Having a hard time deciding which town in the Provence region to visit?
France is a beautiful country from North to South. But, for me, the South of France is my favorite part of the country to visit. In the South of France, you have Provence and the French Riviera. Provence has picturesque views and towns that are straight out of a fairytale. Some towns I visited looked like they were out of Beauty and the Beast. I am a big Disney fan, so naturally I see Disney in many things I visit.
While in Provence I stayed in Avignon and took a guided day trip of Provence to towns. When I go back to Provence I plan to spend two weeks there to explore the many beautiful towns. But, I recommend everyone to take a full-day trip of Provence so that you can see which towns you want to go back and explore more yourself or towns you want to have as your home base when you are staying in Provence.
Avignon
Avignon is a beautiful medieval town. It’s one of the biggest towns in Provence.Stone ramparts surround the town. I love the historic city of Avignon, and glad I picked it as my home base. The popes fled to back in the 14th century and set up the papacy. There are plenty of historic sites to see in Avignon, and plenty of good shops and restaurants to choose from. For a full guide to Avignon check out my post about Avignon. https://ceciliasluxelife.comthe-ultimate-avignon-travel-guide/
Arles
Arles is a charming little French town filled with small winding passageways. The town is home to an old roman arena constructed in the 1st century A.D. Now, the arena holds concerts and bullfights. Also, for all art lovers out there they would love Arles due to a little well-known red-headed artist called Vincent Van Gogh moved to Arles when he was 35. Van Gogh felt inspired by the area of the South of France, and in Arles, you can visit many sites that inspired his famous paintings.
Les Baux-de-Provence
When you visit Les Baux-de-Provence the most important thing you need is very good walking shoes. If you are an Instagrammer who wants to take cute photos in high heels just don’t do it. The town is built of stone in the cliffs. Les Baux is a hilly commune filled with cobblestone lanes and narrow passageways. It is a beautifully preserved medieval city that has cute little craft stores and cafes. Our tour guide told us that only 20 people live here year round. I would recommend spending at least one hour in the commune exploring every cute little area.
Ménerbes
High upon the mountainside is the beautiful town of Ménerbes. They call Ménerbes one of “The Most Beautiful Villages of France”. When walking around Ménerbes visitors can find beautiful old houses and narrow streets. Ménerbes is small and it’s a wonderful area to walk around. There are a few shops and restaurants for visitors.
Gordes
Gordes is a perfect postcard city in the hilltop among the rocks. A mix of a labyrinth of cobblestones and terracotta rooftops are only a few things that make up the charm of this small commune. Gordes is full of crowds in the summertime. So, arrive early in the day. A short drive away is the Sénanque Abbey.
Sénanque Abbey
When you think of Provence, do you think of the lavender fields of France? Sénanque Abbey is a church that was built back in the 12th century by Cistercian monks. It’s been around for centuries and is still active. Currently, monks live here where they harvest lavender and honey. Now, when I visited in the middle of August the lavender season was over, so I didn’t get my instagrammable frolicking in the lavender pictures. But, I think it is still a beautiful place to visit. The fields are in bloom with lavender typically from Mid-June to July. Guided tours are available if you reserve in advance. There is a gift shop inside the abbey which is filled with Provence souvenirs. For more info visit the abbeys website https://www.senanque.fr/en/
Roussillon
I loved walking around Roussillon and loved the whole look of the area. It has the feel of a Disney town. Roussillon is filled with orange/red colors that mimic the oche rock. The town sits on the world’s largest known ochre deposit( a mineral that is naturally occurring which makes it rust-colored). While I was in Roussillon my tour guide recommend I try the lavender flavored gelato that is a favorite of people who visit Roussillon. I thought the lavender gelato was delicious! Roussillon is another postcard-perfect town with beautiful buildings, and views over the mountainside.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
I loved St. Remy when I had visited and had lunch at a delicious cafe. St. Remy was another Provence town that inspired Vincent van Gogh and it was in St.Remy that he painted his masterpiece “The Starry Night”. Also, it is the birthplace of Nostradamus the French astrologer and scientist. If you are a fan of markets St. Remy has a very popular market that sells everything from fresh food to ceramics. The town offers plenty of restaurants to choose from. I think it is a cute little town full of charm and color to walk around. If I visited again I would pick St. Remy as my home base if I had a car.
