Unforgettable trip to Provence. Solo trip to Provence

It's worth renting a car. Relying on public transport means deliberately refusing to visit many interesting places, since the bus network in the region is not very well developed.

  • Provence is huge and diverse, you won’t be able to see all the interesting places within one trip. Decide what interests you and choose the route to your liking. And we will help you with this!

    • Lavender fields in Provence

    Where to find them and when is the best time to visit? Let's find out!

    Usually lavender blooms from mid-June to mid-August, but the period from the last week of June to the end of July is considered optimal for a visit. At this time, there are numerous festivals (Lavender fête) and parades dedicated to lavender: in Valensole, Riez, Digne-les-Bains, Co (Sault) and other cities.

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    To see as much as possible, it is worth renting a car. If this is not possible, contact one of the travel agencies that organize one-day tours to the lavender fields from Avignon and other cities of Provence.

    Where to go? There are several options:

    Plateau de Valensole . Quite a lot of lavender fields are concentrated in a relatively small area. To see them all, from Valensole take the D56 to Puimoisson, then the D953 heading north to the Poteau de Telle junction and from there take the D8 back to Valensole.

    Mont Ventoux . The lavender fields of this region are concentrated around the settlements of So, Apt and Gordes. In the area of ​​the village of Gordes there is also an interesting village of borie stone buildings, and to the north is the abbey of Senanque, next to which there is one, but a large and famous lavender field.

    Pays de Valensole . You have to arrive in Castellane, then travel 45 kilometers in a westerly direction, visiting the famous Verdon Gorge along the way, and reach the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, which is included in the list of the most beautiful in France. From it there is a road going up that will lead you to the fields. This area will be of interest to those who rest on the Cote d'Azur (it is located closest to the coast).

    A useful gift for loved ones is lavender soap, which can be purchased at any souvenir shop in the region. Prices are affordable - 1-3 EUR per piece.

    Culinary Provence

    Ideal starting point for a gourmet tour of the region - . Try the fishermen's favorite dish called pan-bagnat, which is a bread stuffed with a mixture of tuna, eggs and lettuce. Also popular is the niçoise salad, which includes tuna, anchovies, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives. For breakfast, order the omelette de poutine, an olive oil omelette topped with parsley and lemon juice. Fans of non-standard tastes will appreciate the fried zucchini flowers in tomato sauce, called beignets de fleurs de courgette. If you prefer heartier dishes, try soupe au pistou, a bean soup with tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, pesto and olive oil. There are many worthy establishments, but the French restaurant Jean (12 Rue Lascaris) is considered the best, where lunch will cost from 45 to 165 EUR, and dinner (set menu) - from 100 to 165 EUR per person.

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    The next city to include in the itinerary is the resort on the Azure Coast. Those with a sweet tooth will not be able to resist lemon cream pie (tarte au citron) or oranges (fougasse mentonnaise). The first place in the rating of the city's restaurants rightfully belongs to the Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur (30 Avenue Aristide Briand). The cost of lunch on weekdays is 50 EUR, dinner will cost an average of 70 to 135 EUR per person.

    Then go to - home of the famous bouillabaisse soup. Its preparation is an almost waste-free process, the remaining parts of the fish make a poupeton soufflé. Do you want something non-standard? Order oursinade - a dish of sea urchins. Worthy of attention is the restaurant AM par Alexandre Mazzia (9 rue Rocca), where you can dine for 35-55 EUR and dine for 90-110 EUR per guest.

    Ready to continue? Cavaillon awaits you, where the famous Cavaillon melons are grown. One of their admirers was Alexandre Dumas, who traded 194 of his books for a delivery of 12 melons annually for the rest of his life. Arriving here in July, you will witness a unique event - the melon festival. As part of the four-day event, a pyramid of melons grows on the Place de Clos, processions with the participation of members of the Order of the Melon follow through the streets, music sounds, cooking master classes are held (of course, from a melon!), Everyone can visit the farms with a guided tour .

    You can complete the trip in the town of Carpentras. Provence is the main supplier of truffles to restaurants and shops . In the local market, according to statistics, up to 50% of the total amount of “black gold” mined in the country is sold. In the menu of any restaurant you will find dishes that include truffles. Take a look, for example, at Chez Serge (90 rue Cottier), where you can taste pasta or an omelette with truffle for 25 EUR or order a set dinner for 29-119 EUR per guest.

