52km (32 miles) W of Avignon; 52km (32 miles) N of Aix-en-Provence; 726km (451 miles) S of Paris

Known as Colonia Apta Julia, this was an important Gallo-Roman city and today is a bustling market town. Ignore the modern industrial area and head for the Vieille Ville (Old Town) to capture the beauty of Apt. Here you can walk long, narrow streets that wind between old houses, where every nook and cranny offers something waiting to be discovered.

Apt is known for its wines -- it's a region of the Rhône Valley where the grapes that go into Côtes du Luberon and Côtes du Ventoux wines are grown. It is also known for its basket- and wickerwork and has been a producer of hats since the 17th century. Others know it as the capital of fruits confits, the crystallized fruit so beloved in Provence.

The old Roman city faded into history and was eventually deserted and covered by silt from the river and the hillsides. Roman remains are still buried around 5 to 10m (16-33 ft.) below the current town. But you can still see one of the best-preserved relics of Roman times -- the Pont Julien, a three-arched bridge more than 2,000 years old spanning the Calavon River 8km (5 miles) west of Apt.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.