In search of the very best locations to go to within the South of France? You’ve come to the precise place. It had been fairly a while since we’d traveled the South of France, however this summer season we had the nice fortune of spending practically a month revisiting this lovely area. Whereas taking a Canal du Midi cruise on our luxurious houseboat with Le Boat, we had the possibility to discover a few of the lesser-known locations in Southern France.
Throughout this journey down the historic waterway, we had been reminded of all the gorgeous locations within the South of France that we’ve taken through the years. France actually has all of it. So, if you’re seeking to department out from the unusual, try the very best locations to go to within the South of France to create a vacation that can ignite all of the senses.
High Locations to go to within the South of France
Historic cities, the French Riviera, and exquisite seashores; the South of France oozes with power and pleasure. However what are the very best locations to go to within the South of France? Are you searching for a metropolis full of elegant structure and cultural points of interest? Or maybe one of many lovely medieval villages, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by olive groves? Be it sandy seashores, artwork galleries, or conventional French delicacies, Southern France is a timeless vacation vacation spot, and it’s simple to see why.
This information will cowl all the things from the gorgeous pure points of interest within the South of France to nationwide parks and the very best cities. Are you able to get began? Let’s have a look.
Greatest cities and cities to go to within the South of France
When searching for the very best locations to go to within the South of France, a fantastic place to start out is with the area’s city areas. South France has some unimaginable cities and cities. Let’s dive straight in.
1. Toulouse
Toulouse was an surprising metropolis within the South of France, situated inland alongside the Spanish border. The town has the nickname ‘La Ville Rose’, that means the pink metropolis as a result of pink bricks used to construct most of its buildings. Toulouse is France’s fourth largest metropolis after Paris, Marseilles, and Lyon and but it’s simple to discover on foot. When visiting Toulouse, you’ll really feel as if you’re visiting the genuine France with locals eating in out of doors cafes and college students stress-free by the river’s edge. It’s what we think about Paris was like 50 years in the past.
A bustling college metropolis, Toulouse could also be small, however it’s full of power. There are many points of interest to see in Toulouse like the primary sq. of La Capitole, Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, and the Musee Aeroscopia. Toulouse is the middle of the aeronautics and house trade in France and this museum showcases its historical past and improvement.
Should you go, ensure to choose up a Toulouse Cross to actually discover town. The Toulouse Cross presents 1, 2, or 3-day passes that embrace public transport and free entrance into many of the metropolis’s hottest vacationer points of interest.
There may be an outdated city to wander, loads of museums, and a reasonably cutting-edge vogue scene. Additionally it is the place to begin of the Canal du Midi which winds its method down 240 km to the French Riviera. Toulouse is a unbelievable place to go to in South France, and will certainly maintain you entertained. Learn extra: Greatest Issues to do in Toulouse France
2. Marseille
Marseille is the oldest metropolis in Southern France. In actual fact, it’s the oldest metropolis in all of France and it’s second in dimension solely to Paris. Positioned on the Gulf de Lyon, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille is the proper mix of African and French tradition. A buying and selling hotspot and port hub since 600 BC, Marseille is likely one of the finest locations to go to within the South of France if you’d like a style of historical past and historical tradition.
An important a part of Marseille is its Vieux Port. It’s right here that fisherman as soon as bought their catch, and a whole bunch of years later, many nonetheless do. You also needs to go to the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, the Musee des Beaux-Arts, and Palais Longchamp.
We recommend spending a minimal of three days in Marseille so that you simply expertise the seafood scene, and its finest points of interest together with a day journey out to Chateau d’If made well-known by Alexander Dumas in The Depend of Monte Cristo written by Alexander Dumas.
When visiting Marseille, we recommend getting a Marseille Metropolis Cross – The town move is legitimate for 1-3 days and allows you to hop on hop off to see all the highest vacationer points of interest. With limitless entry to public transportation plus a tour on the Vacationer practice to Notre-Dame de la Garde or by way of the Previous Marseille. You’ll have entry to MUCEM, and Regards de Provence Museum, plus crossing Frioul Island, or If Island with entrance to Chateau D’If. There are many reductions, entry to municipal museums, and a guided metropolis tour. See particulars right here.
3. Cannes
Who hasn’t heard of Cannes? If you’re visiting Southern France and craving a metropolis expertise, it’s essential to go to Cannes. The town is probably probably the most well-known spot on the French Riviera due to the glitz and glamour it exudes on an annual foundation. It’s cherished by celebrities, and adored for its annual movie competition, The Cannes Worldwide Movie Pageant. It has many beloved seashores and cultural points of interest as nicely.
