Glanum is definitely worth visiting for history lovers, offering a well-preserved, intimate, and extensive look at a Celtic-Greco-Roman city at the foot of the Alpilles mountains near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Visitors can walk through ancient streets, temples, and homes, rather than just viewing them from afar. Key features include the 1st-century BCE Mausoleum of the Julii and the Triumphal Arch of Glanum.
In Provence, Avignon is widely known as the best base without a car, just as Nice is on the Cote d'Azur. It is well served by train and buses. From Avignon you can take many day trips by train to Marseille, Arles, and Nîmes.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a charming and idyllic town in the south of France. Its sun-dappled squares, vine-clad shops, cypress trees, restaurants and cafés is Provence at its most quintessential. Of course, the town's most significant claim to fame draws art lovers from all around the world.
Provence, France is known for its lavender fields, historic villages, Roman ruins, rosé wines and Mediterranean lifestyle. It's a place where sensory experiences reign — whether it's the smell of fresh herbs, the taste of local cuisine or the view of rolling hills bathed in golden light.
The best time to visit Provence is in late spring (May to early July) or early fall (September to mid-October). These shoulder seasons offer ideal weather, vibrant landscapes and the full charm of the region—without the summer crowds or high-season prices.
Arles gives you an amphitheater, a Roman theater, lots of Van Gogh settings, and an old town. Aix is more of a charming town where you can meander, find a cafe, explore beautiful streets. We preferred Arles, though Aix is quite popular.
Here Are My Top Picks for Where to Stay in Provence: Lourmarin (Staying at Le Moulin), for the best undercover village. Saint-Remy-de-Provence (Staying at Le Saint-Rémy), for the best central location.
Glanum was laid out on a north–south axis through the valley of Notre-Dame-du-Vallon. At the northern end was the residential quarter, with the public baths, and at the southern end was the sacred quarter, with the spring and grotto. In the center was the monumental quarter, the site of the forum and public buildings.
The best ways to get around Aix-en-Provence are on foot or by bike. The city is rather small and boasts a laid-back atmosphere, which makes it conducive to leisurely strolls and exploratory bike rides.
Rainfall is infrequent and averages around 60 days each year, most of this falls in late autumn during October and November. Some years it breaks in with violent rains. Statistically, October has the most rainfall of the year, with November coming a close second. And when it rains in Provence, it pours.
The French Riviera is more accessible for international travelers, with several airports and high-speed train connections. Provence, on the other hand, may require more travel time and connections, but it also offers a quieter, more off-the-beaten-path experience.
What is the best time to see the lavender Fields in Provence?
Lavender usually begins to bloom in late June and hits its dreamy, full purple glory by early to mid-July. If you're wandering through places like the Valensole Plateau or the rolling hills of the Luberon, you'll want to aim for late June to early July to catch the fields at their brightest before the harvest begins.
There's no single "nicest" town, as it depends on your preference, but top contenders include the glamorous Saint-Tropez, historic Antibes, elegant Biarritz, charming Cassis, and traditional Villefranche-sur-Mer, with Brittany's Saint-Malo offering a unique walled city experience, and the sunny west coast's Saint Jean de Monts great for families.
The Zone Rouge, or Red Zone, is the name given to about 460 square miles of totally devastated land in the Meuse. Littered with unexploded ordnance, it became a physical and environmental catastrophe.
