The most beautiful villages in Provence
With its rugged, clifftop towns, rambling fields of lavender and highly productive grapevines, there can be few places more heavenly than the southern French region of Provence. Whilst there are seemingly hundreds of towns and villages as charming as the next, there are some particularly special places that are certain to capture your heart. Spend a morning at a local farmer's market or pass an evening meandering through winding cobblestone streets; however you spend your time in Provence, there is plenty of history and culture to absorb on every corner. Whether you're keen to discover villages less crowded with tourists like Uzès or are more enamoured by the glitz of Cannes, we've rounded up our favourite villages in Provence, naming destinations from restaurants to museums to abandoned castles, all at the ready to welcome you, Provençal style.
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Where is Provence?
Provence can be found in the southeastern part of France. It includes the départements (the administrative divisions of France) of Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Var.
Provence's most charming villages and towns
© Hans-Georg Eiben/4Corners Images1/14Vaison-la-Romaine
Bisected by the Ouvèze river, Vaison (as the locals call it) is a town of two halves. On one side, the old town winds up the hillside to the Château Comtal; it's a nice stroll and there's a jolly restaurant at the bottom of the hill for replenishing your stocks on the way back down. Across the road and river you'll find the newer side of town – less pretty but far more buzzing, especially on market day. It's one of the best markets on this quieter, less tourist-dominated side of Provence and far more authentic than others. The stalls take over practically the entire town, with everything from speciality olives from neighbouring Nyons, huge plaits of purple garlic and saucissons stacked high to olive wood chopping boards and lovely baskets. Grab a table at one of the many bistros in the square once you've done your shopping and it's a pretty perfect Provençal morning. Bonus points go to those who take a dip in the river – you can scurry down from the town's main car park and there a deeper spots for jumping into or shallows for a cooling dip.
© Massimo Ripani/4Corners Images2/14Orange
There are prettier towns than Orange, but it is perfectly nice. What you come here for, however, is the history. It has some of the best Roman ruins in the area, including the impeccable – and impressive – remains of a vast amphitheatre, as well as mini Arc de Triomphe. Both are worth a visit for anyone interested in such things, and the town itself is a lovely place to stroll through, with a good selection of vintage shops.
Niels van Kampenhout / Alamy Stock Photo3/14Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
With its winding cobblestone streets, small shops and burbling fountains, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a Provençal idyll, perfectly suited to those keen to perfect the art of meandering. High up in the hills, the town, encircled by medieval walls, overlooks an expanse of sprawling fields of beautiful flower, wheat and forest. It is no wonder that Vincent Van Gogh painted some of his finest works, The Starry Night (1889) and his Wheat Field series (1889-1890), whilst a patient at a sanitarium close to the town. Another famous resident was the doomsday astrologer Nostradamus, whose house you can visit after a long, lovely Provençal lunch at either the Michelin-starred Restaurant de Tourrel or the simpler (but still wonderful) Chapeau de Paille bistro.
JOHN KELLERMAN / Alamy Stock Photo4/14Èze
Nestled between Monaco and Nice, high above the Mediterranean, is the fairytale village of Èze. Though tiny, there is plenty to do in the Provençal village, from visiting the ruins of a 12th-century castle to hiking up the steep hills of the cactus-filled Jardin Exotique, taking in a kaleidoscope of colourful churches and houses as you ascend. There are lovely markets in Èze, as well as a wealth of restaurants serving excellent southern French fare, including the iconic two-starred Chèvre d'Or (a must-visit for foodies) and Les Remparts, whose terrace boasts some of the best views of the Côte d'Azur.
robertharding / Alamy Stock Photo5/14Gordes
Set amidst the Nature Park of Luberon is the remote, quaint village of Gordes. Cobbled streets lined with golden stone houses weave their way up a steep hill, where a 16th-century château lies at the summit. The village is a destination for art lovers, as it has been both a home and source of inspiration for dozens of celebrated painters including Marc Chagall and Pol Mara (there's even a museum dedicated to the latter artist). After having a crêpe or light lunch in one of the restaurants on the village square (we especially love Les Bories and Les Mas), we'd recommend driving just ten minutes south of the town to visit the Musée de l'Huile d'Olive (Museum of Olive Oil), which offers tastings of the stuff which gives Provençal cuisine that certain je ne sais quoi.
Steve Allen Travel Photography / Alamy Stock Photo6/14Antibes
The medieval village of Antibes is perhaps one of the most stylish destinations for those travelling through Provence or up the French Riviera. Antibes' narrow cobblestoned streets lined with flower-festooned stone buildings are as charming as any you can find in Provence, but with a dash of artistic glamour. Just look at its notable residents present and past, from Pablo Picasso to Graham Greene to the royal Grimaldi family. Just outside the village centre is the Cap d'Antibes, where you'll find some of the grandest houses and châteaux to be found on the French Riviera, including the inimitable Hôtel du Cap Eden Roc. (Though the storied hotel is only open to guests – meaning you can't simply rock up and wander the property – to have a peek at the hotel, we'd recommend booking a table for lunch on the deck of the hotel's Eden Roc Grill ahead of time, ideal for passing a delicious afternoon watching the comings and goings of yachts, sipping on local rosé.)
robertharding / Alamy Stock Photo7/14Aix-en-Provence
It doesn't get more Provençal than Aix-en-Provence. From olive groves and vineyards to fields of lavender and the daily farmer's market selling some of the finest produce in the world, the town truly has it all. Larger than the other villages we've looked at so far, Aix-en-Provence is the perfect base for a longer trip in Provence. Stroll the crooked cobblestoned streets, stopping into the many independent shops before settling into a wicker chair in the central square, sipping on pastis and watching the world go by. In the mornings, the markets are a must-visit, as is Aix's famous antiques market, held primarily on weekends but more frequently during the summer months. For food, we'd recommend Le Vintrépide for simple food paired with excellent local wines, and, for those looking for an extra-luxurious meal (with an absolutely out-of-this-world pastry selection and even lovelier setting), the Michelin-starred Le Art.
