Destinations to visit in Provence France
Map Showing the Hub Destinations Below

Provence Hub Destinations

All of the destinations below are well worth visiting and all are within an easy day return trip from our Provence Hub Village.
For each destination we indicate approximately how much time to allow for your visit and we also suggest itineraries combining two or more destinations into a comfortable and fascinating day out.

Tour Fenestrelle Uzès
Tour Fenestrelle of the cathedral in Uzès

Uzès

This magnificent little Citadine of the South was the first Duchy of France. The Duché – château of the Duke – still stands intact today after a thousand years of a very varied history. You can visit it and a hundred other attractions around the village. Two great cathedrals, a beautiful central market square, a Medieval garden, the vineyard “Domaine St. Firmin”, the Valley of the Eure (Roman vestiges)and the Haribo confectionery museum.

(Allow several visits: accessible by car, bus)

Pont du Gard, Provence
Pont Du Gard from the air

THE PONT DU GARD

This amazing 2000-year-old Roman aqueduct still stands strong today and probably will for millennia to come. There’s much to see and do here. Canoeing, swimming at the little river beach right underneath, dining at the local café and visiting the musuem describing how it was built are just some of the activities possible. It is great for all ages!

(Allow most of the day: accessible by car, bus)

Palace of the Popes Avignon
Palais des Papes Avignon

AVIGNON

« Sur le Pont d’Avignon, l’on y danse » the famous song goes and so you will dance too when you visit this important French town. Things to see there: Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), the famous half demolished bridge with the Chapel of the Lonely Pigeon, the Gardens overhanging the Rhône and much else awaits you

(Allow most of the day: accessible by car, bus)

Maison Carré in Nîmes
The Roman Maison Carré in Nîmes

Nîmes

Pronounced NEEM without the ‘s’ at the end. This is a very interesting town originating from Roman times. Things to see are: Les Arènes (better preserved colosseum than the one in Rome), the Maison Carrée, les Jardins de la Fontaine (Gardens of the Fountain), Les Halles (excellent market open every day in the town centre, the Temple of Diana, the Cathedral on the Place aux Herbes (take lunch at the café next to it), the Roman Gates and lots, lots more. We like Nîmes more than Avignon by far (as you can see) (warrants several visits of several hours if possible)

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, train, bus)

Castillon-du-Gard
Castillon-du-Gard

Castillon-du-Gard

Charming for an afternoon’s visit. There are four excellent restaurants : Le Clos des Vignes, L’Amphitryon, Les Jarres and Le Vieux Castillon.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, bus)

White Camargais Horse
White Camargais Horses Aigues Mortes

Aigues Mortes

Walled city on sea in the Camargue region of France, famous for its flamingos and wild white horses.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, bus)

Arena at Arles
Arena at Arles

Arles

The amphitheatre is the central feature of this famous place where Vincent Van Gogh was a “habitué” of a café not far away which is in one of his paintings. There are the vestiges of a Roman Theatre too and much else to see. Many people adore this town, but we’re not so fond of it despite its fame. There’s a much better one coming up.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, bus)

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

This is an elegant little town famous for its lavender and perfume production. Its graceful boulevard is pleasant to stroll along or to have lunch, but the main square is nothing special. It is certainly worth visiting for a Sunday lunch, but after you have strolled the rather small historic centre you will have 'done' the whole town with nothing more to see or do. I'm afraid it does not really deserve its fame.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, bus)

Roman Theatre in Orange France
Roman Theatre in Orange France

Orange

Another Roman built town with a very well-preserved amphitheatre and excellent museum next to it. There are some lovely squares to dine in nearby.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, bus)

Châteauneuf du Pape
Châteauneuf du Pape

Châteauneuf du Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a French wine, an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) located in the Rhône wine region just north of Avignon. It is one of the most renowned appellations of the southern part in the Rhône Valley: great wine tastings.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, bus)

Oysters at Bouzigues
Oysters at Bouzigues

Bouzigues

This is where you go before your visit to Sète (above) for the great Oyster Restaurants looking out to the oyster farms on the sea. Try ”Le Marin”. You can book the restaurant and/or a tour of the oyster beds.

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car)

Canal at Sète
Canal at Sète

Sète

Sète was founded in the 1660s as the Mediterranean terminus of the ambitious Canal du Midi. It is sometimes called the Venice of the Languedoc and there are indeed many lovely walks along its waterways. Don’t miss a visit to the Cimetière Marin – the graveyard of the sailors overlooking the Med. Many have Italian names! You can combine this with a visit to nearby Bouzigues …

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car)

Roussillon, France
Roussillon, France

Roussillon

Great place to visit if you love the colour RED. All the houses are made of red stone or brick. Feels like a touristic gimmick to me but then there’s none so queer as folk.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Fontaine de Vaucluse
Fontaine de Vaucluse

Fontaine de Vaucluse

Source of the Sorgue River. Supposedly the bottom has never been plumbed to its full depths. Go there for morning coffee then move onto the much more interesting nearby town of L'Isle sur la Sorgue

(Allow one hour: accessible by car)

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Built on a series of islands over the river Sorgue this is a pretty place with its rushing waters, millwheels and tranquil waterside gardens. Sunday is best day to visit when the huge brocante (antiques and bric-à-brac) market takes place and many fine antique shops open their doors. There is a great gallery of modern sculpture that impressed even me though I am not so much into that sort of thing. Try lunching at “Au Chineur”. The name derives from the French word “Chiner”, which means “to go around the second-hand shops”. Gee, that one word covers a lot!

