Best Places For Beaches
If theres one thing Provence knows how to do well its coastlines. From the dazzling shorelines of the Côte dAzur to the secret swimming holes of Porquerolles, lifes a beach in Provence!
My two favourite swimming spots are located either side of . Cassis is a lovely little portside town that makes the ideal base for a beach holiday.
The Plage de la Grande Mer is a family-friendly beach located right next to the village centre. But if youre up for a walk, Cassis is also the starting point for the Calanques de Cassis where youll find seductively secluded coves tucked between towering stone promontories.
Alternatively, head to the beachside village of Sainte Croix to find the iconic Mediterranean beach experience. The petite Plage de Sainte-Croix is a popular spot in the summer months but outside of the school holidays, its a true oasis.
Dont miss: If youre up for a bit of a hike, continue along the Calanques of cassis walkway right down to Calanque dEn-Vau where youll be rewarded with the most amazing secluded beach and stunning views!
BEST HOTELS IN CASSIS
Budget Interhotel Cassitel
Day : Pont Du Gard Avignon Rustrel
Drive to see Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water over 50 kilometers to provide water to Nimes. Crossing the Gardon River, it usually opens at 9 am, but closes at different times. You can walk along this ancient UNESCO site and visit the onsite museums and exhibitions.
Then continue to Avignon, the City of Popes. Walk through the Medieval battlements to reach the historic center dominated by the fortified Papal Palace or Palais de Papes. The Palais de Papes was the seat of Christianity in the 14th century.
Made of two palaces, the old one belonging to Benedict XII, and the new one belonging to Clement VI, the 14,000 square meter palace is highly extravagant.
Finish the day with a light hike on Colorado Provencal near Rustrel. This area was home to ochre mines and glass deposits formed over a long time. And finally, make your way back to Avignon or Arles for the night!
Info about Pont Du Gard, Palais De Papes, and Rustrel
- Tickets to the Pont du Gard cost EUR 9.50.
- Children under 18 have free access to the Pont du Gard.
- Entrance to the Memories of the Garrigue open-air display near the Pont du Gard is EUR 5.
- Entrance to the Palace of the Popes is EUR 12.
- Visiting the Saint Benezet Bridge is EUR 5.
- Combined entrance to the Palace of the Popes and Saint Benezet Bridge is EUR 14.50.
- Entrances to Colorado Provencale cost EUR 5 for cars, EUR 2 for bikes, and EUR 8 for motorhomes.
Where to Stay in Avignon
Cabanes Du Varon In The Var
Olivier and Christelle await guests with open arms at their extraordinary domain in the Var area. Les Cabanes du Varon offer 6 treehouses for a novel break right out in the countryside. Children will love getting to know the miniature donkeys the stars of the grounds -, getting up close to the animals and discovering their astonishing holiday home as they gaze up into the trees For an even cosier atmosphere, you can opt for the two dens, straight out of The Lord of the Rings !
Les cabanes du Varon
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Where To Stay In Marseille
- luxury
- Sofitel Marseille Vieux-Port One of Sofitels finest, this ravishing 5-star hotel is located on the historic Old Port. Offering you a rejuvenating retreat, Sofitel Marseille Vieux-Port treats you with personalized services, the most exquisite French gourmet delicacies, cocktails with a view of the harbor, and unperturbed relaxation at the top-notch spa with a plunge pool, sauna, and hammam.
- NH Collection Marseille Set in a historic edifice that was reportedly inaugurated in 1864 by Napoleon III, the beautifully preserved NH Collection Marseille offers a range of lavish accommodation units. A personal favorite of art and history lovers, the splendid hotel is ideally located for exploring the nearby attractions in the city. Aside from its business facilities and proximity to major shopping hotspots, the hotel offers a collection of 176 elegantly decorated rooms.
midrange
South Of France: French Riviera & Provence Itinerary
The south of France is easily one of the most impressive travel destinations in Europe. Here youll find beautiful mountainscapes, stunning coastal views and plenty of small towns and villages that beckon you to say hello.
If youre visiting the region, youll discover towns that take you back in time, that thrill with outdoor adventures and that offer cultural experiences that youll remember for the rest of your life. I loved it a lot, hence Ive already been there three times!
In a perfect world, you can spend months exploring every stunning spot in the south of France. However, most likely wont have time to visit each and every town in the region, heres a list of some of the more popular small towns and villages in the south of France to add to your Provence itinerary.
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Tightening Of Health Control Measures At Borders With The United Kingdom
In response to the extremely swift spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, the Government has decided to reintroduce compelling reasons for inbound and outbound travel with the UK, as well as tighten the testing requirement on departure and arrival.
Accordingly, effective from 18th of december, the following rules apply for all travel between the UK and France:
- A compelling reason must be given for travel to or from the UK, for both unvaccinated and vaccinated persons. These reasons will not authorise travel for tourism or business reasons. However, these compelling reasons will not apply to French nationals and their spouses and children, who will still be able to travel to France and rejoin their UK residence.
