See full version: 10 Most Amazing Destinations in the South of France
Tree-lined streets, monuments and elegant architecture greet you wherever you wander in Aix-en-Provence. Founded by a Roman general in 123 B.C., Aix-en-Provence came of age during the Renaissance Era when artists, academics and aristocrats made the cultural capital their home. With around 40,000 students swelling its population each year, Aix remains a highly regarded university city.
The palace plays host to art exhibitions, conventions and festivals as well. Outside, hilltop gardens, ponds and landscaped terraces invite exploration. Housing the only Van Gogh painting in Provence, the Musée Angladon is well worth a visit too. [links]
You don’t have to visit Cannes during its annual film festival to understand the appeal of this coastal city. With its long stretches of sandy beaches and 300 days of sunshine each year, Cannes attracts sun worshippers in the warm seasons. Start your visit with a stroll along the Boulevard de la Croisette. Curving around the city’s deep-blue bay, the promenade offers views of the sea and sand on one side and upscale hotels and boutiques on the other.
Millions of pilgrims visit Lourdes annually, making it the biggest pilgrimage destination in France and one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. Pilgrims visit the Grotto of the apparitions, worship at the Basilique Notre-Dame du Rosaire (Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes), and participate in candlelit Marian processions. [links]
Encircling L'Écusson, spacious tree-lined boulevards were created by Baron Haussmann (who designed the Grands Boulevards of Paris) in the 19th century, replacing the city's medieval ramparts. The best of the 21st century is seen in Montpellier's sleek tram system with new cars featuring decorations by Christian Lacroix. here
Slightly off-the-beaten-path, the Languedoc-Roussillon region includes outstanding attractions like the UNESCO-listed fortified city of Carcassonne and lively university town of Montpellier.
The Vieux Port of Marseille dates back to the 6th century BC and is still in use today as a launching point for fishing boats. A fish market is held every morning at the harbor, and the restaurants around the waterfront are the best places to visit to sample the gastronomic specialty of Marseille, bouillabaisse (seafood stew). The upscale Restaurant Miramar (12 Quai du Port) is famous for its bouillabaisse. [links]
An easy walking path at the Cirque de Gavarnie allows tourists (of any fitness ability) to soak up the scenery of snow-dusted mountains, alpine chalets, and grazing goats, while listening to the refreshing sounds of a meandering stream and the chirping of little birds. [links]
Saint-Tropez swells in the summer months as yachts creep into port, but a quick stroll through the narrow, cobbled streets of Old Town reveals what attracted celebrities to this former fishing village in the first place. Start your morning at La Tarte Tropézienne with an espresso and a slice of the patisserie’s namesake cream-filled brioche (a Brigitte Bardot favorite when she was shooting the 1950s film “And God Created Woman”), then take your petit-déjeuner across the square to the Place des Lices and stroll through the stands of cheese and flowers at the open-air Provencal market, held every Tuesday and Saturday morning. After gathering a basket-full of picnic fixings, head over to the 15th-century stone Portalet Tower and work off those breakfast calories during a coastal hike along the peninsula’s best beaches—accessed otherwise only by boat. At one of the most famous, Pampelonne, you’ll find the swankiest of Saint-Tropez’s beach clubs like Le Club 55 and Miami Beach transplant Nikki Beach, whose anything-goes spirit and lavish costume parties are known to draw celebrities. For something more low-key, trek down to the tucked-away cove of L’Escalet Beach, where you can spread out on a shore sans tourists. Back in town, pause on the port at Sénéquier for a coffee and prime people watching until dinner at the buzzy, Asian-inspired BanH-Hoï, a Saint-Tropez institution in Old Town. Night owls can dance the evening away at the legendary nightclub Les Caves du Roy in Hôtel Byblos; for those ready to call it a night, head up the hill to the secluded 28-room Saint Amour La Tartane Hotel. [links]
P.S. Check out What to Pack for a Beach Vacation before your next seaside getaway! here
While the Riviera has maintained a glam reputation since the '50s (Brigitte Bardot basking on Saint-Tropez's beaches; A-listers strutting down Cannes' red carpet), there is more to le Midi than just its jet-set resort towns—including idyllic bohemian islands and hilltop medieval towns housing their own Michelin-starred restaurants. Whether you are looking for a day that starts (and ends) with rosé at a celeb-filled beach club or prefer a more secluded seaside escape, here are eight must-see destinations to check off during a visit to the South of France.
Do: Rent a small boat and explore the glamorous resorts and sun-soaked beaches of the French Riviera from the sea. [links]
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Discover the best beaches in the South of France, fabulous hotels, and first-class restaurants along the French Riviera, France’s most beautiful seaside destination. And for the budget traveller, there are plenty of South of France campsites by the beach.
Contributed by Haley from Haley Blackall [links]
Escape to the beautiful village of Gassin, close to the famous beach destination of Saint Tropez and discover a picturesque French village perched high up on a rock, only a few kilometres from the sea. It offers the most incredible coastline views of the Gulf de St. Tropez in one direction and mountain views in the other. You can see why it’s known as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France or one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. more