Provence, France travel guide
The Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region covers the south-east corner of France. It is perhaps the most visited and most loved region of France, and also offers more diversity than any other region.
Provence is one of the most beautiful parts of France to visit, with landscapes varying from high mountain regions; beautiful and often dramatic coastline with many renowned coastal resorts; and lots of attractive medieval villages clustered among the vineyards, lavender fields and olive groves in the sun-baked countryside.
Places to visit in Provence
The Provence region contains six French departments. Each department is introduced briefly below, and we also have more detailed travel guides for each Provencal department
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Hautes-Alpes
This north-eastern part of Provence includes much dramatic scenery as it rises into the Alps - notably the Gorges du Verdon, a dramatic gorge cutting through the centre of the region and usually explore from Castellane.
Some of the other highlights of the High Alps include the fortified mountain town of Briancon, and the Serre Chevalier ski region, and also in the high mountains is the Natural Parc des Ecrins.
Other places to visit include Sisteron, the rock-strewn village of Annot and craggy village at Entrevaux. Most beautiful villages in this region include Moustiers and La Grave.
The Haute-Alpes region, especially the Serre Chevalier region and around Briancon, are very popular winter skiing destinations - see skiing in the Alps.
see Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes for visitor information
Alpes-Maritimes
The department of the Alpes Maritimes is in the south east corner of France and boasts such famous names as Nice, Antibes and Cannes, and much more besides (see Cote d'Azur). Non-coastal highlights of the Alpes-Maritimes include:
Inland from the coast there is some of the finest scenery in France to explore. Apart from the towns and villages, the more accessible highlights include the stunning red Gorges du Cians, carved through the mountains near Beuil and the Gorges du Loup near Gourdon, a classified most beautiful village to the north of Grasse, France's perfume capital.
Venture into the mountains and the Mercantour National Park to visit Sospel, then slightly further north to reach Saorge and Tende, two more attractive hill villages in great locations. See also the 'plus beau detour' town of Biot.
see Alpes-Maritimes for visitor information (also Cote d'Azur guide for the coast)
Var (includes St Tropez)
This central-southern region of Provence includes much magnificent coastline, with famous resorts including Saint-Tropez. There are also some very interesting towns and villages if you head towards the quieter interior. These include the countryside, grottes and pretty villages in the north of the Var region around Aups, and the villages of the Cotes de Rhone wine region, inland from Frejus and west of Draguignan.
Particular mention goes to the towns of Entrecasteaux, Flayosc, Les-Arcs, Salernes and Tourtour - each with its own particular charm and slightly off the tourist trail.
Most beautiful villages in the region include Seillans (35km west of Graisse), and the scenic splendours of the Port Cros National Park are off the Var coast.
See Var department guide for visitor information (also Cote d'Azur guide for the coast)
Vaucluse
The Vaucluse region, in north-west Provence, contains Provence's most famous mountain - Mont Ventoux - to the north of the dramatic Dentelles de Montmirail - and several important attractions and impressive landscapes, including:
- the villages of the Luberon Regional Natural Park, and the other perched (hilltop) villages across the region - see Luberon for details - including several that are classified as most beautiful villages of France. Some of the villages to visit include those at Fontaine de Vaucluse, and Gordes and Roussillon, also Menerbes and Lourmarin.
Visit the very impressive palace and bridge of Avignon - the town of Avignon itself is also a highlight
See the Roman Theatre and remains at Orange, some of the finest roman remains to be found in France, then head tothe north of Vaucluse to relax in the Drome-Provence region, surrounded by lavender fields, and to visit Vaison-la-Romaine.
See Vaucluse department guide for visitor information
Bouches-du-Rhone
The Bouches-du-Rhone department is to the west of Provence and has a wide diversity of landscapes from the marshy landscape of the Camargue region and the pleasant resort of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer to the dramatic coast east of Marseille - along the coast here one of the greatest highlights is the Calanques at Marseille near Cassis.
Important towns in the department include Arles, Roman city and home to Van Gogh, and Marseille - the second largest town in France and a busy city and port, and several other smaller market towns, each with a distinctive provencal feel, such as Aix-en-Provence.
There are several lovely villages to discover - perhaps Les Baux-de-Provence is the best known, while other popular places to visit include Fontvieille, Martigues, Saint-Remy-de-Provence and Salon-de-Provence.
See Bouches-du-Rhone department guide for visitor information
Visit Provence - tourist information
Best Hotel Price Guaranteed
- click for details
Reserve online, pay at the hotel
Provence hotels search is provided by booking.com Provence property for sale See property for sale for available properties for sale and a property search |
|
||||||||||||
Places to visit in Provence, France: a local travel guideUse the map of Provence to see the location of selected places and to continue to explore... Place: |
|||||||||||||
Airport: 
See also Provence (version Francais)
