Pertius, France

[NDA]

The colder weather has persuaded me to book a summer villa in Provence even earlier than normal.... we pick a slightly different region/town every year and this year we are going to be close to Pertius in June/July.

I don't know this particular area although Google has shown up some nice villages close by such as Ansouis.

Anyone know the neighbourhood? I got some very good PH tips for this year's break near Cotignac.

[phil y]

Plenty of pretty villages around there, Bonnieux and Gordes are two that stand out from memory.

Avignon is well worth a visit if you’ve not been.
Aix en Provence is also a lovely city, and a bit closer than Avignon.

That time of year, the lavender fields should be in bloom, beyond Manosque. Very pretty to drive through.

[Boxster5]

We as part of our 3 week trip this year stayed for a week just East of Avignon (Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne).
One thing I quickly picked up on was the shocking state of the town & village roads with vicious speed humps everywhere.
The Boxster took a bit of a hammering despite driving gently over them but with the locals driving on your rear bumper.
I don’t remember it being like that in any other areas we’ve stayed and we’ve been to most areas of France over the last 30 years.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Boxster5 said:

We as part of our 3 week trip this year stayed for a week just East of Avignon (Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne).
One thing I quickly picked up on was the shocking state of the town & village roads with vicious speed humps everywhere.
The Boxster took a bit of a hammering despite driving gently over them but with the locals driving on your rear bumper.
I don t remember it being like that in any other areas we ve stayed and we ve been to most areas of France over the last 30 years.

If your driving a decent British Plated Car in towns and villages across France, you’ll permanently have ‘Mr Bitter and Twisted’ in some heap a few centimetres from your rear bumper.

It’s all part of holidaying in France, which I absolutely love.

[LunarOne]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Boxster5 said:

We as part of our 3 week trip this year stayed for a week just East of Avignon (Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne).
One thing I quickly picked up on was the shocking state of the town & village roads with vicious speed humps everywhere.
The Boxster took a bit of a hammering despite driving gently over them but with the locals driving on your rear bumper.
I don t remember it being like that in any other areas we ve stayed and we ve been to most areas of France over the last 30 years.

If your driving a decent British Plated Car in towns and villages across France, you ll permanently have Mr Bitter and Twisted in some heap a few centimetres from your rear bumper.

I do a road trip involving France nearly every year and I can't say I remember that happening. Maybe my Boxster isn't swanky enough.

[NDA]

Thanks for the replies so far... Bonnieux looks very familiar and a good shout, I seem to recall renting a house there 30 years ago! Will definitely revisit.

[Boxster5]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Boxster5 said:

We as part of our 3 week trip this year stayed for a week just East of Avignon (Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne).
One thing I quickly picked up on was the shocking state of the town & village roads with vicious speed humps everywhere.
The Boxster took a bit of a hammering despite driving gently over them but with the locals driving on your rear bumper.
I don t remember it being like that in any other areas we ve stayed and we ve been to most areas of France over the last 30 years.

If your driving a decent British Plated Car in towns and villages across France, you ll permanently have Mr Bitter and Twisted in some heap a few centimetres from your rear bumper.

It s all part of holidaying in France, which I absolutely love.

I was complaining about the state of the roads mainly.
Having said that, we always find the standard of driving in France seems to get worse the further South you go, the Cote D’Azur probably being the worst particularly moped & bike riders trying to squeeze through non existent gaps.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Boxster5 said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

Boxster5 said:

We as part of our 3 week trip this year stayed for a week just East of Avignon (Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne).
One thing I quickly picked up on was the shocking state of the town & village roads with vicious speed humps everywhere.
The Boxster took a bit of a hammering despite driving gently over them but with the locals driving on your rear bumper.
I don t remember it being like that in any other areas we ve stayed and we ve been to most areas of France over the last 30 years.

If your driving a decent British Plated Car in towns and villages across France, you ll permanently have Mr Bitter and Twisted in some heap a few centimetres from your rear bumper.

It s all part of holidaying in France, which I absolutely love.

I was complaining about the state of the roads mainly.
Having said that, we always find the standard of driving in France seems to get worse the further South you go, the Cote D Azur probably being the worst particularly moped & bike riders trying to squeeze through non existent gaps.

I’ve found that area to be really hostile to British plated cars. The motorway as you had towards Spain having come through the Pyrenees can also be a little uncouth.

[NDA]

I have yet to find any particularly hostile driving or attitudes when driving through France - and I've always been driving something fairly sporty... 911, Ford GT, Vanquish etc. The roads, by and large, are in better shape than UK roads - even way off the beaten track. It's why I've been driving through France for so many years, there is motoring heaven to be found on their empty roads.

Perhaps Pertius will be different?