PROVENCE
Welcome in Provence! A unique place with an infinite number of treasures… Breathtaking landscapes, villages steeped with history, an incredible gastronomy, delicious wines, to mention but a few… The provençal cultural wealth is yours to discover! So, to give you a foretaste of what lies ahead, we prepared just for you a list of what is not to be missed during your stay in our wonderful region. You will learn and experience even more of our beloved culture during your small-group tour with one of our tour guide!
It is now time to let yourself guided and be amazed in Provence with our A la Francaise Provence team!
Abbey of Sénanque
The Senanque Abbey has become one of the symbols of Provence because it's a topic of postcard! This Cistercian abbey from the 12th century still is occupied by monks today, who live thanks to tourism and lavender agriculture. The place became famous thanks to the beautiful lavender field situated around the abbey. ...
Aix-en-Provence
First roman foundation in Gaul, first called Aquae Sextiae , then capital of the county of Provence, Aix-en-Provence is a city of History, a city of art, and a city of water. A true cultural crossing which evolved with its time while keeping his Provençal identity, making it a privileged travel destination. In the ...
Arles, the “little Rome” of Provence
Arles , the "little Rome" of Provence: Arles may not be the biggest Provençal city, but definitely one of the richest. Known mainly for its roman and Romanesque heritage, it's been inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage in 1981. Clearly, you cannot miss the roman amphitheater, like a miniature Coliseum in the heart of ...
Avignon
Settled on the left bank of the Rhone river, Avignon is one of the few French cities that kept its ramparts, protecting its historic center embellished by many architectural beauties such as the impressive Popes' Palace , one of the largest and most important Middle Age's Gothic buildings. The majestic Rocher des Doms ...
Les Baux de Provence
You cannot miss the visit of the village of Les Baux de Provence during your trip in the region. The village has been classified as one of the most beautiful village of France thanks to its astonishing situation and its medieval architecture. Situated on the top of a crag of 245 meters high, the village offers a ...
Bonnieux
Through the centuries and their stories, Bonnieux has spread across the entire slope of its hill; in times of war people lived on the heights, and in times of peace along the edges of the valley. This is how generations have shaped this place, turning it today into one of the great picturesque symbols of the Luberon. ...
Camargue
On the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, in a typical western landscape, the great outdoors criss-crossed by bulls and wild horses constitute a fully-fledged universe. Land of tradition, camarguaise race and the gypsies pilgrimage rhythm life throughout the year. The Camargue , located in the Delta of the Rhone, biggest ...
Cassis
Cassis is a pretty fishing port located east of Marseille. No connection with the liquor of cassis (blackcurrant) which is made in other regions in France, but there are 12 wineries in Cassis producing wonderful white wines thanks to its microclimate. Dry but fruity, usually mineral, sometimes iodic, the wine from ...
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Up on the hill, the castle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape overlooks most of the vineyards that have made this town famous. Wine was produced here, apparently, since the roman time but thanks to Jean XXII (second pope of Avignon, 1316-1334), it went to the pope's table. It became better and more and more plots appeared. ...
Fontaine de Vaucluse
The name Fontaine-de-Vaucluse , comes from the spring located between the village and a cliff of the Vaucluse's mountains. This spring is the fifth most important in the world: it is the mother of the Sorgue river who is crossing the town in a beautiful web of water. The sky of Provence is blue like the sea, it ...
Gordes
Gordes is a living fossil that the time can't break. Humanity started to live here since more than five thousand years, and then crossing the centuries of a ruthless history; wars, starvation, epidemics and earthquake to finally get bombed during the Second World War. Today this village went out from these storms with ...
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a small town who developed itself next to the Sorgue river over centuries. The name of this town makes more sens when you discover the place (L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue means the island on the Sorgue river) because the town is literally surrounded by water, that why its nickname is « The Venice ...
Lourmarin
The Luberon is a country full of beauty and history. The village of Lourmarin is one of its main entrances where travelers stopped and stayed during the 12th century. It is good to keep this tradition today, even though we get the risk to never come back, because this place, listed as one of the most beautiful village ...
Farmer's Market
Coming in Provence without going into a market is impossible, you will find some everywhere! Each city, village, district has its own market with its own typicity, but the best are the farmers' ones! With more than 300 sunny days per year and large rivers and springs, the agriculture in Provence is highly developed. ...
