This will be The Classic Summer Vacation! (the emphasis here is on summer)

 

There will be lots of sunshine
in Provence!

 With your trip to Provence coming up this summer, a lot of you are starting to think about clothes and packing...  And of course the big questions are always "What's the weather gonna be like while we're there?  What does everybody wear? And do we need anything dressy?

So here's the lowdown on the weather;  Provence enjoys hot, sunny summers and over 300 days of sunshine, similar to that of other Mediterranean areas and the Côte d'Azur.  Rainfall is infrequent and averages around 60 days each year, and most of this falls in late autumn during October and November. Long time historical averages for  late June into July for Provence are average high temps of around 84 to 86 degrees F in the mid afternoons...  and average low temps (overnight) of  about 60 to 62 degrees F...  But keep in mind, while these temps can give us a good guideline,  these are just the average highs and lows of the day, and as we all know, historical averages  can vary dramatically from actual temps we'll experience... What we can tell you, is that we've been in this region many times in late June to mid July and have encountered very warm afternoons; 90 - 95 degrees and above!  It can get very warm...

So with average highs (typically) running around 85 degrees in late June, you certainly want to bring  some lightweight summer clothing... And of course, your swimming suits!   But keep in mind, the temps listed above are the highs and lows of the day...  And the week you're at the Villa is actually going to be near the true beginning of Summer, and we'll be experiencing some of the longest days of the year,  somewhat longer than in the US, with sunset not occurring until almost 10pm! 

A Summer vacation in Provence brings a 
traditional and festive atmosphere!

Late June into early July has become the  prime time for vacationing in Provence, as so many folks want to catch the peak bloom of the Lavender Fields, and to avoid the high summer heats and those oh so famous European heat waves that often occur in late July and August...  But with that being said, we've run into some really hot weather in late June, and those temps could just as easily be well above or below average...  

This is a transitional season, we'll be touring all day, and you'll be outside a lot more then you likely are at home... We suggest you bring lightweight summer clothing and at least one very lightweight summer sweater and perhaps a very light windbreaker or rain jacket for a cooler day or evenings...  Another thing to keep in mind is that in late June in Provence, sunset doesn't happen until almost 10pm! And with that, we'll end up spending a lot of time outside at the Villa in the late afternoons and into the evenings.  And Château du Soleil has so many wonderful outdoor recreation & leisure areas to enjoy; several shaded Terraces, Patios, Gardens with Fountains and Statues, multitudes of loungers with umbrellas, a full outdoor summer kitchen, dining areas, a breezy Solarium, and of course a wonderful swimming pool! (heated if needed)

If it's warm, we may take a break to dip our toes
in the water at The Pont du Gard!

So, do we bring shorts,  pants,  jeans,  sport jackets, dresses, neckties?  Should I bring high heels? What should we bring?

We always tell our guests to dress in whatever you're most comfortable in... There is no dress code! Our Tours and the overall itinerary is very casual... There is no need to "dress-up" unless you want to...   If it's important to you to "fit-in" or look French, know that the average French person dresses up just a little more then the average American on vacation...  more so in the bigger cities like Paris, Marseille and Avignon... But you're on vacation and you should dress in whatever makes you comfortable... We dress casual!

Sacrè Coeur in Montemarte, Paris 

If you enjoy touring the big Cathedrals, know that some of the bigger famous cathedrals have more relaxed dress codes than those in Italy... The unwritten rule has always been "knees and shoulders need to be covered", but this isn't enforced as strictly as it is in Italy.   Many women carry a very lightweight scarf to cover their shoulders or wear around their waist if wearing short-shorts, a tank top, or a sleeveless tube top!  While it's more rare to see French men in shorts, our guys should feel comfortable wearing shorts, jeans or khakis... Many women vacationing in France wear casual pants, capris, shorts or casual sun dresses...  And lastly, at the Villa, the atmosphere is very casual...  It's just us... t-shirts, swimming suits and bare feet are totally acceptable...

The outdoor rec areas & gardens at Château du Soleil
are wonderful & have a resort feel... 

And then there's "footwear..."   We always say wear whatever you're comfortable in!  But remember we will be doing a fair amount of walking during the daytime... and of course, a lot of the streets you'll be walking on will be cobblestones!  So  we suggest comfortable walking shoes for touring!

While June/July is one of the least rainy times of the year in Provence, you never know when you can experience a brief summer shower,  so  Terese & I each also always carry a tiny travel umbrella tucked away in our daypacks as well as a super lightweight rain jacket... (we suggest you do too)  You don't want the very rare possibility of a rainy day to spoil your vacation fun!  You're gonna love Provence & we'll you'll have a blast at the Villa!