Within the Camargue region in the South of France, Les Saintes Maries de la Mer is located where the Rhône river meets the Mediterranean Sea. This popular summertime beach destination is a great base from which to explore the outstanding natural beauty of the coastline and natural reserve.
A masterpiece of 12th-century Romanesque architecture, the Church of St. Trophime (Église St-Trophime) is among the highlights of the Provençal city of Arles, and part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church, which has long served as a pilgrimage site, was dedicated to Trophimus, the first bishop and later patron saint of Arles.
Next to the famous Pont d’Avignon, the Rocher des Doms is a local beauty spot with pleasant gardens and sweeping river views. People come here for an afternoon stroll along the shaded paths, or a lunchtime picnic.
Housed in the former residence of the archbishops of Avignon, the Musée de Petit Palais brings together an impressive collection of Renaissance paintings in the surroundings of a 13th-century palace.
Towering over 66 feet (20 meters high with elaborate reliefs and triple arches, the Triumphal Arch of Orange (Arc de Triomphe d'Orange is one of France’s most impressive Roman monuments. Part of the Orange UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is one of the oldest and largest monuments still standing from the Gallo-Roman period. Today, the Triumphal Arch is one of Orange’s top-visited landmarks.
In the heart of Provence, the Coustellet Lavender Museum is a showcase, educational center and production facility promoting the beauty and medicinal benefits of the fragrant purple plant. Run by the Lincelé family for five generations, lavender is grown and harvested in their farm and distilled in an old factory into various products for purchase in the boutique.
From its origin in the Swiss Alps, the Rhône River flows 505 miles (813 kilometers through southeastern France and into the Mediterranean. En route, it passes through Lyon, Avignon, Arles, and Côte du Rhône, one of France’s top wine regions.
Thanks to an extraordinary climate and fertile soil along the Rhône River, the vineyards of the Rhône Valley region produce some of the finest wines in the world. Stretching from the Camargue in the south to Lyon in the north, the Rhône Valley boasts over 1,000 vineyards intermingled with villages, lavender fields, and olive groves.
One of oldest abbeys in Provence, the UNESCO-listed Montmajour Abbey is just outside of the French city of Arles. It was constructed in the 10th century by Benedictine monks, and has weathered war, plague, and abandonment. Today, the complex has been restored and is a popular attraction for history buffs.
Located in the Southern Rhône—across the river from the storied Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation—the Tavel region is the birthplace of some of France’s most esteemed rosé wines. Visit the appellation (and the petite, charming village of Tavel at its heart) to taste wine or simply enjoy the South of France’s unhurried way of life.
With its time-worn stone façade and stark interiors, the Eglise Notre-Dame-des-Sablons might not rank high on the list of France’s most beautiful churches—but it does hide a turbulent history. Ransacked by Protestants in the 16th century, used as barracks during the French Revolution, and finally restored in the 19th century, this Catholic Church has stood the test of time.