    Excursion Provence

    If you are into history and love colorful ruins, come to Avignon! The city's most visited attraction is the Palais des Papes (Papal Palace), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entrance ticket costs 5.5-11 EUR, excursion support - 120 EUR per group. Audio guide rental (available in 11 languages, including Russian and English) - 2 EUR. Also interesting are the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palais du Rour (XV century), where exhibitions are constantly held, and the Saint-Benezet bridge. Be sure to take a stroll through the Banasteri quarter, built up with buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. When planning your trip, keep in mind that the Avignon Festival begins in mid-July and lasts for three weeks. At this time, up to 200,000 tourists come here, so it will be problematic to see the sights and find a place for dinner.

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    Avignon is also a convenient starting point for trips around the area. Remember, at the beginning of the article we talked about the need for a car in Provence? So, in Avignon during the season there are difficulties with parking. You can limit yourself to those cities and villages where regional buses go. For example, in Orange (Orange) there are two attractions that are protected by UNESCO: the ancient Roman amphitheater (one of the best preserved in the world) and the triumphal arch, erected in honor of the victories of Julius Caesar. An entrance ticket to the amphitheater with the right to visit the historical museum costs 7.5-9.5 EUR (the price includes the rental of an audio guide).

    Also take a look at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, located 20 kilometers from Avignon, which is called the "Venice of Provence". The city will be of interest not only to lovers of beautiful views, but also to connoisseurs of ancient L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the world's third-largest center for antiques after London and Paris, with international fairs held twice a year, on 15 August and at Easter.

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    Definitely worth taking the time to visit Nîmes. The ancient Roman amphitheater, which was erected in 60 BC, has been preserved here. It is under the protection of UNESCO and periodically serves as a stage for performances by world-famous stars such as Depeche Mode, Metallica and Rammstein. An entrance ticket to the territory costs 8-10 EUR, the price includes the rental of an audio guide. Not far from the city is another grandiose building of the same era - the Pont du Gard aqueduct, which is also included in the World Heritage List.

    Provence for art lovers

    This region has played an important role in the fate of many eminent artists. For example, the surroundings of the city of Aix-en-Provence (Aix-en-Provenc), in particular, the Montagne St-Victoire ridge, inspired Paul Cezanne. Walking around the city, look for nails on the pavement with the letter "C" on the hat - they mark the points associated with his life and work. You can visit the Jas-de-Bouffan family estate, look into the workshop on the Lov hill or the Bibemus quarry, where Cezanne came to work on his paintings in the open air. Only 32 points - from the house where the artist was born, to the cemetery, where he found his last refuge. From April 1 to October 31, you can go for a walk with a guide, the cost of a two-hour tour is 5-9 EUR per person (for children under 7 years old - free of charge).

    The coolest route in Provence by car in 1 day! July 24th, 2015


    The route is quite simple, and can start not only from the city of Castellana. You can stay in any city on the Cote d'Azur: Nice, Cannes or my favorite Menton. In any case, you just need to leave early, since the route is quite rich and intense.

    You can also finish not in Avignon, but in some other city. But Avignon is one of the most interesting places in Provence, the "Papal City" with one of the largest medieval buildings in the world - an impressively powerful papal palace. And for those who love the province more, I strongly advise you to stay in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, instead of Avignon, and this will not affect the travel time in any way. At the end of the route, after the abbey, there is as much to Les Baux-de-Provence as to Avignon, but this village is just a stunning place and here is the most visited castle in France.

    The route is conditionally divided into two parts, the first is Verdon Gorge, Moutiers-Sainte-Marie village and lavender fields.

    Here is the area with the gorge in more detail.

    The first views start already at the intersection of D925 and D955, and from the village of La Palud-sur-Verdon, the Cretan road D23 begins. This is a serpentine and you need to drive along it clockwise (as shown on the map), because. the second half is completely one-sided. The culmination is somewhere in the middle of the Cretan road (the title photo of the post), but further on, interesting views also open up, all the way to Lake Sainte-Croix. More photogravures with the gorge in a separate .

    Immediately after, we are met by Lake Sainte-Croix, where you can go for a swim if you wish.

    Next we will stop in the village Moutiers Sainte Marie(Moustiers-Sainte-Marie).

    Here we are waiting for lunch and you can work up an appetite a little, climb up (262 steps) to the chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvour.

    And, of course, have lunch. For lunch, I recommend Bistrot provencal La Treille Muscate (located on Place de l "eglise, Google finds it by name), a real French restaurant with local cuisine and a touchy chef, if you suddenly order meat above average. Only one caveat - they only speak -French Reservations can be made by mail [email protected] or call +33 4 92 74 64 31. Incredibly delicious.

