by Janis / 2 comments - Orginally published:16th August 2019
Honey-coloured villages, quaint towns and historical cities
Gary and I just love visiting France, any excuse that we can think of, and we are there. It’s not just the incredible food and wine, although that’s a pretty good reason to visit France. But the far-reaching countryside and the delightful little quiet villages are so captivating.
However, if push came to shove and I really had to narrow down a region in France to tour, I think it would definitely be a visit to Provence.
The scent of lavender, rolling vineyards, charming hilltop villages and ancient Roman architecture, need I go on.
Provence in the south of France is appealing to so many people, you can head there for a mini-break, or jump in your car for an incredible road trip. Or if the lure of cycling is your pleasure, then you can follow in the Tour de France tyre tracks and ascend Mont Ventoux.
Why not Pin it for later?
Atop Mont Ventoux
The reminiscing of Provence is making me want to return to this beautiful part of France, the honey-coloured villages and towns are calling me.
Exploring Provence
Location, location, locationWhether you like a bustling city, a laidback town or the tranquil lanes of a village, Provence really does have them all.
The Olive groves of Provence
We’ve visited a few destinations over the years, some by the sea, others on a hilltop and so often they are bathed in sunshine. My ideal is touring the Provencal countryside, weaving our way through the olive groves and vineyards and visiting the incredible Roman architecture, scattered throughout the region.
A hidden gem in Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-ProvenceYes, I must admit now, I do have a favourite place to stay, and that’s Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. To me it has it all, charming lanes adorned with sunflowers and lavender and duck egg blue shutters flung open to the sunshine.
Alfresco lunches in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
How could you not love strolling through streets full of cafés, galleries, boutiques and restaurants? Even when it’s bustling, you can still find peaceful spots to sit and while away your day.
Another reason I love Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is for its history. Vincent van Gogh lived here during a troubled period of his life.
A statue to Vincent with his sunflowers
He painted a few of his masterpieces, one of which was “The Starry Night”.
Also, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is the ancient Roman settlement of Glanum.
The steps to the temple
A perfect base
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is the ideal location to base yourself to explore the surrounding Provence villages. There are so many restaurants when you return back of an evening.
Discover more of Provence
Some larger optionsPersonally, if you are visiting Provence then the UNESCO city of Avignon is a must to visit, it is so beautiful. Take a stroll north of the Rhône, and you can catch the incredible view of the medieval remains of Pont d’Avignon, the Palais des Papes and Avignon Cathedral.
Pont d’Avignon
The architecture throughout Avignon is incredible, and so are some of their restaurants. Gary can undoubtedly vouch for the lavender crème brûlée.
If you’d love to tour the Provence villages and don’t have your own set of wheels, take a look at the full-day tour from Get Your Guide.
You’ll be picked up in Avignon, and the Provence countryside hills await.
In our opinion
We love embarking on road trips, so our preferred mode of transport is always jumping in a car. We find it’s the best way to discover a country.
Discover more of Provence on a road trip like us, Rental Cars searches multiple well-known car hire brands and discovers the deals that suit you the best.
Hidden Provence
NîmesThe ancient city of Nîmes is also located in Provence and has some incredible history dating back to the Roman Empire.
The Arènes de Nîmes
The Arena of Nîmes, in the heart of the city, is an imposing Roman amphitheatre was built in AD 70.
The arena is still used today, and if you’re lucky, you may be able to catch one of their open-air concerts
Did you know?
That the good old ‘Demin’ blue jeans derives its name from the textile city of Nîmes. ('De Nîmes' = Of Nîmes)
Crit'Air vignette required for driving in France
If you’re heading to France from the UK with your own vehicle, you’ll need a Crit’Air ‘clean air’ car sticker.
Just like our low-emission zones in the UK, France now legally requires the display of a Crit’Air vignette. The good news is, these stickers are readily available and affordable online through the official French government website.
The Crit’Air sticker lasts the lifetime of the vehicle, so it’s a one-off purchase. The RAC website offers an in-depth guide to everything you need to know and your requirements.
Historic Provence
ArlesArles is another excellent choice for you and is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Arles is just Provence through and through. Lovely rustic squares, fantastic restaurants and boutiques and history around every corner.
Place de la Republique
This is another city that can brag about having Vincent van Gogh as one of its residents. A visit to Arles wouldn’t be complete without heading to the two-tier Roman Amphitheatre. It stands high in the town and was constructed in 90AD, it’s unbelievable.
If you love Provence as much as we do, you'll want to start planning your visit now.
I so enjoy using the DK Eyewitness books, as they are extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Provencal road trip, now you can grab the revised copy.
Maritime Provence
MarseilleNow, I’m going to be upfront with you, as we only really visited the hilltop Basilica in Marseille. Which I must say was pretty incredible; the views across the city are amazing.
The view over Marseille from the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde
We drove around the port and through part of the city and boy was it busy. It is France’s second-largest city, so it isn’t surprising. Also, Marseille has a large international airport, so it’s ideal for flying into, hire a car and discover the region of Provence. But, hey, that’s your choice.