Peter Horree / Alamy Stock Photo8/14Grasse
When it comes to Grasse, follow your nose. Some of the world's most beloved scents are produced here in the fragrance capital of France, including the fine perfumes of Dior and Chanel as well as those produced by the grand parfumeries Galimard, Molinard and Gragonard. If you're perfumed out, visit Grasse's iconic 11th-century cathedral, which features three works by Rubens and one by the Grasse-native, Jean-Honoré Fragonard. If you're feeling peckish after a long day of smelling all that Grasse has to offer, duck into the lovely, well-priced restaurant Lougolin, whose terrace is shaded by linden trees and boasts excellent views of the Provençal valleys below.
David Jones / Alamy Stock Photo9/14Arles
At the edge of the Camargue National Park is the charming town of Arles, a veritable artist's destination since the Roman Empire. From the beautiful amphitheatre in the centre of town to the many cityscapes captured by Vincent Van Gogh (including perhaps his most famous work, Café Terrace at Night, 1888), there is plenty to see. If you visit at the right time, don't miss the town's iconic annual summer photography festival, founded in 1970 by the Arles photographer Lucien Clergue, the writer Michel Tournier and the historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette. Enjoy light bites at the fabulous Drum Café before heading to the Boulodrome Daillan to play pétanque with locals.
Alpineguide / Alamy Stock Photo10/14Simiane-la-Rotonde
The purple-hued photographs of Simiane-la-Rotonde simply do not do it justice: to truly experience the magic of this tiny Provençal village, you must see it. Perched on a small hill above acres of lavender fields, the Simiane-la-Rotonde is perhaps one of the dreamiest villages on this list. With plenty of shopkeepers selling all things lavender, as well as tours on offer of the fields themselves, you'll find yourself leaving the village with arms buckling under the weight of hundreds of sachets and fragrant bushels (though you may find it difficult to actually depart, when the time comes: the village was recently named one of France's ‘cities of character’, thanks to its charming residents and local eccentricities).
imageBROKER / Alamy Stock Photo11/14Cannes
Glitz, glamour and a whole lot of Riviera: welcome to Cannes. Home of the legendary Cannes Film Festival, the Provençal city welcomes hundreds of the world's richest and most famous every May, signalling the beginning of Cannes' summer season. Five-star hotels and designer brands line the city's esplanade, La Croisette, as do seemingly hundreds of beach clubs whose beds are available for daily or weekly rental. Watch yachts squeeze into their berths from the village square behind the Vieux Port before tucking into pissaladière and incredibly fresh seafood caught and prepared by the local fishmonger, Astoux et Brun.
Horizon Images/Motion / Alamy Stock Photo12/14Uzès
There is a certain romance and fairytale quality to the tiny village of Uzès (indeed, the duke of Uzès still lives in his castle in the centre of town, all part of his long-standing duchy). Explore the splendid farmer's market before wandering the cobbled streets lined with medieval buildings and gardens. For architecture buffs and Classics students alike, a visit to the perfectly preserved Roman aqueduct just outside of town is a must. The town is still relatively off of the beaten track in Provence, so you'll find yourself primarily among locals. This is no bad thing, as Uzès just might be the sunniest village in France, both in its weather and the locals' disposition.
Mihai Barbat / Alamy Stock Photo13/14Cassis
As you walk the streets of this seaside port town whose history dates back to the Middle Ages, you might feel as if you've been transported into the pages of a fairytale. Flanked on either side by rugged cliffs, Cassis has a way of making every visitor feel special, as if the town was built just for them. Its ancient stone walls, faded from centuries of sunshine, seem to whisper to you as you make your way across the town, weaving around ancient Roman walls and ducking under tattered awnings. Head to the Boulangerie Lion, a local favourite, to grab a pan bagnat sandwich – a Provençal specialty – before making your way to the barren Calanques de Cassis, where you'll discover hidden beaches tucked into alcoves carved from crashing waves. Even at the height of summer, these sandy spots are empty save for you and your beach towel – and make for the perfect spot for a picnic.
aerial-photos.com / Alamy Stock Photo14/14Île Saint-Honorat
Just off the coast of the Cap d'Antibes is the teeny Île Saint-Honorat, whose inhabitants are exclusively comprised of a sect of wine-making monks. Accessible only by either a ferry leaving from the Quai des Îles in Cannes or private boat transfer, the island is a peaceful, special place. Spend the day exploring deserted beaches and forests and, of course, tasting delicious local wines from the monks' winery at Lérins Abbey, which as been in operation since the 5th century.