    Next we go to Lavender fields, on the road D8 or D6. There will also be lavender fields after Valensole along the D6, up to Manosque, but less frequently.

    I really liked the photos of the lavender fields at tracey I am attaching one photo.

    The most important thing is not the beautiful sight, but the smell. But you can see and smell them only from mid-late June to early August. And the best time is the beginning of July.

    The second part of the route is a beautiful road through Serest (it is not necessary to stop there) and between the villages Lacoste(Lacoste) and proud(Gordes), where on the sides of the road there will be vineyards, orchards, ancient stone walls. And at the top of Lacoste is the castle where the Marquis de Sade once lived.

    The last section of the route is larger.

    Lacoste(Lacoste) and proud(Gordes), are very pretty villages, which are the quintessence of an idyllic Provencal village with old stone streets full of flowers and stunning views of the surrounding valley.

    And the last stop, right after Gordes, is Abbey of Senanque(Librairie de l "Abbaye de Sénanque), founded in 1148, where there is also a large lavender field.

    To follow the route, it will be enough to print this post (namely, screenshots of Google maps) and forward. In general, the route can be divided into two days, then there will be more free time to walk. Before traveling, I recommend reading my

    There are unfortunately almost no circular routes to wander around the Provencal villages on foot or by bike, which makes the experience of traveling by car, for example, less complete.

    Tours are:

    In the Russian-speaking group

    1. Classic tours– attractions, wines, gastronomy. Transfers by minibus;
    2. "Great Walks"- sights and walks from village to village (2-3 hours before lunch and the same after);

    in the English group

    1. "Great Walks"- sights and walks from village to village (2-3 hours before lunch and a table - after);
    2. "Big Walks" premium
    3. Bike Tours in Provence with a guide;

    Individual tours

    1. "Great Walks"– individual tours without a guide- a trip to Provence with a detailed guide. Today the most popular. Tickets can be purchased from 2 people. The price does not depend on the number of tourists in the group;
    2. "Great walks" without a premium guide- accommodation and dinners of the "Charm" category;
    3. Bike Tours in Provence without a guide with a detailed guide;
    4. Family Tours, thematically focused on children;

    What is the "Great Walk"?

    The villages of Provence… The only question is how pleasant it is to move between them!

    1. Every day or almost every day in a new village Provence - in a cozy small hotel - most often kept by the owners, like a family business in an old building.
    2. Luggage being transported in the morning to expect you in the evening.
    3. Walking light along a well-thought-out route according to sights and physical activity. Two or three hours of leisurely walking or pedaling between picturesque old villages before lunch and an equal amount after with sightseeing along the way.

    In such a magnificent environment as Provence, it is more pleasant to feel its aromas, the breeze, its earth under your feet in the fresh air - on walks between the villages than from the window of a minibus. Fortunately, there are many excellent paths between the villages, and they are maintained in perfect condition especially for tourists, and stable weather rarely upsets with rain.

    Now you can go to the catalog! Take a trip with us or create your travels in Provence based on the itineraries of the tours we offer!

    So, we invite you to explore Provence - a historical region located in the southeast of France. You can choose among the proposed individual tours from regional French tour operators the one that best suits your idea of ​​travel.

    If you are a conservative, then you can travel with a guide who will tell you about every interesting village in Provence.

    Travel for families- especially for young tourists, where interesting events will be held, telling in a fascinating way about the rich history and crafts of the region.

    If your English or French language can help you out, you are a lover of freedom, and the villages of Provence are not the place where you are afraid to get lost, you can choose independent “Big walks”. A detailed guide will show you the way, and sometimes, if desired, a GPS navigator with a track!

    Walks can be not only on foot but also by bike.

    Also, some routes are conceived as walk with a pack donkey. Yes Yes! It is very popular in France today. Especially on tours with children. Your luggage in this case will move with you, but… on a donkey! In the villages, hotel staff take care of their "maintenance" upon arrival. In all other options, the tour operator takes care of the delivery of your luggage.

    So your trip to Provence passes light, and your things are already waiting for you at the place of a new lodging for the night.

    You Do you prefer exclusive? Then especially for you - premium tours. This is an overnight stay in ancient castles, former residences of noble persons and original guest houses, gourmet dishes for breakfast and dinner. Such trips can be with or without a guide.

    An important feature of independent individual tours from "ProjectFrance" is that only those people you want to take with you - your friends, loved ones, children, go on a trip with you.

