5 Best Sights in Provence, France

Although Vaison has centuries-old attractions, the most popular for Americans may well be the classes offered by Patricia Wells, the food critic who made a name for herself writing posh columns and The Food Lover's Guide to France. She now introduces people to the splendors of French cooking—in her lovely farmhouse and above her own Chanteduc vineyards outside Vaison. Weeklong culinary seminars are deluxe ($6,000 a student) and exclusive (maximum of 12 students), and the January truffle workshop usually sells out, so book early (online only).

Put yourself in the hands of an expert under the arched ceilings of this new, state-of-the-art tasting room set in an ancient wine cave. This is a great opportunity to sample the region's majestic reds and dazzling whites side by side, or you can custom-design your own tasting from the 200 wines offered by the 120 estates represented here. All of the wines can be purchased at Vinadea, just above the Vinothèque.

Since 1895, this important local distiller has been producing not only lavender, but also essential oils of lavendin and other aromatic plants. Tours of its facility, offered May through August, cover cultivating lavender and the distillation process. You can stock up on lavender, organic essential oils, floral waters, soaps, sachets, and plant-based cosmetics in the on-site shop.

You can study miniature dioramas of scenes from Pagnol stories here. The characters are all santons, including superb portraits of a humpback Gerard Dépardieu and Yves Montand, resplendent in moustache, fedora, and velvet vest, just as they were featured in Jean de Florette. For more information, contact the tourist office.

Held in the wine cellar of her "wine B&B" in the heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Danièle Raulet-Reynaud's informative classes (in English) cover everything you'll need to know about this world-class appellation: tasting, buying, storing, serving, and pairing. A master sommelier of France, gastronomic cook, vice president of the Women Vignerons of the Rhône, and a charming raconteur, Raulet-Reynaud has taught wine courses around the world for 40 years. Her popular Apéro Fun (€30) Friday workshops are a wonderful way to spend an hour or an afternoon learning about and tasting these magnificent wines.