Provence smells different from the rest of France. The air carries lavender, pine, and sea salt. The region stretches from the Rhône River to the Italian border. It covers 31,000 square kilometres. Provence has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Greeks founded Marseille in 600 BC. The Romans left amphitheatres and aqueducts. Popes lived in Avignon in the 14th century. The landscape changes from alpine peaks to Mediterranean beaches. The food is based on olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs. The light inspired Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Matisse. Provence offers a sensory experience that no other region in France can match.
In This Article
Avignon: 9 Popes Who Ruled from the Palais des Papes
Avignon was the seat of the Catholic Church from 1309 to 1377. Seven popes lived here. Two more were elected during the Great Western Schism. The Palais des Papes is the largest Gothic palace in the world. It covers 15,000 square metres. The walls are 5 metres thick in places. The palace has 25 rooms open to the public. The Saint-Jean Tower rises 52 metres. The Grand Tinel banquet hall is 52 metres long by 15 metres wide. The frescoes were painted by Matteo Giovannetti between 1344 and 1348. The famous Pont d’Avignon was built between 1171 and 1185. It originally had 22 arches. Only 4 remain. A flood destroyed most of it in 1669. The bridge is 920 metres long. Entry to the palace costs 12 euros for adults (as of 2026).
Lavender Fields: 15,000 Hectares of Purple from June to August
Provence produces 80 percent of the world’s lavender. The fields cover 15,000 hectares. The Plateau de Valensole is the most famous area. It grows 10,000 hectares of lavender. The flowering season runs from mid-June to mid-August. The peak is around July 14. The lavender is harvested from mid-July to late August. There are 40 varieties of lavender. True lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, grows above 800 metres. Lavandin, a hybrid, grows at lower altitudes. The essential oil yield is 2 to 3 percent of the fresh weight. The distillation process has been used for 1,000 years. The Musée de la Lavande in Coustellet has 400 distillation tools. Entry costs 7 euros (as of 2026). The best time for photography is sunrise or sunset when the light is soft.
Aix-en-Provence: Paul Cézanne’s 40-Year Studio
Aix-en-Provence is one of France’s most elegant provincial cities. The Cours Mirabeau was laid out in 1649. It is 440 metres long and lined with 100 plane trees. Cézanne was born here in 1839. He painted over 200 works in Aix. His studio, Atelier des Lauves, was built in 1901. It is preserved exactly as he left it. His easel, brushes, and palettes are still there. Entry costs 8 euros (as of 2026). The city has 150 fountains. The oldest, the Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins, dates from 1667. Aix hosts the Festival International d’Art Lyrique every July. The festival was founded in 1948. It presents 30 performances over 4 weeks. The market on Place Richelme has operated since the 12th century. A glass of local rosé costs 4 euros.
The Luberon: 6 Villages Classified Among France’s Most Beautiful
The Luberon region sits between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. It is protected as a regional natural park. The park covers 1,650 square kilometres. Six villages in the Luberon are classified among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Gordes sits on a 180-metre cliff. Roussillon sits above a 30-metre-deep ochre canyon. The Ochre Trail is 30 minutes and costs 2.50 euros. Ménerbes was painted by Nicolas de Staël in the 1950s. Bonnieux has a church at the top of a 100-step medieval street. The Luberon market in Apt operates every Saturday. It has 200 stalls. A kilo of cherries costs 5 euros in season. The region has 1,200 hours of sunshine per year.
Would you visit in July for the lavender or in September for the harvest season? 💜
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