    What to see in Provence

    South Provence - bike tour to the Mediterranean

    Going around the heights of Montanette and Alpilles, you will come across small village squares, on which centuries-old plane trees have grown, rural markets, as well as amazing historical and cultural monuments located in the fortified historical villages and in the cities of Tarascon, Beau, Saint-Remy and Avignon.

    Approaching the sea, travelers will visit the large Provence city of Arles and the Camargue area, glorious for its steppes, salt lakes, horses and bulls grazing in freedom, as well as pink flamingos.

    You are driving along the Via Arles, part of the great pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela (Way of St. James), and on the way - the ruins of the Barbegal aqueducts, built during the Roman rule, the Nimes vineyards of the Costières and, of course, the lovely villages of Provence.

    haute provence

    Lavender fields and clear distances. And over it all stretched a piercing blue sky. At night, it will allow you, under the cover of night, to penetrate the keen eye of the telescope from the Albion Plateau Observatory into the secret life of celestial bodies.

    For those who love history and just want to enjoy the natural beauties, we recommend a trip to the villages of beautiful Provence. Discover the secrets of the Luberon Plateau, spread over the Durance Valley, between Manosque and Cavaillon.

    Here you will find leisurely walks through endless fragrant gardens and villages, which, as they say here, have a “melodious” atmosphere that has inspired many generations of artists. The Regalon gorges, the Provencal Colorado and the fragrant Claparede plateau will delight with their beautiful views.

    Each village here has its own history and secrets. A journey through Provence will take you to the village of Lacoste - the fiefdom of the Marquis de Sade.

    In the village of Bonnieux, there is a 12th-century church whose architecture contains elements of the Romanesque and Gothic styles, as well as the remains of towers and fortifications from the same period.

    In the village of Buyu, you can see not only the remains of a fortress built in the 11th century and destroyed by the Sun King, but also a castle, the Sainte-Marie chapel, built in the 13th century and representing an example of the Romanesque style in architecture, like its elder for a century the priory of Saint-Symphorien de Buou.

    The Provence village of Saignon is remarkable not only for its interesting location, but also for historical monuments, such as the chapel of Saint-Michel-de-Tranzy, dated 1032, the church of Notre-Dame-de-Pitiers (XI-XII centuries), as well as the abbey Saint Ezeb, built in the 7th century.

    provence mediterranean

    You can choose to take a 7-day trip along the coast around Marseille to see such wonderful landscapes of the seaside places of Provence as Estac, Calanques, Blue Coast, Siot, Cassis… inspiring European artists.

    Premium tours
    (or as they are called here, the Charm category)

    Historic villages of Provence… Here you will find accommodation in the most amazing places. So, you will spend the first night of your trip in La Prevota, a 17th-century monastery located in the very center of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Here you will be allocated 4 cozy and refined guest rooms, and in the restaurant located here, you will be offered dishes of Provencal cuisine.

    You will spend the second and third nights in Balsam's house, a cozy mansion located at the entrance to Gordes. The fourth night of the trip you will spend in the bastide, a fortified farmhouse traditional for Provence, located a few steps from the village of Goult. Here you will fully feel the spirit of Provence and appreciate the rustic peace.

    And around - the Luberon Natural Park, with its low mountains, fragrant fields and hidden gorges, aromas of garrigues, olive groves and historical villages perched on the hills.

    Traveling in Provence in the style of "Big Walks" is unexpected, extraordinary and not boring. And most importantly - it's dynamic and cool. Fragrant clean air and walks will bring you to a good tone. And whet your appetite! And if you travel without a guide, then one way or another - this is a real adventure! Recommended for traveling alone or with friends!

    France in an unusual light

    ProjectFrance will help you get to know France better and see it in an unusual light.

    You will fall in love not only with this charming country, but also with the very idea of ​​"Great Walks", filled with the spirit of adventure and freedom!

    I still can’t believe that I managed to escape on vacation in the summer, during the flowering of lavender! Most of all I was struck by the Verdon Gorge! The Cretan road is very scary, exciting, but amazingly beautiful, these are the places that take your breath away, take your breath away, these are the moments that you want to keep in your memory forever! Of course, LAVENDER!!! It really is as beautiful as in the photos, but alas, the photos do not convey the smell!!! And you have to feel it! It's the smell of Provence! MARKETS!!! This is a mast! Reading the reports, I thought, well, why do people go to the market for the second day in a row, is one day really not enough? No, not enough! Each village has its own color of the market, each village has its own zest, and I advise you to visit as many markets as possible.

    Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a very beautiful city, I recommend visiting it. Narrow streets, beautiful cobbled steps. Reminiscent of Lefkara. This town is one of the most visited on the Cote d'Azur, located very close to Nice. Surrounded by a fortress wall of the 16th century, the city lives its own life, unlike other cities. Medieval streets, of which there are very few in the city, form a kind of pilgrimage route through the numerous art galleries of the city. Modigliani, Picasso, Soutine, Matisse, Cocteau, Colette, Sartre, Yves Montand and Garbo, Sophia Loren and Alain Delon lived in this picturesque fortress at one time.

    Here is the famous Grasse somehow we didn’t like it, there are a lot of black and suspicious personalities, if you get a little away from the central streets, it stinks, sorry, with urine, I don’t advise this city. In the 16th century, mankind learned to make leather thin gloves, belts, boots, raincoats and dresses. And it all smelled bad. This is how perfumers appeared who were able to give a delicate aroma to leather products using essential oils. Here, in the valley near Grasse, the skill of perfumers flourished. There are 40 perfume factories around this valley. The history of perfume production in Grasse dates back 400 years. Grasse flowers are the basis of all French perfumery!

    In the evening we booked the Logis Hôtel Le Vieil Amandier for one night in the city Trigance to explore the Verdon Gorge early in the morning before the crowds of tourists appear there. I categorically did not like the hotel - a terrible dinner, a poor breakfast not included in the price, the Internet does not work in the room, they charge extra for everything, even took some kind of tourist tax, although we see this for the first time in France.

    Day 3, Monday, Verdon Gorge, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, lavender fields

    Leaving Trigance, we drove along the D952 to La Palud-sur-Verdon, where we turned and made a full circle along the D23 (Route des Crêtes du Verdon) Cretan road, stopping at all viewpoints. It is very important here that you go not according to the navigator, but according to the signs to Cretan road! I understood that before the road was two-way for its entire length, but we “broke off”, having driven halfway we saw a brick sign, we had to go back and go around it completely, but in a different direction.

    This is truly a must visit place! Breathtaking views! For me, it feels like this place can be compared with the observation deck in Dachstein. And if there is an opportunity, then I will definitely go through these beauties again!

    Photos can not convey all the power of these places, but it's just a delight! After a trip around the gorge, we decided to refresh ourselves with a dip in the lake.

    And this is the beach! We turned to the nearest one (although the reports say that the best beaches are further away), so as not to waste time, we quickly changed clothes and ran into the water! Bliss! The water is invigorating! Out of habit after the Mediterranean Sea, it is difficult to keep the body in the water, because the salty sea itself holds you! But now we have a second wind and we can continue the journey!

    After swimming, we drove into a village Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, which simply fascinated us! Waterfalls, mountains, beautiful streets, a wonderful selection of souvenirs. We ate well and rested in La Cascade, 3 Rue de la Bourgade The town, although very small, but very colorful, it is not in vain that it appears in the list of the most beautiful cities in France.

    We don’t have time to drive far from the village, as we see a crowd of Chinese people surrounding something and taking pictures (in general, crowds of Chinese are a frequent occurrence in Provence), we stop and see them - donkeys!

    The weather turned bad, it became overcast and drizzling, but we had lavender fields according to the plan, so we drove to the city Valensole, and from there to Digne-les-Bains. Just between them we found the largest concentration of fields!

    My first lavender field! Remember how you shouted to your husband: “Stop!” And he grumbled that the field was not photogenic enough and that it was necessary to look further and why the lavender was so low and the earth was visible. But I didn’t care, here it is, my first field, I waited !!! The dream came true!

    Ahead we met many more fields - of very different lengths, widths, heights. Some of them are quite ugly - with weeds and half-dried flowers. But there are also a lot of beautiful fields!

    In the evening we checked into our permanent hotel-mill, where we spent 5 nights and with which we are very, very pleased! The cost is 85 euros with breakfast! The place is quiet, cozy, colorful!

    Keep in mind that on a Monday in Provence, many restaurants are closed, and we had to have pizza for dinner, although in fairness, the pizza was very tasty!

    Day 4, Tuesday. Aix-en-Provence- Ansois- Cucuron- Lourmarin- Chateau la Canorgue-Salon-de-Provence

    Tuesdays at Aix-en-Provence passes the market, so the first thing we went there. Keep in mind that the city is quite large, there are traffic jams, but there are also equipped multi-level parking lots. The market is not easy to find, but we still found it by wandering. In general, to be honest, I don’t really understand the enthusiasm for this city, in Provence there are even prettier towns. But in Aix-en-Provence there are many chain stores like Zara, etc., if someone is interested in such shopping, then keep in mind.

