This stunning estate makes for the most wonderful day out. We went on the tour of vineyard and then enjoyed a picnic lunch, alongside wine tasting in the sun flecked courtyard. It was a french summer’s dream. We also bought some presents for loved ones from their shop, including a big magnum of their pretty rose.

This restored Chatueax has recently been opened as a hotel.  The building itself is lovely, with sweeping lavender plants and bouncy olive trees outside. The rooms have been decorated in a simple modern french way. We found the local specialities on the dinner menu were delicious and the staff all friendly and helpful.  They were able to suggest lots of local activities and the location is perfect to drive from. There are also rooms that open onto the pool which would be perfect for a family, but we stayed in the main building.

This castellated town is a UNESCO heritage site. The whole historical mount is wrapped in large fortress walls and inside them is a wonderful world of winding stone paved streets, churches, and wooden beamed houses. We enjoyed a roof top supper at one of the many restaurants as the sun came down. It was lovely. Definitely go for the regional speciality of Cassoulet which is delicious. You could also stay here, there are several hotels inside the town.

We took a the scenic route everywhere on our trip. Finding our way with GoogleMaps, by choosing the smallest roads. In a vintage car, it’s a waste to go down the motorway. So the drive between the Hotel and Minerve via small roads is stunning. Bringing you up into the gorges and then weaving you down into the town. The photos above were taken on this stretch. We stopped here in a lay-by with a view of Minerve to eat our homemade sandwiches (ingredients sourced at Pezanes the day before).