Driving toward France we saw the Pyrenees mountains rising in the distance.

Our first stop was Carcassone, a medieval town with a castle that needed exploring.

We hauled our bags up to the quirky apartment we had rented and then headed to the old town. We walked through streets filled with shops, restaurants and galleries.

The castle greeted us with a grand entrance, and we spent hours walking the rooms and ramparts, learning about its history and enjoying the views of the surrounding countryside.

The castle grounds are still used for concerts and jousting tournaments.

Next we walked through the Cathedral of St Michael, and the cemetery nearby.

That evening we walked to a nearby bridge to get a picture of the castle lit up at night. It was stunning!

More driving the next day brought us to Provence, the wine region we wanted to visit next. We stopped in Avignon and parked near an elevated plaza. We saw the Palais des Papes, walked by some shops, and found our way to Rocher des Doms park. Here we had a picnic lunch with a beautiful view of the Rhone River. We were thrilled to be here!

In the park there were billboards showing photos of families from Avignon’s past. It was a touching expression of love and pride for the history of Avignon. Before moving on we also stopped in to see the lovely Avignon Cathedral.

The delightful afternoon was a perfect way to start our visit to Provence!