Start with pickup from your hotel in Nice, where you will meet your private guide. Travel to the first site of religious significance on the tour, Thoronet Abbey. Known as the jewel of Cistercian abbeys, it was constructed between 1160 and 1230. Discover the beauty of the abbey's architecture, the cloister, and the perfectly preserved conventual buildings from the 12th century.  Drive to St Maximin and visit the famous Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene. Explore the largest Gothic church in Provence, which hosts the relics of Mary Magdalene. These relics received official recognition from the Catholic church in 1281. Charles II of Anjou, Count of Provence, decided with the approval and encouragement of Pope Boniface VIII, to build a magnificent basilica in the honor of the saint. Continue towards the city of Avignon and discover the amazing Palace of the Popes. The wealth and the glitter of the pontifical court vanished a long time ago, but the palace still is a monument to papal power in centuries past. Wander through the large halls and rooms of the Palais vieux, the Grand Tinel, the Consistoire, as well as the private rooms of the Popes who were resident here. Enjoy some free time for a lunch at your own expense before driving back to Nice.