The landscape in the hinterland of the Côte d'Azur to the Rhône basin with the wine regions of the Luberon and the limestone cliffs of the Alpilles is made for an exciting voyage of discovery in a chrome-flashed vintage car. Mighty Cistercian abbeys in the midst of flowering lavender fields, endless cork oak forests and imposing military roads built into the rock from Napoleonic times, and time and again villages where time seems to have stood still: it doesn't get more French than Provence! If the high Provence is too picturesque for you, you can add the Roman arenas of Arles and the flamingos and wild horses in the Camargue to your list.
Day 1: Hidden Gems
Far from the glamorous but crowded seaside resorts you are in for an authentic experience of Southern France. The routes are scenic with little traffic, so driving is still a lot of fun. Upon your arrival in the courtyard of a historic mansion we will show you the Mercedes-Benz SL models that will be yours to drive over the next few days. You will meet your fellow travellers and get a comprehensive instruction – and off we go. Our road book will assist you during your trip across rural roads through pine forests to picturesque Maussane-les-Alpilles at the foot of the 'little Alpes', as the French call the nature reserve with the characteristic white sandstone rock. You continue your journey to Saint-Remy-de-Provence and its Roman excavations of Glanum. This is where astrologer Nostradamus was allegedly born and Vincent van Gogh spent the last years of his life. On your drive back to the hotel you will take a particularly scenic route.
Day 2: Driving on the most picturesque roads of Provence
Today you will experience Provence at its best on picturesque routes across Southern France. We cross Alpilles, pass by Saint-Michel de Frigolet Abbey and reach the Rhône river. Late in the morning we arrive at Avignon, the famous pontifical seat during the Western Schism from 1309 to 1423. On a guided tour we learn intriguing details about the 'city of the popes'. In the afternoon we head north-east to Haute-Provence and its blossoming lavender fields. There are plenty of opportunities for you to stop wherever you wish, as the route is lined with typical villages and medieval citadels. One of the most beautiful is Gordes, overlooking Luberon from a towering rock like a guardian.
Day 3: In the footsteps of the Romans in Arles
Today you will enjoy the diversity of Provence. You start out with a picture-book route to Arles: characteristic French villages, scenic avenues, solitary farmsteads, street cafés and boules or petanque players, as they are called here in Provence. On our stroll through Arles on the Rhône river we stumble upon relics from the ancient Romans. The former military colony used to be Gaul’s capital under Emperor Constantine. The gigantic amphitheatre is certainly the most impressive monument from Roman times. Just a 30-minute drive away we find ourselves in the Camargue natural reserve with its unique flora and fauna. From one of the wooden observation decks you will get to see the native wild horses bearing the same name grazing in the marshes next to thousands of pink flamingos. On our way back, we pass Montmajour, a fortified monastery high up on a rock in the marshlands, where people sought shelter from Saracens and Normans and where some soldiers of Emperor Charlemagne have allegedly been buried.
Day 4: The scent of lavender
Your fourth and last day on the road has a number of highlights in store: You cross the Durance river, which was respectfully dubbed one of the three scourges of Provence for its extreme unpredictability. We continue our trip via Lourmarin along the Castle Road of Luberon with its numerous curves and spectacular views. From Bonnieux we drive to Apt where the Luberon natural reserve begins. Here you will see some of the most beautiful lavender fields – definitely a great photo opportunity. Our journey then takes us to Mallemort via La-Tour-d’Aigues with its impressive castle ruin from the 12th century. You will reach your hotel, the final destination of your trip, in the late afternoon. From here your transfer is arranged to Marseille airport.
Days: 4
Price: from 2,495 Euro p.p.
Place: Provence
We can offer you the following dates for Provence:
You did not find a suitable date or you would prefer another region to do your classic car experience? From a minimum group size of 12 people we will design your exclusive, individual Classic Car Tour.
*Single room supplement on request.
**Two people always travel in one vehicle. Models will be swapped.
The General Terms and Conditions of Nostalgic GmbH and Co. KG, which you can view here, shall apply.
