Provence Travel Guide: Where to Go in France

Provence.

EUROPE/FRANCE/43.9352° N, 5.4474° E

Stretching from the Rhône River east toward the Var and south to the Mediterranean, Provence covers roughly thirty thousand square kilometres of varied terrain. It is primarily defined by its Roman urban infrastructure, its distinct agricultural rhythms of wine and olive oil, and the dry limestone plateaus of the Luberon and Alpilles. Days here follow market schedules and the midday heat, offering reliable rail lines along the coast and quiet secondary roads inland.

Last updated 17 Oct 2026

What Provence is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

MORNING MARKETS

Arrive early for Cavaillon melons, Banon cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, and fresh tapenade from market regulars who brook no dithering over artichokes.

ROMAN ANTIQUITY

Inspect intact first-century architecture at the amphitheatre in Arles, the theatre in Orange, and the Pont du Gard aqueduct without museum velvet ropes.

WINE & VINEYARDS

Taste Grenache-led reds in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, limestone-crisp whites in Cassis, and dry Bandol rosés poured straight from cool estate cellars.

LOCAL SEAFOOD

Order proper bouillabaisse along the Vieux-Port in Marseille, where rockfish, rascasse, and saffron broth arrive with a pungent rouille and crusty bread.

HILL VILLAGES

Climb the cobblestone alleys of Ménerbes, Gordes, and Bonnieux for limestone parapets, quiet parish churches, and wide views across the Calavon valley.

COASTAL WALKS

Hike the marked limestone trails of the Calanques between Cassis and Marseille, carrying plenty of water and minding the steep drops above turquoise water.

OLIVE OIL & MILLS

Sample peppery green oil pressed from Salonenque and Grossane olives at working mills across the Vallée des Baux before packing a tin for the kitchen.

MODERN ART

Visit Paul Cézanne’s preserved studio in Aix-en-Provence and the Frank Gehry tower at LUMA Arles, where contemporary galleries sit on former rail yards.

LIMESTONE CANYONS

Drive the Corniche Sublime around the Gorges du Verdon, Europe's deepest limestone river canyon, or rent an electric boat from Lake of Sainte-Croix.

SLOW DINING

Sit down for daube provençale simmered in red wine or pistou soup loaded with seasonal beans, respecting the sacred two-hour French lunch window.

CISTERCIAN ABBEYS

Step into the cool, unadorned stone silence of Sénanque, Silvacane, and Le Thoronet, built in the twelfth century with strict geometric precision.

WETLAND NATURE

Cycle past salt flats, white horses, and flamingo colonies in the Camargue delta south of Arles, ideally with binoculars and decent bug repellent.

Where to go in Provence

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

Avignon