Enliven your senses in sunny Provence

Vibrant color, abundant sunlight, enticing aromas, open air markets, and a friendly, easy-going local culture – there is much to explain why travelers, exiles and artists have flocked to Provence for centuries.

The Romans left magnificent reminders of their empire: the Pont du Gard, the Arena in Arles, the Coliseum in Nîmes and the Amphitheater in Orange -- the setting for a renowned opera festival each summer.

To the north, Mont Ventoux soars high over the landscape, while the Dentelles de Montmirail rise above the renowned vineyards of the Rhône Valley – Gigondas, Beaumes-de-Venise, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Further south, the sculpted crags of the Alpilles hills frame Les Baux and St. Rémy, where you can visit the actual scenes portrayed in Vincent van Gogh’s masterpieces. Nearby, Arles, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence have outstanding museums and galleries, excellent restaurants, and important landmarks, not least of which is the Papal Palace in Avignon, home to the Popes during the 14th century.

The Lubéron Valley, to the east, was made famous in Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, and is noted for its picturesque hilltop villages such as Gordes, Mènerbes, and Roussillon. A lively market can be found in one village or another each day of the week, while the Sunday market at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a mecca for antiques collectors.

Whether it is apricot blossoms in April, lavender in July, sweet figs in September, boules and pastis in the shade of platane trees, or a lazy summer day observing village life from a favorite café, Provence is a year-round feast for the senses.

Not to miss in Provence

• the Sunday antiques market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or the farmers market in Coustellet
• the Romans' 1st Century Pont du Gard
• village life and boules from the Café de France in Goult
• wine tastings: sweet dessert muscats in Beaumes-de-Venise, noble reds in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, summery rosés in Bandol
• shopping for ceramics in Apt and fine linens in Lumières
• sunset at Les Baux, then dinner in nearby Eygalières
• a morning walk through the Dentelles hills or a challenging bike ride up the Gorge de la Nesque or Mont Ventoux

For the kids

• watch the course Camargaise, a French type of "rodeo" near Mouriès
• explore the beaches and the calanques (coves) along the Mediterranean coast
• kayak down the Sorgue river
• descend into the source of the Fontaine du Vaucluse
• swim under the Pont du Gard
• discover the myth of the tarasque at the Château de Tarascon
• enjoy the sound and light show at La Cathédrale des Images in Les Baux
• watch the Tour de France cyclists whiz through Provence in mid-July

Getting there

Gateway airport: Paris, Charles de Gaulle or Marseille International Airport

From Paris, Avignon is just under 3 hours by the TGV (high-speed train); 1 hour by autoroute from Marseille to Avignon; 2 hours from Nice.