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For over 125 years, unique innovations and timeless elegance have ensured that the three-pointed star of Mercedes-Benz is pointing towards the future. In the first half of the 19th century, the lifetime achievements of two personalities – Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz – revolutionised the history of the car, laying the foundations for individual mobility. Ever since, ingenious engineers have been coming up with revolutionary inventions time and time again. Take the SL sports car for example, a fascinating success story from Mercedes-Benz, which, since its introduction, has become legendary. With its own special character and charm, it’s the number one dream car and luxury roadster of all time, even after more than 60 years. Two letters have rarely gained such charisma. The abbreviation SL, synonymous with “sporty and light”, could, thanks to the roadster’s sophisticated design, pioneering technology and how pleasurable it is to drive, equally refer to “superior living”. With its classic car trips, Classic Car Travel brings the legendary Mercedes-Benz SL to life with maximum pleasure behind the wheel and a passion for tradition.
The charm of the classic car doesn’t only start once you’re behind the wheel. When almost a dozen Mercedes-Benz SLs are lined up, shining in the sun, your eyes will already light up. Spring 1963: return to the era when the W 113 was introduced. Its hardtop, which curves inwards slightly, is reminiscent of the type of roof that pagodas have in the far east, and is what gives this Mercedes SL series its characteristic name “Pagoda”. With both the W 113 and its successor, the R 107, it’s impossible not to be transported back to the golden seventies, when luxury class was a term used in the automotive industry to describe people who had “made it”. Feelings of nostalgia are conjured up as soon as you hold the ignition key to one of these legendary Mercedes-Benz SLs in your hand. But don’t get in just yet. First of all, transform your roadster into an open-top convertible. The handy stowage space for the roof under the bonnet, painted the same colour as the body of the car, will get you warmed up.
Now it's time: it won't start at the push of a button: you turn the ignition key – a magical moment – the engine starts up slowly, and is soon screaming out for you to take it out for a spin. Wonderful: you take in the round, analogue elements. Be it the chrome jewel gear shifting gate with its delicate Bakelite knobs in the Pagoda or the cherished root wood inlay in the cockpit of the R 107, the chrome-plated ventilation elements or the snappy wipers on the headlights: as a driver behind the wheel of this Mercedes-Benz SL, there's one thing that will really strike you: absolute control.
This feeling will stay with you whilst you drive, when the six-cylinder engine powers up. These vehicles continue to impress not only their passengers, but also passers-by. After just a few miles, you'll notice how people like you and 'your' Mercedes-Benz. Strangers will wave at you. Other vehicles on the road will forget the hustle and bustle around them for a moment and greet you by flashing their lights; other drivers will even give way to you. And suddenly you'll remember how bends used to feel, that ascending and descending take some concentration when driving. By now you've enjoyed an original driving experience that you'd previously deemed lost. Welcome to the world of classic cars. With Classic Car Travel, you'll manage to square the circle: to slow down whilst driving. You won't need to worry about anything, thanks to the Mediterranean sun at your destinations, the wind in your hair, carefully selected picture-postcard routes an all-inclusive package with Classic Car Travel.
MERCEDES-BENZ 280 SL (W 113) THE SPORTY, LIGHT PAGODA
How do you get highly accomplished power deployment and impressive elegance under one roof? Engineers and designers solved this problem with flying colours in the spring of 1963. The Mercedes-Benz SL W 113, successor to the legendary 190 SL and 300 SL super sports car, was introduced and was, from then onwards, known to its fans as the “Pagoda”. It effortlessly balances the comfort of a touring saloon with the liveliness of a sports car, and is, to this day, the most elegant and desirable convertible for anyone who appreciates the simple elegance and spirit of the sixties. Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra loved this classy car.
MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL (R 107) THE STAR AMONGST STARS
In April 1971, a new Mercedes-Benz SL finds its way to people's hearts: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (R 107). The roadster presents itself as powerful and prestigious, having been given a removable roof by its creators. Under its long bonnet, an eight-cylinder engine roars into life for the first time. In fact, the R 107 really belongs to the German movement of 1968, as the ultimate decision to create it was made on 18 June 1968. In Hollywood, Dallas and the Königsallee in Düsseldorf, stars, celebrities and nobility sauntered around the streets in this elegant car. Plenty of chrome and distinctive bumpers and window frames give the vehicle a self-confident, sovereign look. The R 107 quickly became a bestseller. In addition to the comfort typical of a Mercedes-Benz, a number of small details make life with this car a real pleasure. Charming detail: the rechargeable torch built into the glove compartment.
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