- On departure, vaccinated persons must present a negative test result dated less than 24 hours, which amounts to aligning with the rules already in force for non-vaccinated persons.
- Prior to their trip, all travellers from the UK shall be required to register on a digital platform allowing them to enter the address where they will be staying in France. This platform will be used to generate prefectural decrees requiring all travellers, whether unvaccinated or vaccinated, to be isolated in the place of their choice. This isolation obligation can be waived after 48 hours, subject to presentation of a negative test result .
Therefore, each time the border is crossed, the traveller will need to comply with the three different regulations which all apply:
Best Town To Stay In Provence
I am planning on staying in Provence during the last week of May or first week of June and was wondering what is the best town to stay in. My wife and I are 30 and love food and wine. I would also appreciate any hotel suggestions.
Big town, small village, will you have a car, which part of Provence do you think you will visit etc.?
For a small town suggestion…..
My husband, friend, & I stayed in Arles last summer. It is strongly influenced with Roman signs and there is an awesome Roman museum. Vincent van Gogh also created some of his art here. The town is easy to walk around in and the food is good. They also have humane bullfights. The people are gracious and helpful.
We stayed Hotel Acacias at 2, rue de la Cavalerie. If they’re full, they refer you to a neighboring hotel and we stayed there also.
I agree that Arles would be a great town to stay in. We stayed in Arles last year and loved it. Lots of character with lots to see and do. And great restaurants – do not miss L’Atelier.
We stayed at Le Calendal and I can heartily recommend it.
I stayed in Ansouis the summer before last and was so fond of the town and the beatiful little apartment that we rented, that there is a return visit booked for this summer. look at the smaller apartment in town.
We loved the Friday market in
My name is Delphine and I live in Provence.
I would suggest the region of Aix en Provence or from that city to the north : Salon de Provence…
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Different Types Of Lavender In Provence
There are three lavender types: fine lavender, spike lavender, and lavandine. However, there are only two different types of lavender in Provence: fine lavender and lavandine.
fine lavenderlavandine
Fine lavender is the typical lavender of Provence, you wont find fine lavender anywhere else in the world!. It grows above an altitude of 800 m and it is a small plant with a single flower per stem.
Used for medicinal properties, the fine lavender became the blue gold of the region when Provences great perfume makers started using it for their best perfumes.
You need 130 kg of fine lavender to obtain 1 liter of essential oil by distilling process. A 1 Ha plantation of fine lavender can produce up to 25 liters of essential oil in a good year.
Lavandine is found all over the world, between at altitudes of 0 to 800 m. It is a tall plant with two ramifications and it grows in large round clumps. Like its Latin name suggests, it is a hybrid plant, a crossing between the lavender of Provence and spike lavender which is little used in France.
The lavandine is less subtle, has a stronger smell than fine lavender, and cannot be used for medicinal properties. The lavandine fields are very photogenic, but lavandine is less precious and definitely less interesting for lavender producers.
You need 40 kg of fine lavender to obtain 1 liter of essential lavandine oil. The lavandine is used for cleaning products and filling the little lavender bags for tourists and other Provence souvenirs.
Where To Stay In Cannes
- luxury
- Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes If you have ever dreamt of walking on the red carpet as those luminous celebrities do, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes is your golden ticket to not only feel like them but also stay where they do. Welcoming smiling faces since 1926, this epitome of legendary hospitality reflects both the traditional as well as voguish charms of Cannes.
- Hotel Club Maintenon Boasting a prime location within the heart of Cannes, this astonishing 4-star hotel is a short distance from the ever-buzzing Plage du Palais des Festivals. Located close to a train station, Hotel Club Maintenon makes it super straightforward for you to travel around the city and visit notable sights. Dont miss the sunset here the view of the ocean and the sun setting beyond the city skyline from the rooftop sun terrace is to die for!
midrange
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Where To Stay In Provence France
Whether youre after a romantic escape, a beach retreat, or an action-filled adventure holiday, Provence has you covered. Read on to find out where to stay in Provence, to make the most of your time in the region.
Looking for more Provence travel inspiration? Dont forget to join our free Facebook group Provence Travel Planning!
Where Should I Stay In Provence
We’re planning on driving from Burgundy to the Riviera and spending two nights in the Provence region, but I’m not sure where to stay. Is there one best central location to spend both nights, or should we stay one night each in two different areas. We prefer smaller cities and towns.Your experience and input would be greatly appreciated.Thanks,
I probably shouldn’t comment since I’ve never been to Provence. I am planning a trip there so I have looked into it some. The consensus I get is that St Remy is a good base location. Arle is another popular place to stay. But, if you are only planning two nights then I don’t know. Arle is about 50,000 population and St Remy is around 10,000 population and they are about 30 min drive from one another. Avignon is a larger city has about a population of 90,000 and is located about 30 min north of St. Remy. I personally am planning on staying in the Luberon area.
