Auriol — Sainte-Baume & Villages: private taxi tour

A morning in the hinterland, quieter and more genuine. We leave Auriol and in three quarters of an hour we reach Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. The basilica is a shock every time: the largest Gothic church in the south of France, begun in 1295 to house the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene, which you can approach in the crypt. The light falls from the stained-glass windows, the silence is massive, and you understand why pilgrims come from so far. Then Brignoles, the historic capital of green Provence: Place aux Aires shaded by plane trees, the old lanes, the Pays brignolais museum housed in the former palace of the Counts. I leave you time for lunch on the square and a coffee. The provincial, slightly drowsy atmosphere contrasts with the impressive basilica. Back to Auriol through the Caramy valley, in full sun over the vines. Call +33 6 98 46 63 34.