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car)

Lacoste, France
Lacoste, France

Lacoste

The château of the Marquis de Sade is located in this little village in the Luberon. Worth visiting as part of a local Luberon itinerary but not going out of your way for.

(Allow one hour: accessible by car)

Bonnieux
Bonnieux

Bonnieux

Just opposite Lacoste is Bonnieux, which is really pretty and has some splendid views of the entire Luberon valley. It’s a good place to have lunch before moving onto Gordes and Lacoste.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Gordes in the Luberon
Gordes in the Luberon - impressive from a distance

Gordes

Very famous tourist mecca made even more famous by the excellent film “A Good Year” starring Russell Crowe. But it actually isn’t as good as they say! Though stunning to view from a distance, once you’re within it there’s little to see except endless tourist buses. To us it has no soul. So, visit it to tick the square on your bucket list but linger no longer.

(Allow one hour: accessible by car)

Montaigne St Victoire
Montaigne St Victoire near Aix that Cézanne painted

Aix-en-Provence

Lovely, just lovely. Visit the studio of Paul Cézanne, market on Thursdays, Cours Mirabeau, Museum Estienne de Saint Jean or just wander about this vibrant college town. Afterwards you can either visit the nearby Montaigne St Victoire, painted by Cézanne, or head off to Marseille for dinner before returning to your hub village that night.

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car, train, bus)

Marseilles Old Port at Sunset
Marseilles Old Port at Sunset

Marseilles

A very interesting and important town in France, being in Marseille feels more like being in Italy or Portugal! Make sure you visit the Old Port, Palais Longchamp (Art Gallery and Gardens) and do take a bus from the Old Port up to Notre Dame de la Garde.

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car, train, bus)

Cassis, France
Cassis, France

Cassis

Famous for its harbour, cliffs with sheltered inlets called “Calanques” where you can swim if you are so inclined. This is a very pretty spot to visit.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Canal du Midi at Beaucaire
Canal du Midi at Beaucaire

Tarascon and Beaucaire

Beaucaire is a port on the Canal du Midi. There are some great seafood restaurants on the sunny quay and after you’ve partaken of a dish of Moules Marinières (Mussels in white wine) stroll across the bridge and visit the great castle, Le Château de Tarascon.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Montpellier, France
Montpellier, France

Montpellier

The Roman influence is very predominant here. The historic centre is well worth visiting either by car (park in the central underground carpark) or by TGV fast train from Nîmes.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car, train, bus)

Sommières, France
Sommières, France

Sommières

Lawrence Durrell lived here (he was a close friend of my friend Angela Pick) in a lovely 19th century house just on the other side of the Roman bridge. Unfortunately, some people mix him up with his more popular brother Gerald Durrell who wrote “My Family and Other Animals” set in Corfu, much to his annoyance. The village is small but worth visiting to have lunch and to wander about.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Cévennes National Park
Cévennes National Park

Cévennes National Park

Head up towards Alès and keep going! This mountainous region is breathtakingly beautiful in fine weather to drive about, but not so attractive in overcast or wet weather. While you’re in the vicinity you could call into this strange little town…

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car)

Lodève, France
Lodève, France

Lodève

Have lunch in this strangely interesting little town while you are visiting the Cévennes.

(Allow one hour: accessible by car)

Gorges of the Ardeche
Gorges of the Ardeche

Gorges of the Ardeche

“A Home in France” TV series based in this wild region with many scenes of natural beauty to be enjoyed. Perfect for sporty types like rock climbers and canoeists. On your way there you could have lunch at the following lovely little town …

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Gourdargues: the Venice of the Gard
Gourdargues: the Venice of the Gard

Gourdargues

The Venice of the Gard region they say, and although somewhat smaller, there is some justice to the remark. Just go! Go for lunch at one of the canal-side restaurants then take a stroll about this gorgeous little town. You’ll be glad you did!

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car)

Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie
Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie

Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie

Charming village renowned for its local production of artisan pottery.

(Allow a few hours: accessible by car)

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Visit the Musee Baroncelli or just enjoy the local festivals, flamingos, and wild white horses of the Camargue.

(Allow most of one day: accessible by car)

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