I’d look at a map, decide what you want to see, then base yourself there. You might look into sites along your drive and stop as you head south that way you use your driving time as site seeing. Then base yourself in the middle of what interests you and then pick up some sites as you continue driving south. Read RS guidebook to decide what sites interest you and then map them out, and stay in the middle or in a town you are interested in seeing.
This website may help you narrow it down:
Good luck.
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Les Bories & Spa Gordes En Provence
Sitting within 20 glorious acres surrounded by olive groves, lavender fields, and cypress trees, Les Bories & Spa is a slice of rural Provence life. Spacious terraces overlook the rolling landscape and the scent of lavender fills the air from the aromatic gardens that surround the large outdoor pool. Soothe your senses in La Maison dEnnea spa which uses products infused with local herbs and flowers and rejuvenating scrubs made from natural ingredients such as brown sugar and olive oil. As golden hour starts to set in, sip on a signature cocktail by the fountain, before savouring some of Chef Gregory Mirers inventive cuisine in the Michelin-starred restaurant.
Le Muse De La Lavande
For those of you whod like a bit of background on the subject, you could take in a trip to the Le Musée de la Lavande: The Museum of Lavender, in the quietly charming dry stone village of Cabrieres dAvignon. Youll find much information about the industry, both past and present here, about the planting, harvesting and distillation of lavender and from the start of July to mid August they showpiece Provence lavender distillation techniques from the early 1900s using a traditional open flame still. And they sell many lavender products too, having a range of their own natural cosmetics and essential oils.
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Best Place To Stay In Provence For City Living
is a bustling metropolitan city with an upbeat vibe. Its also a city of contrast. While the Vieux-Port has been refreshed in recent years with an ultra-modern makeover, a few streets back youll find the grungy bars and true character the city is renowned for. A great place to shop, sightsee, or simply sit in a waterfront cafe and people-watch.
ticks all the boxes for a city fix while still being a great base to explore the Mediterranean coast of the South of France.
Dont miss: A walk up to the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde is an essential part of your visit to Marseille. Rising above the city skyline, the Roman-Byzantine style, 19th-century church is a sight to behold. And needless to say, youll have the best view in the city!
TOP HOTELS IN MARSEILLE
READ OUR FULL MARSEILLE HOTELS GUIDE HERE OR FIND THE BEST VACATION RENTALS IN MARSEILLE HERE
Where To Stay In Antibes
- Royal Antibes With its private beachfront location and spectacular views over an adorable cove dotted with sailing boats, this 4-star hotel is a great choice for groups and families wanting to stay long-term in one of their fully-equipped self-catering units. Overlooking the stunning Golfe-Juan coastline, Royal Antibes treats you with complimentary access to Les Cinq Mondes Spa, where you can enjoy their steam bath, sauna, and fitness center. The Royal Suite, with its private rooftop hot tub, is the ultimate steal though!
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Castel Pierre Lisse Hyres
An arty mansion in Hyères on the French Riviera
Almost a century ago when the novelist Edith Wharton was in the process of renovating her medieval Château Sainte-Claire in palm-lined Hyères, she decamped to this pretty, 19th-century mansion, which she used as a guest house for her literary pals. The impressive mini-castle was recently restored and opened as Castel Pierre Lisse, an unpretentious but imaginative five-bedroom B& B.
Climb upstairs to the sitting room and step out onto the sprawling terrace to take in views to the islands of Porquerolles and Port-Cros, bathed in a silvery haze. Owner Nicolas Broche, a passionate art and furniture collector, has filled every nook and cranny with a mix of vintage finds and paintings, including works by di Rosa, Boiron and Jasper Johns, and pieces by Eames, Le Corbusier, Robin Day and Castiglioni. Rooms are named after precious stones and painted in a warm yellow ochre, all with tall windows and sea views.
A simple continental breakfast is served downstairs in the drawing room, filled with art books and interior-design magazines, or outside in a sunny corner of the terrace, where in the evening guests inevitably converge for a glass of chilled rosé. Set aside some time to visit modernist Villa Noailles, where patrons Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles once entertained avant-garde artists in lavish style.
Best Place For Walking In Provence
The rugged landscape of the Alpilles makes the perfect backdrop for walking in Provence. Wander between the olive groves, cypress trees, hills and valleys that inspired many a Van Gogh painting.
Take in the magnificent views, find hidden waterfalls, climb through forgotten caves and discover the famous rock with two holes.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is the perfect base for exploring the Alpilles region and its walks. This typically Provençal town has been beautifully restored and its a pleasure to stroll its attractive town centre brimming with craft shops, cafes and boutiques.
Dont miss: The Alpilles were brought to life with Van Goghs paintings. Get an insight into the life of Saint-Rémys most famous artist at the Musée Estrine.
BEST HOTELS IN SAINT-REMY-DE-PROVENCE
Budget Canto Cigalo
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