Located in the heart of Provence, France’s mountainous Luberon region is famous for its vibrant purple lavender fields, forested valleys, and ancient hilltop villages such as Saignon, Bonnieux, and Gordes. Walking trails wind through the largely uninhabited region, past hills, woodlands, and fields dusted with wildflowers.
See birds in their natural habitats at Pont de Gau Ornithological Park (Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau), a top natural attraction in France. Of particular note are hundreds of pink flamingos that feed off its salt marshes. The park is spread out over 150 acres (60 hectares) inside Camargue National Reserve in the south of France.
Across dozens of aromatic stalls, Avignon’s famous Les Halles Market offers a cornucopia of Provençal culinary delicacies including cheeses of all kinds, meats, fruits, vegetables, breads, tapanades, olives, oysters, foie gras, and sea salt perfumed with lavender or rose petals. Look for the wine bar whose facade is covered in a frothy vegetable garden designed by botanist Patrick Blanc.
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.
Located on the limits of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, on the edge of the Luberon, Manosque is an old walled town filled with ancient doorways, fountains, meandering streets, and charming squares plus historical buildings such as the Notre-Dame-de-Romigier Church, which was built in the 10th century. It’s a great place to wander or take photos, particularly if you like old architecture.
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.
The former hospital of Hôtel-Dieu-Saint-Esprit—now Espace Van Gogh (Médiathèque d’Arles)—was where Vincent Van Gogh was treated after he cut off his ear in 1888. Memorialized in several Van Gogh paintings, the courtyard and garden of the repurposed complex are landscaped to match those paintings.
Lined with cafes and restaurants, the Place du Forum in Arles has long been lively. What was the main city square in Roman times today attracts locals and tourists who come to savor alfresco dinners and snap photos of the yellow Café la Nuit—scene of Vincent van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night painting.
Calanque is the French word for “cove,” and Calanque d’En-Vau is one of the country’s many Mediterranean pockets. It's no wide, sandy crescent—instead, picture a small fjord, with towering white cliffs and sparkling, turquoise waters. Stony and gnarled, this serene spot between Cassis and Marseilles is an escape from the urban Riviera.
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.
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.
The grand 17th-century Vieille Charité in the heart of Old Town Marseille houses not one, but two museums – the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art (Musée d'Arts Africains, Océaniens et Amérindiens) and the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology (Musée d'Archéologie Méditerranéenne). The archaeology museum focuses on the history of Marseille and its immediate surroundings.
With extensive Roman ruins and a lively café scene, the southern French town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence has both historical importance and modern appeal. Nostradamus was born here, and Van Gogh spent one of his most productive periods in Saint-Rémy, so there’s plenty to do for art lovers and visitors interested in the region’s history.
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.
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.
At the Old Port in Marseilles, the L-shaped Place aux Huiles is where boats filled with barrels of olive oil would float up a canal once here. Now paved over to make a wide avenue, the relaxing pedestrian-only square is lined with some of the best restaurants and bars in town.
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.
Central Aix-en-Provence's Musée Granet showcases a mix of archeological artifacts and European art and sculpture, mostly dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Just around the corner, an annex branch of the museum displays much of the collection of the late art collector Jean Planque, including works by Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas.
The Orange Velodrome Stadium, a symbol of Marseille since 1937, which once featured cycling competitions, has undergone three major renovations and now serves as a premier sports and music venue with a 67,000-seat capacity. The host of major tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, the UEFA European Football Championship, and matches during the 2024 Summer Olympics as well, the arena draws visitors for both events and behind-the-scenes tours.
Aix-en-Provence Old Town (Vieil Aix) is the city’s ancient heart, where people have lived and worked since Roman times. The area is home to some of the city’s grandest buildings, as well as reminders of previous eras. It’s one of the city’s most vibrant quarters home to shops, restaurants, and museums.
One of Marseille's main museums, this massive institution houses a permanent collection of paintings and sculptures by French, Italian, Dutch, and Flemish artists, primarily from the 16th through the 19th centuries. It was established in 1801 and moved into the elegant Palais Longchamp upon the building's completion in 1869.
Dating back to the 17th century, the Pavillon Vendôme is a stately, 3-story structure surrounded by manicured gardens. It served as a residence (and, for a spell, as a Catholic boarding school) before it was ultimately transformed into the art exhibition space of today.
At the base of Montagne Sainte-Victoire in the suburbs of Aix-en-Provence, Château de La Gaude is an 18th-century castle that has operated as an art-filled luxury hotel since 2019. Property highlights include gourmet restaurants, an opulent spa, and an estate vineyard.
Ground zero for shopping in Aix-en-Provence, Le Grand Marche (which translates to "the big market") is a massive outdoor market where vendors sell everything from souvenirs to textiles. The three-day-a-week market is a great place to pick up local handicrafts and textiles, as well as vintage second-hand finds and fresh produce.
One of France’s largest and most popular zoos, La Barben Zoo (Zoo de la Barben), located in Provence, has been a popular attraction for families since it opened in the early 1970s. Learn about the more than 650 animals who live at the zoo, from the lions, rhinos, elephants, and giraffes to hundreds of rare species.
Stretching over 310 square miles (500 square kilometers between Arles and Avignon, the Alpilles Natural Regional Park combines traditional villages, olive groves, and vineyards with mountainous landscapes and abundant wildlife. Vincent Van Gogh spent time at the foot of the Alpilles range and these mountains are featured in the background of many of his works.
Take in the rides, along with a dose of Franco-Belgian culture, at Provence’s Parc Spirou theme park inspired by Spirou, a Belgian cartoon character from the popular “Spirou and Fantasio” comic series. The park’s roller coasters, rides, play areas, and other interactive experiences are a special draw for kids and families.
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.
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.
Housed in a 17th-century private mansion in the center of Marseille, the Cantini Museum focuses on modern art, most of which dates between 1900 and 1960. Many works here are by surrealist, abstract, cubist, and Fauve artists. Expect to see works by Le Corbusier, André Derain, and Raoul Dufy, among others.
