Aix-en-Provence Excursions

One of the benefits of studying abroad is the ability to venture outside your host city and explore the surrounding area. Excursions are offered for all semester, year, and summer programs. You will receive a calendar of the specific CEA excursions offered for your program during orientation. To give you an idea of the possibilities, we have collected typical experiences from some of the tours and trips we have offered to our students in the past.

Avignon and the Pont du Gard

The main attraction in Avignon is the Palais des Papes-– or pope’s palace-- which was relocated from Rome to Avignon in 1309. Although the papacy moved back to Rome in 1377, Avignon remained the property of the Holy See and was used to house members of the Papacy. Various popes added to the buildings during the Middle Ages, creating the largest Gothic palace in Europe. Students can visit this amazing palace and also visit the Pont Saint Bénézet, the inspiration for the song “Sous le Pont d’Avignon”. Students will also visit the nearby Pont du Gard, built shortly before the Christian era to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes to cross the Gard river. The Roman architects and hydraulic engineers who designed this bridge created a technical as well as artistic masterpiece. It is hard to believe that this “bridge” is over 2,000 years old. After a group dinner at a local restaurant , students will spend the night in hotel in the center of Avignon. Sunday is spent on a tour of the famous Chateauneuf du Pape area and includes a visit to one of the local vineyards. Students will learn how wine is made and will also have the opportunity to do a little wine tasting.

Camargue

The Camargue is the land south of Arles between the Mediterannean and the two arms of the Rhone river delta. Approximately a third of the Camargue is either lakes or marshland. The rest is a vast plain comprising of large brine lagoons cut off from the sea by sandbars and encircled by reed covered marshes which are in turn surrounded by a large cultivated area of rice fields. The Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds, the brine lagoons providing one of the few European habitats for the greater flamingo, as well as the famous white Camarguais horses. During the CEA Camargue excursion students will visit a bull ranch while being accompanied by local gardians (Camargue cowboys!) on horse back. Students will learn about local customs and the geography and trade of the area. Next is either a visit to Arles in the spring or the medieval village of Aigues Mortes in the fall. Arles dates back to the 7th century BC and was a major Gallo-Roman city; students will have the chance to see Roman sites such as the Arena and the Theater, not to mention to visit a few Arles sites made famous through Van Gogh’s paintings. Aigues-Mortes is a walled town whose appearance has changed little since the Middle Ages. Students may visit Aigues Mortes where they will attend a local "Fête Votive", or visit the Salins-du-Midi (salt pans) that produce half of France's salt supply. Students will then venture to a local wine cellar where the well-known "Vin de Sable" is produced.

Cassis

Cassis is a small fishing port on the Mediterranean, a favorite with students. One can see the pointus boats used by local fishermen floating in the village port; the shape of the pointus boats has not changed in 2,000 years. Cassis is famous for its Calanques, or rocky inlets, which stretch along the coast from Cassis to Marseille. A boat trip allows students to visit the Calanques and take in the beauty of the crystal blue water and stunning white cliffs. Cassis also boasts great hiking is a popular beach destination. Students often return to Cassis on numerous occasions; CEA enjoys being the first to share this Mediterranean jewel with them. A visit to one of two villages will follow the Calanques experience. La Ciotat has a history of ship building since the 1800s and is the birthplace of cinema. The Lumière brothers, rich merchants from Lyon, invented the cinema and premiered the world’s first movie, featuring train arriving at the station of La Ciotat. The village also boasts the invention of the game “pétanque”. Students may alternatively visit the perched medieval village of Le Castellet, nestled in a classic Provencal picturesque setting. Wandering from one meandering street to another, students will have the opportunity to admire stonework walls covered with clusters of wisteria and bougainvillea, the vibrant shades of red, orange, fuchsia and violet intertwining with the ivy that grows in every part of the village.

French Riviera

Students will enjoy visiting the French Riviera along the Mediterranean coast, the famed home of Grace Kelly. They can pass the time on one of the area’s many beautiful beaches, visit the Matisse museum in Nice, watch the sun set over the sea from the famous Promenade des Anglais, and witness the Riviera’s posh hotels come alive at night.

Moustiers Sainte Marie and Le Lac du Verdon

The village of Moustiers Sainte Marie, famous for its painted Faïence porcelain, is absolutely beautiful. The surrounding area holds miles of lush lavender fields. Students can canoe in Le Lac du Sainte Croix, which flows out of the beautiful Gorges du Verdon. The lake is an amazing blue/green color and is surrounded by pine trees. This natural beauty and amazing landscapes are just one hour from Aix.