The best of the south of France
Picturesque ProvenceLes Baux-de-Provence is one of Provence’s iconic hilltop villages. It is as equally stunning from a distance, as it is wandering through the tiny narrow streets.
A view of Les Baux-de-Provence
Little alleyways leading off winding flights of steps. Window boxes overflowing with colour and tiny shop doorways welcoming in visitors. I would advise visiting early, this pretty village can get very busy.
In the foothills below all around the surrounding countryside are olive groves, it is so picturesque.
Where to stay in Provence
If you're looking for a recommendation then we love Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
Hotel Gounod
We've stayed at this delightful hotel on two occasions and would return again in a flash. Hotel Gounod is centrally located with very welcoming staff, delicious Provençal breakfast in the patio/lounge, and private off-site parking is available nearby.
A special place in Provence
CucuronCucuron is another one of my favourite villages and if you’ve seen the film “A Good Year”, you’ll probably recognise it.
Cucuron village itself is reasonably small, and only has a population of around 1,900 people. However, when you walk into the main square, you are greeted with the Bassin de l'étang.
The Bassin de l'étang in Cucuron
I can only describe it as a huge rectangular pond, it dates from the beginning of the 14th century, and it is incredible. People are perched on the edge chatting with friends just passing the time of day. We had a lovely lunch sitting at a pondside table, celebrating Gary’s birthday.
Iconic Provence
GordesGordes is another beautiful location high on a hillside. The buildings around the edge have such an incredible view across the Provencal countryside.
The town of Gordes
The village is so picturesque, stroll through the narrow winding alleys and treat yourself to a bag of Herbes de Provence, as a little memory to take home.
La Renaissance restaurant in Gordes
Like Les Baux-de-Provence, Gordes can also get rather busy so again try and arrive early in the morning or late afternoon.
Once again, you may recognise it from the movie “A Good Year”.
Hillside Provence
VenasqueVenasque is perched high on a rocky outcrop, and I’m trying not to sound too repetitive but, this is another lovely village. It was chosen as one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages (Les Plus Beaux Villages).
The church of Venasque
When we visited late one afternoon, the streets were almost deserted. It was wonderful just strolling along the lanes, peeking around different corners and enjoying the peaceful village life.
Coastal Provence
CassisAhh, Cassis, this is a little different from the other villages I’ve mentioned, as it is on the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Cassis is only around 16 miles (26km) east of Marseille and most certainly worth a visit.
Arriving at Cassis harbour
It’s a lovely harbour town to stroll around and such a pleasure to promenade around the bay. Cassis is nestled at the bottom of the cliffs, so its harbour and inlets are protected from the elements.
Good to know
The French roads are so easy to drive upon, particularly on the autoroutes. They are often quiet and free-flowing. The main thing you need to bear in mind is that the autoroutes are usually toll roads.
Keep your credit card handy as it’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to pay.
Lost in Provence
BonnieuxA large part of the enjoyment of touring Provence is the incredible scenery. As you drive across the open countryside, it just puts a smile on your face. Passing from village to village and seeing the ochre-coloured cliffs in the distance.
The view over the landscape from Bonnieux
Bonnieux is another iconic hilltop village in Provence dating back to the Romans. Bonnieux sits on the Luberon hills and has some magnificent views across the open landscape below.
Pont Julien
However, just close by here is the Pont Julien (Julian Bridge). This you have to go and visit, the Roman stone arch bridge dates from 3 BC and was still in use for light traffic until Spring 2005.
Unmissable sights around Provence
Discovering more of the regionWell if you’ve made it to Provence, you really must visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pont du Gard. It’s only around 14 miles (25km) from Nîmes, and this bridge is breath-taking. It’s such an incredible feat of Roman Engineering.
The Pont du Gard
Pont du Gard was built to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes to cross the Gard river. Although it’s not just a simple bridge, it is built across three levels and stands 50 metres high. You can even take a stroll across it.
Have you seen?
Our post on 12 of France’s incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you may want to add some of these to your road trip.
The wild side of Provence
The CamargueThe Camargue on the Mediterranean coast is a beautiful natural region in southern France and just a short hop from Arles.
Flamingos wading in the Camargue
The fleur de sel that you see for sale around Provence villages is obtained from the salt pans here. As you drive around the wetlands, you’ll see the ancient breed of Camargue horses, flamingos, rice paddies and also herds of fighting bulls.
The bulls of the Camargue
It’s a perfect area to visit and a lovely contrast to other parts of the region.
If you’re staying in Arles and would love to discover the Camargue, join the 4x4 Safari that Get Your Guide offer.
You’ll spend a very memorable four hours with your own personal guide.
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I’ve spent a bit of time in Provance but it looks like there’s much more to explore. I love a good road trip and this looks like a good one. Did using the toll roads become a bit expensive?
It’s a beautiful region to take a road trip. In regards to the tolls, I think if you were to head from Calais to the Provence region it would be around €80 to €100, depending on which route you took. Although they are so easy to drive on and often fairly quiet.