Things to do

1 Palais des Papes

The honey-coloured walls and towers of this medieval palace, the seat of 14th-century pontiffs, dominate the delightful town of Avignon.

Address: Place du Palais, Avignon
Phone: 04 90 27 50 00
Opening info: Open Nov–mid-Mar: 9:30am–5:45pm; mid-Mar–Jun, Aug & Oct: 9am–7pm; Jul & Sep: 9am–8pm daily (guided tours in English Jul & Aug: phone for times)
Admission charge: Adm €9.50 (audio-guide included); children under eight free.
www.palais-des-papes.com

2 Grand Canyon du Verdon

The Verdon river flows through deep limestone gorges into the turquoise Lac de Ste-Croix, creating one of Provence’s, most stunning natural landscapes. The aptly-named Grand Canyon du Verdon is one of the most spectacular sights in France.

Office du Tourisme, rue Bourgade
Location: Moustiers-Ste-Marie
Phone: 04 92 74 67 84
Opening info: Open 10:30am– 12:30pm, 2–6pm daily
www.moustiers.fr

3 Roman Arles

Arles was one of the Roman Empire’s most important cities, and its splendid arena still evokes the age of Caesar. One of the region’s most charming old towns, Arles was originally founded by Greek traders but soon gained favour with Caesar and his successors and flourished into one of the most important provincial cities of the Roman Empire.

Les Arènes
Location: Rondpoint des Arènes
Opening info: Open Mar–Sep: 9am– 6:30pm, Oct–Feb: 10am–4:30pm daily
Admission charge: Adm €4.00

4 Aix-en-Provence

Cosmopolitan Aix is packed with fascinating museums and historic buildings. Nearby Mont Ste-Victoire inspired one of the greatest Provençal painters, Paul Cézanne. Aix-en-Provence is a sophisticated town. Whether in the dignified squares and little streets of the Old Quarter or amid the town houses and tree-lined avenues of the 17th- and 18th-century district, the atmosphere is self-consciously graceful.

Office du Tourisme
Address: 2 pl Général-de-Gaulle
Phone: 04 42 16 11 61
www.aixenprovencetourism.com

5 Vieux Nice

Nice is a lively and sophisticated city, but its Old Town retains a quieter, authentic character. Numerous foreign aristocrats and sundry rich and famous may have colonized other parts of the city, but Old Nice, just below the castle hill, belongs firmly to the Niçois, who claim it with Mediterranean gusto.

Office du Tourisme
Address: 5 prom des Anglais
Phone: 08 92 70 74 07
www.nicetourism.com

 

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