Sights of the Provence

Here are is an overview of the regions of the Provence you might consider if you are looking for "hideaway" type lodgings. We start with the regions where you find a great selection of hideaway type lodgings and end with the more populated areas.

Comtat Venaissin and Carpentras:

The countryside east of Avignon around Carpentras and Sault is often called the Toscana of the Provence. Carpentras is a lively market town, in Pernes les Fontaines time seems to have stood still, Venasque is one of the most beautiful perched villages in France, Sault and its lavender, the Nesque Gorges, the vineyards of the Côte Ventoux - the recipe for a restful holiday is all here.

While enjoying the quiet countryside, you are still close to the major historic sights in Avignon, Orange, Vaison la Romaine, Arles and the Pont du Gard.

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Haut Vaucluse and Vaison la Romaine:

The area between Orange and Vaison la Romaine is considered to be "très cool" for vacationing. You find famous Southern Côtes du Rhône wine villages (Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Cairanne, Rastaeu and many others), endless green vineyards and the nature reserves of Mont Ventoux (of Tour de France fame) and the Dentelles de Montmirail (great for day hiking). Visit the many small villages, their beautiful weekly markets. Lots of quiet country roads for biking.

It has become a favorite area for city folks from Paris and London who like a quiet vacation in the countryside, but appreciate the gastronomic scene here - good wine, great food.

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Luberon and l'Isle sur la Sorgue:

Many of the who's who from Europe and North America bought their bastides (old fortified farm houses), mas (farm houses) and village houses in the Luberon. The perched villages with immaculately renovated houses, the green garrigue covered mountains of the Grand and Petit Luberon and the Plateau du Vaucluse. What makes l'Isle sur la Sorgue, literally the "Island in the River Sorgue", special is its undisputed reputation as the place in Southern France to shop for antiquities. As an extra bonus it has one of the best Provençal markets.

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St.Rémy de Provence and les Alpilles:

The Alpilles, the "little Alpes", between Arles and Avignon is a favorite vacation area: gray-white rugged mountains, the ruins of Le Baux castle perched on a cliff, St.Rémy de Provence of van Gogh fame and the nearby Roman ruins of Glanum. Many pretty villages, lots of olive trees - a great area to spend a holiday. Very "in" with the who's who and close to many historic sites: Arles, Avignon, Nimes and the Pont du Gard.

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Central/Haut Var and the Pays d'Fayence:

It is also called the Provence Vert, the green Provence. It offers a different pace of life with forested mountains, vineyards and beautiful ancient villages - a country setting tailor made for a restful vacation. The Var produces most of the rose wine in France, most of the flowers and is home for a steadily increasing population of les Anglais, who retire here. You have a wide selection of hideaway type lodgings, especially self-catering vacation rentals.

Further east lies the Pays de Fayence, a mountainous area with its "Villages Perchés" (perched villages) - a major tourist attraction. A great location to explore the Côte d'Azur around Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Saint Paul de Vence while enjoying country life.

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Drôme Provençale:

The up and coming area where many French vacation. Pretty much an extension of the Haut Vaucluse with historic wine villages, vineyards, lavender fields and the rolling green hills of the Pre-Alpes. To the east are les Baronnies, the baronial lands, a rugged, sparsely populated landscape with villages where gentrification has not yet arrived.

Many visit Grignan and its château (Madame Sévigné) and the historic villages in the area, like Poet Laval with its Knights Hospitalers (Maltese Knights) fortifications.

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Alpes de Haute Provence:

This is "l'arriere pays", the back country. Few well known historic treasures to speak of but many hidden gems to be discovered. The Alpes de Hautes Provence might be your choice if you want to get away from it all.

A birds flight from west to east takes us from the lavender fields around Forcalquier and Simiane le Rotonde, to the spectacular Verdon Gorges (France's Grand Canyon) with Moustiers Sainte Marie to the elegant spa town of Digne les Bains. At the Ubaye Valley and Barcelonnette we have reached the mighty peaks of the Southern Alpes on the Italian border with the spectacular Mercantour National Park.

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Arles and the Camargue:

We love Arles, since 1981 listed as a World Heritage site, its location on the Rhône, the impressive Roman monuments, the ramparts, Place de la Republique with Cathédral Saint-Trophime, its cloister, the majestic town hall as well as retracing van Gogh's steps. South of Arles lies the Camargue, the flat, marshy Rhône delta, France's cowboy country. During late spring and early autumn a great place for horseback riding and bird watching. During summer the many black mosquitoes will torture you - it is a marshy nature reserve. Winter and early spring can be harsh, the Mistral will literally blow you into the Mediterranean Sea.

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St.Tropez and the Western Côte d'Azur:

One of our favorite stretches of the Mediterranean coast, very picturesque. A good place to vacation during the shoulder season - very busy in July and August. Dense development yes, but no concrete jungle. Driving west from Cannes you visit the Esterel coast with its red rugged cliffs, the towns of Saint Raphaël, Fréjus and Sainte Maxime. Across the bay lies St.Tropez, a notorious party town, but a very pretty setting. Further west are historic hilltop villages like Ramatuelle and Gassin, great beaches like Gigaro, the Porquerolles islands, busy Hyères and Toulon, pretty Sanary sur Mer and finally Bandol.

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Aix en Provence and Pays d'Aix:

Aix is a cultured and lively university town at the foothills of Mont Sainte Victoire, the mystic mountain range of Cézanne fame. It is often called the little Paris in the Provence. Many French would love to live here. Great restaurant scene.

The Pays d'Aix, the countryside around Aix, is wonderful if you stay in the right area. Marseille and Aix are steadily growing together, an extensive suburb with some pretty hilltop villages in between. The regions to the east (around Mont Sainte Victoire), west and north of Aix are wonderful, Provence country life at its best.

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Avignon:

One of France's major tourist attractions and an important cultural center during the summer time, when the Festival d'Avignon draws thousands of visitors. The festival features modern theatre and drama, including some very avant-garde pieces pushing the limits. Most of the historic sites are located "Intramuros", i.e. within the fortified medieval walls surrounding the old part of Avignon. The Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) is the major attraction as is the Pont St.Bénezet, the famous Pont d'Avignon.

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Nice, Menton and the "Classical" Côte d'Azur:

Nice is an exciting, lively, chaotic and noisy city, famous for its old quarter (Vieux Nice), the Promenade des Anglais and the flower market. Often labelled as the faded "Queen of the Riviera", the recent massive regeneration of its downtown area is proving the contrary. Nice is on its way to become a very hip city. The Côte d'Azur between Nice and Menton is densely populated. One of the most famous coast lines in the world with very expensive real estate. Monaco and lovely Menton are the major towns. On the coast and up on the hills are many pretty villages.

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Cannes, Antibes and St.Paul de Vence:

Cannes continues to be a highlight of the French Riviera - the fashionable Promenade la Croissette, the Cannes Film Festival, the expensive yachts in the harbour. Antibes-Juan les Pins is a must to visit: Vieille Antibes with narrow cobble-stoned streets, the Picasso Museum and the aura of "Picasso once lived here", Cap d'Antibes, the billionaires' paradise and the more down to earth Juan les Pins.

Many 20th century artists lived in this region: Picasso, Braque, Monet, Rodin, Signac, Matisse, Leger - just to name the more famous. You can retrace their steps and visit the numerous museums and galleries. The hilltop village of St.Paul de Vence with the Fondation Maeght Museum counts 2.5 million visitors per year!

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