocked traffic near the border. Pertuso gives the impression of being a free port. We stop to visit, in Perpignan, the Palace of the King of Majorca, the visit is free. The building is interesting and the visit is short (just over 1 hour), for this reason, taken the journey also decide to stop at the Fort (actually called Chateau: castle) Des Salses. This fortress is visible from the road and, every time you pass in front of us wondered how he could be. This was an opportunity to take away the curiosity. The entrance is a 32Fr head guidebook 39 Ff. The guided tour is solo, I think only in French. Our guide is very good and strong, well kept, has a history very active for the many battles won because of its architecture at the very innovative. The name derives from "salt", because it was a strategic point on the way to trade the precious salt.
The highway to return to Montpellier, from where we take secondary roads through the Camargue, famous for its horses and the marshes, nature reserves. On the road, in fact, up to Arles, we see many wild animals, from sea birds to waders, hares and many animals from the pond. We also see the famous salt, white. We stop at Camping Les Rosiers Arles for the night.

Alres, Les Beaux de Provence, Glanum e Chateaucanard

In the morning we do a tour in Arles, especially to go from our favorite bakery. Facciamo un po 'di Provençal expenses for gifts. For those who visited for the first time the city, however, it is fair to say that there are many must-see monuments because all gathered in the center, easy to run on foot.
First, the Amphitheater, the Theater, belloanche the portal and the facade of St Trophine. The gardens dell'Alyscamps, do not deserve to abandon the place. On the road to Avignon to see so many French cars parked along the road, a truly moving "suspect" because the way the campaign does not indicate any particular center. We decide to look around: why so many French tourists? Parking lot with a little 'difficulty on the road and follow the flow of people. We reach the village of Les Beaux de Provence: medieval town with a castle sull'altopiano rocky. The castle is now a ruin, although it is suggestive of the high cliff. The town is very pretty, full of shops of artisans. It 'really really cared.
Along the way we see the new digs: the greek-roman city of Glanum pochissimo from discovery and still under exploration. It 'really very impressive collection because in a narrow valley and very open. The excavation project shows very fast pace to bring to light the ancient city. Admission is Fr 32 each. In the evening, at about 19 reach Chateaucanard near Avignon, where we stop to camp Rochette (95 Ff).

Avignone, Orgnac l'Aven, Orange

Departure from the camp at 8:30 to make the supermarket Auchan Avignon. We do not enter the country but, again, who should happen for the first time is essential to see the Palace of the Popes, the medieval town with the bridge. The Palace of the Popes is very scenic and was built with pomp over many papati. Guided tour, I think also in Italian, with the possibility of seeing only the inside of the building and / or the outside, I, I recommend visiting it contains complete a truly rich medieval heritage.
We leave in the direction of Bagnols to see our favorite florist "Les Jardins" which does not ever leave empty-handed. We visit the village of Orgnac l'Aven, famous for its caves and cellars. The caves worth a visit (see photo), the entrance is 54 Fr a head including the museum. Wishing you can visit the caves (cellars) as photos and web site indicated. In the evening we arrive at the campsite of Orange, Le Jonquier riding with and with very large parcels (138.5 Fr). After dinner, walk to visit the Arc de Triomphe, and the theater. The camp, in fact we discover to be 10 minutes from the Arc de Triomphe.

Orange and Vaison la Romaine

We visit the Roman theater of Orange, one of the very few with even the whole then. (see photo). E 'possible to make better pictures, go to early morning on the lookout hill behind the theater. Orange left we head towards Vaison la Romaine where to park near the cathedral. Visit the archaeological site, with the Roman villa and the street's shops, where pears were just the columns and tracks on the floor of the room.
Let us go to Italy and arrived at Gap, during a stop I noticed a father of camper rubber without pressure. We ask the supermarket and show us a tire at 300 meters. After dinner we move ahead in the workshop awaiting for the next morning.

Briançon

At 7:30 in the morning workshop is open, we repair the road, fortunately was not bored but had a defect on the valve. Spent for the repair. The mechanics are fast, courteous and onestissimi also on price. At 8:30 take the road of return. A Briançon we stop to visit the old town where we rest and have lunch. With calm in the afternoon start for Milan in the evening.