Marseille
Thanks to its natural harbor, Marseille , the ancient city of Massalia was an important shipping port for the Phoceans. Remnants of its ancient maritime history can still be seen at the Jardin des Vestiges. The oldest part of the city situated on the northern side of the port was the site of a walled settlement which ...
Nice
Named « the good king » by the Provencal people, René the 1st of Anjou is, for sure, one of the most famous character of the Middle Age in Provence. He was a great artisan of strong irrigation and developed the agriculture in the region. Lover of art and poesy, his court in Aix en Provence still influences ...
L'Occitane en Provence
The brand « L'Occitane en Provence » is above all a story of passion. Olivier Baussan was 23 when he started distilling essential oil in Manosque, near lavender fields. With his van, he travelled the local markets of Provence and thanks to a friend who worked in business, he opened his first shops. Few ...
Ocher
Ocher , this mineral pigment, has been exploited since Antiquity in the Luberon. Already extracted by the Romans, it was at that time intended for local uses. Later, it was in Roussillon that the exploitation of ocher intensified, and that it took on an industrial scale (18th century), an industry which also ...
The Popes' Palace
Symbol of the city of Avignon, the Popes' Palace emerges above the houses like a stone ship in the middle of the Rhone River. Built by two of the nine popes who lived in the city during the Middle Ages, the Old Palace and the New Palace became the administrative, religious and economic heart of Christianity for 100 ...
Avignon bridge
Every French people know the bridge of Avignon , even if a majority never saw it for real. The song made it famous but a majority does not know its real name, the Saint Bénezet bridge. Commissioned by an angel to a young shepherd named Bénezet, this bridge had since the Middle Ages, a primordial role for the city of ...
The Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard is one of the main monuments in Provence, inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage in 1985. It's a remain of the very impressive aqueduct built during the 1st century AD, that linked the Eure's spring (next to Uzes) to Nemaussus (current Nîmes). Based on the De Architectura from Vitruve, this work ...
The Julien Bridge
Named after Julius Caesar, this bridge built on the Via Domitia (Roman way connecting Turin to Narbonne) in the 1st Century BC is an impressive witness of Roman engineering, used by traffic until 2005. It never failed to his task. Less famous than other roman remains of the region, it is still worth a photo stop. ...
King René
Named « the good king » by the Provencal people, René the 1st of Anjou is, for sure, one of the most famous character of the Middle Age in Provence. He was a great artisan of strong irrigation and developed the agriculture in the region. Lover of art and poetry, his court in Aix en Provence still ...
Roussillon
Welcome in Roussillon , one of the most beautiful villages in France and who likes to boast about its originality. In Provence this village is a rebel and does not want to be like the others. Gradually as we are approaching the village, the lands and the hills become full of colors. Every houses are red, orange or ...
The Sainte Victoire mountain
The Saint Victoire mountain can be seen from many miles and wherever from we arrive. It imposes to the visitor its compact mass, appearing from the countryside of Aix-en-Provence like a lost ship. The northern slope is covered by wood and scrubland until the summit while the Southern one raises a mineral barrier on ...
Sault
Located on the southern side of Mont Ventoux, the highest mountain of Provence with its 1900 meters, Sault is a scenic village whose history dates back to the medieval times. Built on a rock spur, the village dominates the plateau that takes its name, where, in summer, the gold of wheat melts with the blue of ...
The Truffle
The « black diamond » of Provence is a superstar here, during summer or winter, white or black, sliced or macerated into olive oil, you'll find truffle at any time and any place! Provence, especially the Luberon, is the main French region of production of that mysterious mushroom. Named « La Rabasse ...
Valensole
At one hour driving from Aix-en-Provence is one of the most famous areas for lavender in Provence. As the meaning of the name says (from latin vallis solis : sun valley) the Valensole plateau is an area where sun shines for 300 days a year over a surface of 800 square kilometers, offering to the lavender the best ...
Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh left Auvers sur Oise in 1888 and settled in the city of Arles. He fell in love with the light and the vibrant colors of south of France. In Arles he received the visit of his friend Paul Gauguin; they both painted a lot, like The Sunflowers and The Bedroom. But their cohabitation ended with the ...