    We then visited two small but charming villages.

    Both villages are quite small, we got there during the day, apparently in a siesta, so there were very few people there. Ansua was remembered for the castle (which was closed) and beautiful views of the surroundings. Cucuron has a large number of cats and good souvenir shops. This is all, of course, not counting the wonderful architecture, flowers and cute details!

    Then we stopped at the castle in the village Lourmarine. As I have written many times, we love castles, and we always try to visit them when we travel. Provence is no exception. After going through the information about the region, I found a magnificent castle worthy of our visit - Lourmarin. Our visit to this palace more than lived up to expectations! We enjoyed walking not only inside the castle, looking at its interiors, but also in the park with blooming lilies.

    In the evening we still had time and we were going to visit the lavender fields near the city of Sol, but in that direction the sky was black and lightning flashed, so we decided to stop by Salon de Provence, wandered around the town a little, somehow we didn’t really like it, and I don’t advise you to dine at the L’endroit restaurant - a slur on a plate.

    Day 5, Wednesday, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence - Saint-Paul-de-Mausole Monastery - Carriers de Lumiere - Les Baux - Moulin de Daudet-Arles

    On Wednesdays there are markets in the city Saint Remy, so be sure to visit it on this day, this market is one of the largest and there are a lot of interesting goods, souvenirs for every taste!

    It was the most interesting and colorful market we have seen in Provence! Everything is sold here - from clothes, paintings, souvenirs, stained glass windows, bags, soap, ending, of course, with a huge variety of food products - olives, pates, tapenades, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, sausages, seasonings, fish and much, much more! The market is huge! And to cheer up, street musicians play!

    In the vicinity of Saint-Remy there is a psychiatric hospital where Van Gogh lived for a long time. I read in some reports that people from the city reach it on foot, but in the summer in the heat - I don’t advise, we drove by car, and rightly so, it’s not very close, about 1.5 km. This is a landmark place for connoisseurs of the artist, I was a little “pinned” and infected with madness, and I even drove into the navigator instead of Les Baux, which is 15 minutes away - Bonniex, which is 2 hours away, I realized my mistake only after 20 minutes, when we already pretty far gone. So, the spirit of Van Gogh really hovers there)))

    Van Gogh's chamber is still preserved in the clinic. His attending physician, Theophile Peyron, after examining the patient, came to the conclusion that Van Gogh was ill with one of the forms of epilepsy. When the attacks passed, the artist felt pretty good. Van Gogh painted a lot in the clinic. During the year that he spent in St. Paul de Mausol, he painted dozens of paintings!

    It remains a mystery to me why the Impressionists and Van Gogh in particular did not paint lavender fields? Van Gogh in Provence became interested in painting cypresses, olive trees, wheat, painted the famous irises, flowering almonds, but not lavender!?

    Was it grown at all in Provence 150 years ago or is it a tourist marketing ploy?

    Carriers de Lumieres(Light Quarry) – I liked it very much! We watched several videos, not only with the Impressionists, but also with nature! It's an amazing idea to have such a light show on the quarries! My husband didn’t want to come here, he grumbled that there would be something horrible. But in the end, he squealed with delight even before entering the performance, since he liked the rocks and quarries themselves)) And he was generally delighted with the show! Huge projectors on the walls, floor and ceiling of a huge area with beautiful music show pictures of the Impressionists, it's hard to describe in words, but you must see!

    After the show we walked around the village Bo, nice, but it was already hot, and the village is hilly, so the impressions are blurry.

    Then on the way to Arles we stopped by Dode mill, beautiful!

    According to legend, the French writer Dode bought this mill and lived in it for a long time. The mill was built in 1814 and ground grain until 1915. Alphonse Daudet's Moulin is the only surviving tower windmill in the area.

    Driving near the village of Mees, we saw very unusual rocks. We stopped to take pictures of them. And already at home, in the guidebook, I came across an interesting legend. The rocks turned out to be monks turned into stones.

