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Bouches-du-Rhone, France tourist information

The Bouches-du-Rhone department of France is located in the west of the Provence-Cote d'Azur region, centred around the city of Marseille.

The furthest west of the Provencal departments, Bouches-du-Rhone includes a variety of landscapes, each distinctive and with its own particular appeal.

To the south-west lies the flat, marshland area of the Camargue, best known for its wildlife and Camargue horses, and commonly explored from the coastal town of Saintes Maries de la Mer.

To the north of the Camargue is the vibrant city of Arles, a town with a definite 'Provencal' feel and best known for its associations with Van Gogh, and the impressive Roman monuments at Arles

Continuing further north towards Beaucaire you start to see the landscape of the Alpilles, with its craggy rocky outcrops. Head through the pleasant town of Fontvieille and continue on to Les Baux-de-Provence, the most western of the perched villages of Provence, to see this landscape at its finest.

See also the village of Saint Remy-de-Provence and the nearby archaeological site at Glanum

Passing through Salon-de-Provence towards the east of the Bouches-du-Rhone the character changes again, becoming more like the landscape you associate with 'picture book Provence'. The region to the east of a zone through Aix-en-Provence and Marseille (passing through Aubagne) has more dramatic scenery, with an increasing number of hills, rocky valleys and limestone cliffs.

Calanques, between Cassis and Marseille

The scenic drama reaches its peak in the far south-east of the Bouches-du-Rhone department with the impressive coast around the port town of Cassis, which includes both the stunning Calanques of Marseille and the coast road to the west, called the Route des Cretes

Due to its diversity and scenic highlights, a visit to the Bouches-du-Rhone department should feature high in any French holiday planning

Towns and sights (and tourist classifications)

• Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Arles (Bouches-du-Rhone) - ville d'art et histoire
• Aubagne (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Baux-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhone) - most beautiful village
• Calanques at Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Camargue (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Cassis (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Fontvieille (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Istres (Bouches-du-Rhone) - rated as a ville fleurie category 4*
• Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhone) - ville d'art et histoire
• Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhone) - rated as a ville fleurie category 4*
• Roman Arles (Bouches-du-Rhone) - UNESCO world heritage site
• Saint-Remy-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhone)
• Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhone) - listed as a 'plus beaux detour'
• Salon-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhone)

 

Visit Bouches-du-Rhone, France - travel information

Map of Bouches-du-Rhone, France Places of interest: detailed info limited info