Provence, which reaches from the Mediterranean Sea in the south to the Alps in the north, is the most popular holiday destination in France. Many people are attracted by the mild climate with the many hours of sunshine all year, the beautiful beaches, the fantastic mountains, the small nice, picturesque villages, the exciting larger cities such as Cannes, Nice and Aix-en-Provence, the Provencal cuisine and the large supply of outdoor activities. Provence offers something for every taste.

The landscape of Provence

The landscape of the sunny Provence offers everything from fantastic beaches to remote plateaus with nice villages and old castles on the mountain slopes and deep gorges with rivers. The fields grow grapevines, olive trees, herbs, lavender and mimosa which contribute to giving Provence its characteristic smell and its colourful landscape that has inspired many painters and writers.

Large cities in Provence

Each city in Provence has its own charm and characteristics. E.g. the city of nougat Montélimar, the city of perfume, Grasse, the festival city, Cannes and the largest holiday city by the Mediterranean Sea, Nice, the casino city, Monaco, the largest port in France, Marseille, the fashionable St-Tropez, the fountain city, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon with the massive embankments and Palais de Papes and the bullfighter city, Arles.

Tourist attractions in Provence

All the small picturesque villages in the mountains or along the shores are all worth a visit. Each city has its own history, its own legends and many of them also have their own painters. You will get the best impression of Provence by following the Napoleon Route, the Mimosa Route or the Lavender Route and inhale the atmosphere of the South of France along the way. 

You can have an exiting trip without a car if you go with the Train des Pignes that goes from Nice to Digne-les-Bains and offers a three-hour ride in the beautiful Provencal landscape. On the trip, you will get a very good impression of why Provence is so popular.
 
Don’t miss a visit in Gorges du Verdon which is one of the biggest attractions of nature in Europe. The dark green river flows through the steep gorges in a generally speaking uninhabited country. The gorges reach about 21 km and are about 700 metres deep on some spots. You can visit the area by car or by cycle. The viewpoints to the river, the lake and also to the Mediterranean Sea are fantastic. 

Sports activities in Provence

You can do almost all kinds of sports in Provence. Outdoor sports and water sports activities are particularly popular in the mild climate. Along the coast, it is possible to dive, swim, fish and play all kinds of sports on and in the water. Inland, you will find golf courses, climbing and ski resorts. Trekking, cycling, horseback riding, rafting and other adventure sports activities are particularly popular in Gorges du Verdon. 

Gastronomic characteristics of Provence

The Provencal cuisine offers everything from tasty everyday dishes to choice and expensive gourmet dishes. The Provencal chefs have a preference for olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs. The best known Provencal specialities are the fish soup bouillabaisse, the stew ratatouille, the salad niçoise and the bread fougasse to which you would drink the Provencal wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Côtes du Rhône, as well as cold and refreshing rosé.

The climate of Provence

Normally, most of the South of France has a sunny climate from early spring and long into the autumn and also a large part of the winter. However, the mild weather in the winter is only to be found in the southern part of Provence and along the French Riviera.

Some of the photos are kindly lent out from Maison de la France. Photographers: Jean Malburet and Cartherine Bibollet.