    Day 6, Thursday, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Fontaine-de-Vaucluse - Abbaye de Sénanque - Roussillion

    We went to the market in the morning Ile sur la sorgue Of course, the antique market is there on Sundays, but we didn’t work out on Sundays, we had to go on Thursday. I really liked the town itself - the streets by the river, bridges, beauty! I highly recommend visiting it! Many travelers "indulge" in comparing the cities of different countries with Venice. So I also decided to pay tribute to this tradition, because in my opinion, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue really resembles this magical city on the water. In ancient times, this place was a vast swampy area with an unhealthy and harmful climate. Several families of fishermen settled here, who drained these lands with the help of drainage channels to improve living conditions.

    This market has a great selection of clothes, I bought myself a few sundresses and a new T-shirt, which I immediately put on

    fountain de vaucluse To be honest, I wasn't impressed. I was in love with this place in absentia, because everywhere they wrote with one voice that it was just a mast si, people come here from all sides and corners of the world to admire the magical source of unearthly beauty, emerald waters, the famous poet Petrarch sang these places in his works , attracted by their mystical beauty and lyricism, and in general, beautiful to eerily! I think that in the spring, when the water is full, it should be very beautiful there, but in the summer, when we walked there from the parking lot for about 45 minutes in the heat and found a shallow lake, it was somehow even a little insulting. Although the road to the lake itself is beautiful!

    Next on the plan is the famous Abbey of Senanque, whose monks believe that only they grow real lavender. I hoped to buy some souvenirs from this very lavender there, but Marseilles and other cities were listed on the packages, the monks apparently do not bother themselves with work. A very recognizable place, because its photograph is perhaps the most popular among the covers of guidebooks in France and Provence with the Cote d'Azur, and among postcards too.

    I think many people started or are starting their acquaintance with Provence from the books of Peter Mayle or from the film adaptation of one of them - the film "A Good Year". If you suddenly did not read the Mail or did not watch the movie - be sure to correct this oversight! I have not yet met a single person who would remain indifferent to these works! We visited many places in Provence that are associated with them. For example, Peter Mail lives in Lourmarin, by the way, I understand him, and now, after 3 visits to Provence, I would also give preference to this village and its environs. Near the village of Bonnieux, we stopped at Сhateau la Сanorgue - the chateau from the movie. And in this post I will show you Gord and its surroundings, which also actively appear in the film.

    Roussillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, and in my opinion rightfully so! The colors of the houses are striking: yellow, orange, pink, red, crimson, which turns every street into a bright postcard, somewhat reminiscent of Burano. A short walk from the city center is the ocher reserve - the most beautiful route through the quarry. A forty-minute walk through the reserve will give you landscapes that seem unearthly!

    We still had time, but we were tired and so we walked a little around the town of Apt, sitting in a restaurant and gawking at passers-by

    Day 7 Friday, Carpentras, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

    I know the route is not logical, but on the last day I wanted to visit another market, and on Fridays, Peter Mail praised the market in Carpentre. In my opinion, this was the worst market we have seen, there are a lot of Arabs, and Chinese-Turkish things, more like Barabashka and Cherkizon (for those who are in the subject). But there are also several rows with Provencal goods.

    Camargue beautiful! We saw white horses, black bulls, pink flamingos! Swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can already feel the influence of Spain! By the way, for those who complain that the sea is cold in Cyprus! Yes, you are kidding! Swim in France and you will understand that the sea of ​​Cyprus is just fresh milk! Even my arms and legs cramped a little from the temperature of the water, although, of course, it invigorates!

    There is a bird park in the Camargue! In general, I am rather indifferent to birds, but the best representatives are represented here)) The pearl of the park is, of course, pink flamingos! As far as I understand, wild flamingos fly to the Camargue, as well as to Cyprus, to spend the winter, but some sources write that only wild flamingos gather in the park in summer. In any case, it doesn’t matter if they are wild or tame, the main thing is that they are beautiful! In addition to flamingos, here you can meet about 200 more species of birds - gulls, birds of prey, hawks, black kites, tits and more.

    The Camargue is worth a visit not only for the Pont de Gault ornithological park. Most of all, this region is famous for the town with the Spanish flavor of Saint-Maries-de-la-Mer and white Camargue horses. The Camargue is considered one of the few corners that have been preserved in a more or less original form. The Camargue is a complex maze of beaches, sand dunes, reed beds, coastal pastures, and salt pans. 90% of all salt consumed in France is mined here. Coarse Camargue salt is especially valued, or as it is poetically called “Flowers of the Camargue” here. The local beaches are considered good, we also swam, but in terms of beauty they are approximately at the level of our Larnaca ones, and even in July the water is cold compared to Cyprus!


