Provence in southeastern France is divided into six departments and stretches from Orange to Nice. Many consider the Luberon in Vaucluse to be the "real Provence." Gently sloping vineyards and lavender fields are the backdrops that enthralled Cezanne, Van Gogh and Chagall. An excellent train network makes travel between cities easy. To explore villages, drive or catch a bus. Particular highlights include Palace of the Popes at Avignon, the Roman amphitheatre at Arles and the craft center of Les Baux.
All the Provence villages are described in French and English with photos and videos in some cases. In each description, Provence Web has selected for you the sites not to be missed and the visits that are worth a detour. Comprehensive information about tourism in Provence and the Riviera to make your holidays in the Provence sunshine a dream come true.
Suggestions for stays and visits in Provence and the Riviera, a comprehensive tourist guide to help you choose your accommodation in Provence.
A Brief History
The region was once a Roman Province whose power and roam can be felt whilst visiting the many Roman landmarks around the area. The vast history of the region is largely built on the fact that in the 14th century, it was the one-time seat of the pope. In recent years the region has thrived with prosperity.
Dining Options
France is renowned for its delicious food and broad choice of cuisine from around the world. The food in the Provence region is mouth-watering to say the least. Restaurants, bistros, cafs and bars are located on almost every street, serving fresh food for reasonable prices. If you are interested in trying local food then sample the fresh fish, Provencal basil soup and pubs, black olives and anchovies. If the restaurant looks classy it will be and will be a pricey experience. If you are on a tight budget then be sure to read menus first.
Sights and Attractions
The region has three famous historic towns named Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Arles. These are the main sightseeing areas in Provence and offer amazing views, architecture, burial grounds, excursions and tours that are well worth checking out. The area is close to the French Riviera so the countryside and scenery is very beautiful and appreciated by the thousands of annual visitors.
Shopping in Provence
Provence is well known for its quality fabrics, tablecloths and various household items. All the little towns in the area offer a unique experience to shopping and supply a range of goods. Marseille is the closest city for great shopping where may people venture to.
So prepare for heart-and-soul seduction. Travelling Provence means sensual sauntering past scented lavender fields and chestnut forests; through fresh apple-green vineyards and silvery olive groves; around markets, Matisse-designed chapels and medieval hilltop villages impossibly perched on rocky crags. Be it with two wheels or four – on the back of a bicycle or with roof rolled back in a vintage Citroën 2CV – no region better begs lazy days out, interrupted only by copious alfresco lunches.
Yet Provence and the Côte d’Azur is not all Zen-paced rural chic. Roughly wedged between rough-cut Marseille with its urban art scene, and megalomaniacal Monte Carlo with its skyscraper skyline, this hot spot on the sky-blue Med also screams action, glamour and just a hint of the ridiculous. Where else do cowboys herd cattle while Roma blaze flamenco beneath flamingo-filled skies? Where else does the world flock to watch film stars strut the red carpet into a concrete bunker? Where else can you canyon fast white water in the morning, crack open sea urchins for lunch, see fabulous 20th-century art in the afternoon, and bunk down in a tree house, old Celtic hamlet or wine-making château come dusk?
