Summary

This guide is excerpted from our much larger Adventure Guide to Provence. It zeroes in on the bustling, fascinating city of Marseilles and the surrounding area of Aix en Provence. For years, Ferne Arfin has been playing in Provence, a place where Van Gogh spent his most prolific years painting. She draws from her experience to tell you about the people, their culture and the way of life. Covering every town, village and city in the region, this book takes you sightseeing, shopping, and to the best beaches. Comprehensive background information - history, culture, geography and climate - gives you a solid knowledge of each destination and its people. Regional chapters take you on an introductory tour, with stops at museums, historic sites and local attractions. Places to stay and eat; transportation to, from and around your destination; practical concerns; tourism contacts - it's all here Following are some reviews of the complete guide: "The Adventure Guide to Provence and the Cote d'Azur offers plenty of practical information for the visitor who wants to explore the region. It includes info on places to stay and eat, but that isn't its strongest point. Its best features are the adventure tips it provides for each area (boating, biking, walking, kayaking, windsurfing, you name it ) and the pertinent background information that adds depth to a visit: for example, a note about French author Antoine de St Exupery when covering Agay, a word on Winter on the Mont Ventoux. These fall outside of the classic insights on these locations. As a frequent and long-time visitor to the region, I find the information in the guide right on the mark and recommend it highly." -- Florence Chatzigianis. "I've just returned from a trip to Antibes and Nice and I used this book as my guide. The recommendations were spot on; really terrific. This is a rare thing, a guide book that inspires and tempts you without making your head spin. All the detail you need is there but this book is so much more " -- Annie Smith. "What a great hands-on book.This is best guide to Provence and the Riviera I've come across. Her section on St. Remy and Eygalieres is perfect. "Le Petit Bru" may have been the best meal I had...and a good value. This is the one to get before you leave." -- Chuck E. "Not being the type to jump off bridges or hang glide over the treetops, I was a little worried about "Adventure Guide" in the book title, but it turns out that this guidebook features just the kind of soft adventures I enjoy: hiking, touring and poking into the interesting recesses of a country, followed by an evening of good food and wine. The author's biography says she's been visiting Provence for 20 years and it shows in her writing, which includes all the little insider tips that you'd expect from someone with her experience. With the practical information I've found in the "Adventure" guide to Provence, it may take me the next 20 years to enjoy everything this book brings to light." -- Betsy Malloy. "There are a lot of tour books for this region, but this new one is really fun. There is lots of information on "out of the way" places and interesting festivals, all sorts of things which you wont find anywhere else. I love Provence, and this book will definitely come with me the next time I go. The information is presented clearly and is well written, so it's easy to use. Lots of nice pictures, too. I like this guide a lot, and I hope to see more French guides from this writer." -- J. Kingan. "If you are interested in experiencing the gorgeous Cote D'Azur and Provence areas and not just enjoying the scenery from a tour bus or car, this is the book for you. Filled with tips on out-of-the-way places, great hikes and bike rides." -- L. Lotz