Have you ever been to the South of France? It is magical there! Nîmes, Nice, Camargue, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Saint-Tropez, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer… If you are looking for a cool all year-round destination, look no further, you found it! Or create holiday feeling at home with a typical Aperitif Provençal!
Provence, Home of the Rosé
When someone says South of France, immediately Provence springs to mind! And with that lavender, charming villages, olives, Pastis, and rosé wine!
The lavender belongs to the beautiful landscape like the little villages. The charming old towns, the Mont Ventoux, and the Luma Arles. The wetland of the Camargue, the Rhône and the Rhône valley. And, of course, the French Riviera, also known as Côte d’Azur.
But Provence has much more to offer than the picturesque landscape which inspired many famous artists, among whom Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.
The region boasts numerous events, festivals, concerts, and markets. The Provençal way of life is one of indulgence, creativity, and living in harmony with nature.
Arles, Marseille or Nice are well-know, but there are also numerous lesser known picturesque villages such as Les Baux-de-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Sisteron and Avignon with its famous old town and the Papal Palace.
In addition, there are all the delicious specialties of the region! Be it at the local markets or in restaurants, foodies will be delighted!
Calissons from Aix-en-Provence, truffles in the Var and Vaucluse, rosé wine made from sun kissed grapes, delicious vegetables, olive oil and fresh fish… Most restaurants in Marseille offer the local specialty bouillabaisse.
Provence: Around 3000 hours of sunshine per year
Not only the lavender fields, mountains, amphitheater, way of life and specialties speak for the fact that the diversity of Provence is always worth a trip, but also the mild Mediterranean climate here in the South of France.
At any time of the year Provence is a great travel destination! Provence is the warmest and, with around 2,600 to 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, also the sunniest region in France. The climate in the south-east of France is mainly influenced by winds such as the Mistral, which can sometimes be felt strongly, especially in winter.
The period between October and April is also when most of the precipitation falls. On sunny days, however, temperatures of up to 20 degrees are easily possible even in winter. The best travel times are spring and autumn. At this time you can expect pleasant temperatures and not too many tourists.
If you’re traveling to Provence for the beguiling scents of lavender, or for taking stunning photos of the lavender fields glowing purple, the best time to visit is between June and July.
Toulon at the southern tip is considered the sunniest city on the French mainland. In the north, Provence borders on the Dauphiné region.
Provence is very diverse, every place has its own special flair and so it is difficult to say what is typically Provençal and what you should definitely not miss when you visit. Some of our favourites include: Arles, Nimes, Nice, Marseille, Montpellier, Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer.
