Read reviews of the best Provence activities
Come September, the forest fires have been extinguished, the heat waves have abated and the first rains have fallen - for many areas in Provence the first drops since the end of May.
Find loads of top tips and local insights in our Provence Sights Reviews.
A small island in the middle of Provence, L’Ile-sur-la-Sorgue is famous for it’s markets, antiques, water wheels and canals. The name itself translates to Island on the Sorgue (the name of the river) and some have even dubbed it the ‘Venice of Provence’. Sounds cool right? I’m not sure about the whole ‘Venice’ thing, but this town is definitely worth a day trip.
Mont Ventoux for those who are not fans of the Tour de France or have not ventured inland past Avignon, is a mighty mountain which dominates the relatively flat surroundings north of the Luberon. With it's peak at 1912 metres, it is a mecca for cyclists (although it also appeals to hikers, mountain-bikers and skiers). Seen as I was passing by with my fold up bike in the boot I decided to find out what the fuss was about...
Touring Provence by car is a must, exploring the scenic villages of the Luberon in a topdown vintage Citroen 2CV is a dream!
Looking for a quiet walk and a bit of nature? Taking in sights, shopping and eating gelato in a busy city can be exhausting, even when it’s as charming as Avignon. Just minutes outside of the city walls, there is a beautiful canal and walking path that will make you feel miles away from the tourist filled plazas and gelaterias.
Beginning at the statue of the artist beside Fontaine de la Rotonde; arguably the grandest fountain in Aix, follow the “C” shaped medallions on the ground for a walking tour with a purpose.
The Train des Merveilles takes you from the coastline of Nice into the rugged mountains of the Vallée des Merveilles and the Mercantour National Park.
With a long bank holiday weekend in store it made sense to venture to the outskirts of Provence to see what the Ardeche region and the famous Ardeche Gorge has to offer.
Strawberries are a summer delicacy loved by many. In my time, I've eaten a fare share of strawberries – from wild ones, to freshly picked, to frozen to ...not so fresh squishy ones. Today, I had the best strawberry I have ever eaten, hands down. Obviously I ate the entire carton immediately.
Touring the Mont Sainte Victoire is a perfect escape from Aix-en-Provence to see a wild side of Provence, share some of Cesanne's views and taste some fine wines en route.
There are plenty of things to do and see in Avignon, and learning to cook local produce with a local chef is a great way to learn about Provençal cuisine.
November in Provence is a month of showers, overflowing riverbeds and muddy paths. But in between the rainy days, the sun comes out again in shining form, reaching the wet ground for a temporary warmth. It's the time to head for the forests in search of hidden treasures, the wild mushrooms that spring up from the heavy dampness of the soil.
With the many rivers around Avignon there are plenty of opportunities to kayak in gorgeous natural surroundings. We headed just 50 kilometres north-west to the village of Goudargues, near La Roque sur Ceze, to try Goud' Canoe’s “Nature” package; which is an 8km route with plenty of picnic areas, swimming spots and sun-bathing sites along the way.
The image we have of Provence is one of a small county house, probably surrounded by lavender fields in full bloom, flowers twisting their way over the door frame, someone in the yard stamping grapes in a wooden barrel with their bare feet, a picnic basket at the ready with a baguette, selection of cheese and a corked half bottle of wine...and probably some delicious Provencal style food on the wood stove...
Needing something a little different to the views on the Riviera, a venture into the mountain landscape of Digne-les-Bains provided exactly that. It’s rare that the journey actually becomes part of the break itself, but on the Train de Pignes from Nice that’s exactly what it feels like.
If you've only got 24 hours, and lets face it, sometimes this happens when you're travelling, then we've prepared a jam packed schedule so that you can make the most of a flying visit to this inspiring city in Provence.
In 1994 a limestone cave in the Ardeche was discovered that excited the archaeology world. Three caving enthusiasts discovered a cave richly decorated with charcoal drawings, hand prints and engravings that had been closed off by a rock fall for around 20,000 years keeping its contents in incredible condition. Named after one of the cavers, Chauvet Cave quickly became regarded as one of the greatest archaeological finds of our time.
If you have one day to spend in this pretty city you'll see that, luckily, Avignon is a relatively small place to get around, whether travelling on foot or bicycle it's a pleasure.
As we have already revealed galloping along the Alpilles on horseback is a jolly good way of touring the stunning scenery that this Parc Naturel has to offer, but for a more modern (lazy) approach there is an alternative - the electric bike.