Lonely Planet Provence & the Côte d'Azur
Eurostar will shortly be running their weekly service from London to Avignon. So, what are you waiting for?

JUNE 09, 2003 | LONDON, UK
Fragrant lavender fields and sunny Mediterranean beaches, gastronomic delights and glamourous festivals. If you need more reasons to go, here are a few:

• Fête de la Tarasque - five days of bonfires, fireworks, street processions and carnival (around 24 June).
• Nice Jazz Festival (July) - one-week long jazz festival with main venue being a lovely old olive grove in Cimiez.
• Festival d'Avignon - among Europe's best-known theatre festivals, dating from 1947; Avignon in July. Festival Off is its funkier, fringe side.
• Les Chorégies d'Orange - a two-week classical and choral music festival held in Orange's Roman amphitheatre.
• Festival de Lacoste - music with open-air concerts around Pierre Cardin's restored castle, mid-July to mid-August, Lacoste.
• Corse de La Lavande - Five-day festival to celebrate the lavender harvest, Dinge-les-Bains, first weekend in August.
• Fête Mistralienne - the birthday of literary hero Frédéric Mistral is celebrated from 12-13 September throughout the entire Provençal region.

The new Lonely Planet Provence & the Côte d'Azur has tips on where to sip Chateauneuf du Pape or feast on Provençal fare, accommodation options for all - from farmhouses and monastries to historic chateaux, and insider tips on where to raft, walk or bike.

For more information about Lonely Planet travel guides, please contact Mel Capper at 020 7841 9012 or melanie.capper@lonelyplanet.co.uk