Provence is a destination I really love and I had the chance to visit this beautiful region a few times already in the past. On each trip there, I have tried different places, activities and accommodations. After several stays in this region, I can say that I have now have several favorite spots. In this post, I am sharing with you my 5 best spots in Provence, and I hope it will inspire you for your next trip!
Wherever you go in Provence, the landscapes will amaze you. Summer puts the countryside on show, displaying its best colors, with the beautiful fields of lavender and sunflowers of course playing leading roles. But each season is a new setting and you can have an amazing experience visiting the region even during spring and fall.
What I also love about this region is the fact that you can visit touristy sites but also be amazed by its little villages. Indeed, the area is full of charming, quaint villages and to simply drive there and walk around their narrow streets, is in itself a relaxing and fulfilling activity and so much less touristy.
Drawing a list of my favorite spots in Provence is quite difficult for me as every time I go there I discover something and somewhere new that I love. I will try to give you the places where I love to come back to each time I come to this region and the spots I just tested last summer that have become my favorite ones. This is of course a non-exhaustive list of my ‘must-sees’!
One activity I tried for the first time last summer was a visit to Les Carrières de Lumières (literally The Quarries of Lights). Located at the foot of the striking village of Les Baux-de-Provence, in the heart of the Alpilles, this venue is a truly unique experience. The concept is exceptional; you visit an abandoned limestone quarry in a beautiful Provencal setting. This quarry, once an essential place in the development of the region is now hosting an immersive light and sound show.
Indeed, once you enter and pass the imposing stone walls of the quarry, you discover a magical world. It’s mysterious first, as the place is very dark and fresh, but then the show starts and you are transported by the atmosphere. On the ground and walls are projected the works (paintings, photos, sculptures, etc.) of only the greatest names in Art. Each season the producers and creators choose a topic or a special artist and create a unique show with artistic work paired with carefully chosen music. This year for example, the show is dedicated to Dali’s work and accompanied by the music of the famous Pink Floyd, which is perfect to create a unique, psychedelic atmosphere. It’s quite difficult to describe and explain and as it is more a visual experience, I will only say that the visit is poetic and really magic, but I think the best way to understand the place is to go there to visit and see by yourself.
If you want to know more about this unique place and the details about my visit there in June, I invite you to check my previous post.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of dessert and sugar in general. I have more a savoury-preference actually. So when it comes to eating an ice cream, I am not that rushed (but put a plate of Carbonara pasta in front of me and now we are talking!). I heard of the ice-cream maker L’Art Glacier, three years ago when I went to Provence in October, but didn’t have the time to stop by. Last summer though, I thought again about our guide’s recommendation for this ice-cream maker and took the opportunity to be in the region to take a moment and go there. And what a blast!
L’Art Glacier is located in Ansouis (in the Luberon), outside of the village and on the top of a hill. The place consists of a big terrace, under the shade of the trees, with a stunning panoramic view over the Luberon valley. There is also a tea room inside. The ice-creams are home-made with local products. The menu is very impressive with a wide choice of flavors. You can go for the classic 2 scoop-cup but then, it means that you have to choose only 2 flavors among the dozens of ice-creams. As I simply couldn’t make a choice, I decided to go for the biggest plate called ‘the flying saucer’ with 18 flavors of your choice! Myself, I decided to go for some classic flavors like chocolate, salted caramel (my favorite one), vanilla, but I also tried very original tastes like Sichuan pepper, Luberon honey, lavender (of course), rose and calisson… everything is delicious and the decoration of your plate is just amazing.
This lovely village is endowed with a unique natural curiosity ‘Le gouffre de Fontaine de Vaucluse’ (literally the abyss of Fontaine de Vaucluse). The village in itself is very charming with the river Sorgue running through it in a mix of turquoise, transparent, pristine water.
You can have a nice meal along the river thanks to the many restaurants and terraces. If you follow the main path up to the abyss along the river, you will find plenty of little shops, ice-creams, restaurants and craft exhibitions. You will also find a little museum dedicated to an ancient paper mill. It’s very charming and the shop at the end of the exhibition allows you to see and buy real paper made like in the old times. You can even find some papers with flowers encrusted in the paste. At the end of this easy and nice trail, you arrive at the abyss.
Depending on the season and on the weather, the level of water is high or low and so you can more or less easily the abyss. This is a very curious place but beautiful to admire. The abyss is located in a sort of cave or alcove, and the particularity of this abyss is that no one has ever found the end of it. Researchers, archaeologists and divers have certainly tried to find an explanation and inhabitants and believers have their own –theories and there are several legends about this mysterious place… Why don’t you come and see and even try to conduct your own investigation…?
The little Venice of Provence is really a beautiful place… The river Sorgue runs through the whole town giving it all the charm you can imagine, pristine water, cute little flowered bridges here and there, pavilions and parks along the water, ducks and boats following the tranquil current…
Twice a week (on Thursday and Sunday morning) you can enjoy an impressive Provencal outdoor market invading the streets. With or without its market, the town is pretty to visit but there is a special atmosphere on market days and I recommend you to try it at least once. Clothing, wines, vegetables and fruits, local butchers and fishmongers, jewelry, artisans, typical Provencal products like very good olive oils, tapenades (actually pretty much everything made with olives!), lavender products and of course, the famous Savon de Marseille (famous and natural soap made with olive oil and coming from Marseille) … You can find hundreds of different stands so trust me, the visit is full of flavors, tastings and color! I personally love the liveliness of outdoor markets.
One other thing that makes the town so unique is its antique market.
You cross one arm of the river, and pass the porch to enter a totally different world: “Le Village des Antiquaires” (the village of the antiques dealers). It’s like a small town inside the town. Each time I come there, I don’t know where I should look as there are so many objects, strange statues, decorations, treasures and remains from old times… It’s beautiful and captivating!
Nestled on a hill in the Drome, the medieval village of Grignan is a must-see on your list for its incomparable charms. Upon your arrival, you will be overcome by the picture-perfect scene that Grignan presents, highlighted by the shimmering colors of the light stone. The beautiful surrounding, landscapes comprise prairies and scrubland, holm oaks and lavender, broom and shrubs all alternating with parcels of grapevines and truffle fields. The village offers unique panoramic views to the north, south, east and west. It was the very home of Madame de Sévigné who called it a “beautiful and triumphant view”, all of which can be admired from the terraces of her chateau. Its attractions are numerous; from the rich historic heritage of the region, the beauty of its natural surroundings, the exceptional quality and diversity of its agricultural land to the festive and cultural events that take place throughout the year… One of them is very famous, the “Festival de la Correspondance”. It takes place over 5 days in July and August and honors the art of correspondence and letters. French people are familiar with the great history of Madame de Sévigné’s letters… You can also go there to discover and visit the magnificent 12th century chateau with its sumptuous Renaissance façade. The former residence of Madame de Sévigné is a unique place as it is the only in France who has its chapel under the terraces… this was scandalous architecture in the eyes of the clergy back at that time!
I really want to give you more Provencal addresses that are dear to me but if I did this post would never end! As I wrote it above, the list is of course non-exhaustive and every time I visit this region, I discover new favorite spots. What I suggest to you is to make your own list and yet never close it as this place has many, many treasures… I stop here and I invite you to consult our website to find the perfect itinerary to discover a piece of our beautiful Provence.
For a starter, I recommend you this one: Highlights of Paris and Exquisite Road Trip in Provence
