Provence Byways

By Ann Woodyard

Bob and Sue Winn, founders and directors of Provence Byways, offer a unique way of discovering the delights of the Luberon region of Provence. When not at home in the village of Lourmarin, they live in northern California, where Bob teaches college level history and English. Their week-long sessions are designed for the traveler who wants to appreciate the centuries of tradition and heritage that have made the area such a popular destination. The Luberon, an easy drive from the historical cities of Arles, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence, is an ideal base from which to explore Provence.

My husband and I joined the Winns and their enthusiastic group of 10 clients one morning in May around tables covered with buttery croissants, coffee, and fruits fresh from the open-air market as Bob—aided by beautiful images on computer monitors—unpacked the history of the Luberon. Sue delivered a mouthwatering session on the food of Provence. Our appetites whetted, we set out to discover the Luberon for ourselves.

The remaining days of the week include sessions in architecture, natural history, Van Gogh and Cézanne, and other appealing topics. Each day’s itinerary is outlined in the Winns’ excellent series of booklets, the “Concise Guides to the Luberon,” which are sent in advance, along with other valuable information, to participants. Guests can follow the designated itinerary (all attendees have their own rental car), head off on an adventure of their own, or just lie around in a hammock in the lovely walled garden of the Villa San Louis in Lourmarin.

After a day full of exploration, we joined the informal evening session in the garden to share stories of our discoveries along with wine, cheese, and other goodies picked up along the way.

Provence Byways’ extremely reasonably priced sessions are offered in late May and early June. For more information, visit the Winns’ web site www.provencebyways.com or contact them at 30605 Navarro Ridge Rod., Albion, CA 95410; 707-937-5520.