Explore Provence: From the Glamorous French Riviera to the Tranquil Lavender Fields
Few places in the world have as many different types of scenery and environments as Provence.
In the southeast of France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) stretches from the mountains to the sea, and in just a few tens of kilometers, it looks very different.
The territory’s natural east-west boundaries are the course of the Rhone river and its delta. Its natural north-south bounds are the Alpine watershed and the Mediterranean Sea.
What to see in Provence
The French Riviera
People often use the word “Provence” to refer to the French Riviera, but it also makes people think of the famous lavender fields that are in the middle of the region.
But Provence is also a lot more, like the Camargue or the Alps, whose hills surround beautiful valleys. Not only that, but you can’t forget the beauty and cultural wealth of the towns, like Arles, Avignon, Orange, Marseille, the elegant city of Aix-en-Provence, or the beautiful villages of the Luberon.
Even the wild Principality of Monaco, where rich and famous people like to hang out, is part of this area. Monte Carlo is known for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which is held there. The Principality is a beautiful place on the sea. Here, you can see the Oceanographic Museum and the tank that Commander Jacques Cousteau worked hard to make famous.
As we travel from Provence along the coast toward Marseilles, we come to Nice. This city, along with Antibes and Cannes, is the heart of the famous Cote d’Azur, or French Riviera. The city still has a strong Italian feel, and it’s nice to walk through the streets of Vieux Nice between the markets and the baroque Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate and Chapelle de la Miséricorde churches. Given its size, it is more chaotic than nearby Antibes and Cannes. Cannes is known for its Film Festival, which takes place every May on the famous palm-lined Croisette.
We’re in the middle of the Côte d’Azur now. As you go south, you’ll first see Saint-Raphal and then Saint-Tropez. In Saint-Tropez, the coast is less rocky and has bigger, more comfortable beaches where rich people and famous people come every year.
Before you get to Marseilles, you have to take the time to go to Cassis and, most importantly, the nearby Calanques National Park. Here, steep cliffs drop straight into the Mediterranean, and the sea comes right up to the shore, making small fjords with green water.
Marseille is the second biggest city in France and the capital of the region. It often scares tourists who try to avoid its traffic loops and has a bad reputation, but the city has a lot to offer those who choose to visit it: think of the beautiful Chateau d’If, where Dumas wrote The Count of Monte Cristo, the Old Port, the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, or the new MuCEM (Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations), which opened in 2013 when Marseille was the European Capital of Culture.
The Camargue and the cities of art
If you keep going west along the coast, you’ll reach the Rhone delta (Rhône), which is a big wetland also called the Camargue. This is heaven for people who want a vacation full of nature. So, go to the Parc naturel régional de Camargue by boat or horseback, take a canoe, or go bird watching, and watch the pink flamingos fly at sunset. If you still have time, you can also visit the salt marshes of Aigues-Mortes in the nearby department of Gard (Occitanie).
A little further north, you can go to Arles, Avignon, and Orange to learn more about art and history. The first city has been around for more than 2,000 years, and it has amazing Romanesque buildings like the Roman Amphitheater, the Ancient Theater, the Baths of Constantine, and the cryptoporticos.
Avignon also has a lot of history and monuments. The Palace of the Popes is a grand building that will leave you speechless and alone. Not too far away is the famous Pont d’Avignon over the Rhône, which was built in the 12th century and is now called Pont Saint-Bénézet. Only four spans of the bridge still stand today.
After crossing the river, you should jump to the nearby Pont du Gard, which used to be in the area of Occitanie. At 50 meters, it is the highest Roman aqueduct (and monument) in the world.
In the department of Vaucluse, the city of Orange welcomes visitors with its huge Roman Theater and the Arc de Triomphe, two other UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Luberon, the Lavender Road, and the Gorges du Verdon
People who love nature can spend a few days relaxing in the Luberon Regional Park. They can ride their bikes between the many small towns and stop to see Gordes, Lacoste, Lourmarin, and the beautiful Sénanque Abbey, which is surrounded by lavender. They can also see the colors of Roussillon’s ochre landscapes.
Many of the famous lavender fields that have been captured in thousands of shots are in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. In the summer, don’t miss the Route de la lavande between Manosque and Valensole in the Vallée de la Durance. There, many companies grow hectares and hectares of lavender to make perfumed essences and cosmetics.
The highest point in Provence is Mont Ventoux, which is 1912 meters above sea level. To the east, the Gorges du Verdon, also called the Grand Canyon of Europe, are the deepest gorges on our continent. For 25 km, the river has cut a gorge 700 meters deep between the limestone rocks of Haute Provence.
The Alps in France
Climbing the Alps can take us back to the beginning of time. In the Tende area of the Mercantour National Park, the Vallée des Merveilles is one of the most beautiful glacial valleys in the Maritime Alps. You can walk through it and see graffiti and rock carvings from the Bronze Age.
The Vallée de la Vésubie is one of the most beautiful valleys in Haute Provence, and it is close by. King Victor-Emmanuel II used to hunt there. The main place here is Saint-Martin-Vésubie, a town with a historic center that dates back to the Middle Ages and is a great place to start a hiking trip. If you are traveling with kids and love nature, take a trip to Alpha-Le Parc des Loups (the wolf park). With a little luck, you might see a lone wolf or a member of one of the packs that live in this area.
Climate
Most of the area has a Mediterranean climate, with summers that can get up to 35°C and mild winters. In the alpine area, however, it is definitely much colder, and you can even ski there in the winter.
The Côte d’Azur and the area around it are busiest in the summer, while the ski towns in the mountains are busiest from December to March.