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    Provence is the most picturesque region of France with the richest historical and cultural heritage. Many tourists dream of visiting Provence. And for those who are lucky enough to make trip to Provence- these are endless vineyards, silvery olive groves, lavender valleys, mountain ruins of the Alps, an area where people live, savoring every minute of their existence. This article and video will tell you all about it.

    Traveling in Provence

    For those who are just going to trip to Provence are hotels full of romance and imbued with stunning Provencal serenity, places where you can enjoy hiking and dining on sunny terraces throughout the year, discoveries that await in local cafes and markets.

    Provence owes its species luxury and unprecedented popularity to its favorable geographical position, thanks to which the regularity of the plains is intertwined with the southern sea color and complemented. Sea lagoons, reed marshes, pastel salt marshes, the floods of the raging Rhone, the tectonic "steps" of Le Baux - all this awaits traveling in Provence.

    Traveling in Provence: popular places

    The most beautiful city in France, which is the Provencal center of antiques - Aix-en-Provence;

    Arles is a city illuminated by the genius of Van Gogh:

    Nice is a city with many museums and aristocracy of all stripes;

    City of festivals and palaces - Cannes;

    gambling state of Monaco;

    Avignon with beautiful battlements;

    Noisy Marseille and many other sights, which simply cannot be counted.

    Aix-en-Provence

    For travelers in France - Provence is an opportunity for collectors to delve into the local flea markets in search of interesting curiosities. And it's hard to find a better place than Aix-en-Provence for this. A city with a luxurious historical heritage, but full of youthful energy, thanks to the famous European Academy of Music, the university and the numerous art festivals that permeate the capital of Provence with creativity and lively creativity. unique charm, thanks to the ancient streets paved with stone, the elegant facades of aristocratic mansions, decorated with balconies with openwork forging, the city hall and many fountains that once saved the townspeople from the plague.

    Arles

    The bright colorful area of ​​​​Arles has long been a paradise for those traveling to trip to Provence photographers from all over the world. For them, summer festivals and master classes are held annually at the National School of Photography. The pristine beauty of Arles captivated Gauguin and Van Gogh, who left an indelible mark on history and.

    Cannes

    Cannes is called the city of rising stars and luxury yachts, luxurious beaches and permanent holidays. The most famous place in the city is the Palace of Festivals and the Avenue of Stars with the fingerprints of many celebrities. In the Old Port there are dozens of wonderful restaurants where high-speed Wi-Fi is combined with.

    Monaco

    For owners of good taste and refined vitality and planning trip to Provence y is an opportunity to visit the Principality of Monaco, whose main attractions are the royal family, Formula 1, casinos and yachts.

    The best restaurants and hotels on the Cote d'Azur, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the famous casinos are just a few reasons to visit the smallest European state. Of course, the pleasure is not cheap, but the famous Monte Carlo casino is located here, where you can actually

    Avignon

    The city is known for its theater festival. Avignon has the largest Gothic palace, which was once the residence of the Pope. The city is also famous for its legendary Pont Saint-Benézet.

    Marseilles

    Traveling in Provence, be sure to visit Marseille. The symbol of the city is Notre Dame de la Garde. Climbing up to the roof of the cathedral, you can enjoy an amazing view of the city. And nearby, in the abbey of St. Victor, the most terrible catacombs are open to the public. From the Old Port, you can sail on a tourist boat to the castle of If, a former prison in which the Count of Monte Cristo himself was a prisoner. There are many cafes and clubs, interesting second-hand bookshops in the city squares.

    Fontaine de Vaucluse

    A natural source, which is a picturesque lake. The ejection rate of water is 22 tons per second. A powerful and mesmerizing sight. It is also one of the deepest karst caves (308 m).

    Grass

    Grasse, founded in the 11th century, is the French capital of perfumery, surrounded by fragrant lavender plantations. Once the city became famous for its glovemakers, which scented ladies' gloves with jasmine and exotic spices. After the glove makers became perfumers.

    Here you can visit the International Perfume Museum and choose a fragrant soap or essence from a street vendor.

    Camargue

    For lovers travel, Provence- this is also a corner where tourists will find a unique park located in the Rhone Delta. Pink flamingos nest here. The living sights of the park are white "mustangs" and black bulls. In the Camargue, they are engaged in ecological tourism, the cultivation of clean vegetables and fruits. Camargue wines are gastronomic souvenirs.

    In order, as befits a true Provencal, to leisurely explore all the sights of this, probably, a whole life will not be enough. But for those who are preparing to poison themselves in trip to Provence y is the most beautiful thing that can be created by nature and people.

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