A lot of Cannes and its points of interest may be skilled by strolling (or driving) alongside the Boulevard de la Croisette. The boulevard spans the Cannes shoreline, with gorgeous views over the Bay of Cannes on the Mediterranean Sea. The Boulevard de la Croisette is lined by luxurious accommodations, boutiques, and eating places and caters completely to an upscale crowd.
Cannes is finest for many who need luxurious, resort-style ambiance. After we visited Cannes, we couldn’t afford the posh accommodations and as an alternative stayed at a campsite simply out of city. However we nonetheless had the possibility to brush shoulders with the wealthy and well-known as we visited the seashores to work on our tans and revel in a style of that five-star hospitality.
4. Good
Good is the most important metropolis on the French Riviera which makes it one of many high locations to go to within the South of France. It has probably the most city really feel out of all of the locations on our listing and is good if you wish to really feel in the course of all of the motion. A sensible choice for a lodge is Lodge Good Riviera. This 4-star lodge is one block from the seashore with affordable costs.
Like Cannes, Good has a scenic stretch of highway alongside its shoreline. Promenade des Anglais stretches 7 km and is the place you’ll discover nearly all of points of interest and the very best ocean views. It’s on the Promenade des Anglais that you simply’ll discover the Good Carnival, which takes place each February or March. You need to stroll the promenade, Previous City, and make time to go to the Fort Hill of Good – an outdated medieval fortress overlooking town.
Curiously, Good can also be surrounded by a lot of lovely cities and villages – a lot of which date again to the Center Ages. You may spend days stress-free within the metropolis and on its lovely seashores, taking the odd day journey to a medieval city for the very best of each worlds. Learn extra: 24 Hours in Good – Generally You Solely have a Day to See it All
5. Aix en Provence
The area of Provence is likely one of the most magical areas in France, and Aix en Provence is all the things you’d anticipate of a metropolis in southern France. It has class, class, and historical past by the bucket masses. The previous capital of Provence is ideal for vacationers who worth tradition when selecting a vacation vacation spot. Aix en Provence has a lot of nicknames, together with “The town of a Thousand Fountains” and “The Metropolis of Counts”. It’s filled with issues to do and see, and it has a noble ambiance to match.
Aix en Provence is an artsy college city simply 20 minutes north of Marseille. It was additionally the birthplace and residential of the nice painter Paul Cezanne. The town is pleased with this historic truth and traces of Cezanne may be discovered in all places within the metropolis. The Cezanne stroll is your finest strategy to see all the things Cezanne. It is a enjoyable and attention-grabbing self-guided tour that Dave and I did on a sunny afternoon throughout our go to. Our strolling tour took us across the Previous City, visiting Cezanne’s Studio, and Camp De Milles.
A few of the finest issues to do in Aix en Provence is to discover its artwork galleries, museums, and different historic points of interest. Anticipate a vigorous nightlife scene and loads of non permanent exhibitions and occasions.
6. Saint Tropez
Craving to be steps away from the ocean? Saint Tropez is the perfect candidate. Saint Tropez is ideal if you’d like glamour and wonder, but a quieter really feel than huge cities like Good. The small city sits on the French Riviera and was as soon as just a little fishing village.
The fishing village shot to recognition after getting used as a filming location for And God Created Lady starring Brigitte Bardot in 1955. For the reason that Nineteen Sixties vacationers have been flocking to one of the well-liked locations to go to within the South of France, however Saint Tropez has nonetheless retained a few of its most charming village qualities. You may nonetheless spot some little fishing boats within the Previous Port, and La Ponche Quarter continues to be stuffed with slender streets with cobblestones.
The perfect seashores in Saint Tropez are Plage de Pampelonne, Plage St. Tropez and Bouillabaisse Seaside. Nonetheless, when you’ve spent a day on the seashore ensure to expertise the city’s hospitality scene, and don’t miss trying out the central sq. on the market at Place des Lices. It has a fame for scrumptious meals and unbelievable domestically owned eating places; undoubtedly strive the contemporary seafood and domestically grown olives.
7. Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is likely one of the oldest medieval villages on the French Riviera. Image a walled city with cobblestone streets and historic, overhanging buildings. All the pieces is constructed from conventional stone and Saint Paul de Vence is the type of place the place each inch of rock feels prefer it has a narrative to inform.
The city sits on a hill overlooking the French Riviera. It’s comparatively simple to go to as a at this time journey from Good however, in case you can, it’s best to attempt to keep within the city itself. Saint Paul de Vence looks like someplace out of a fairy story. Simply strolling by way of its cobbled streets and Previous City (bear in mind a digital camera) is sufficient to maintain you entertained for a full day.
It was as soon as the house of well-known painter Marc Chagall and once you go to considered one of its high points of interest, the Cimetière de Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you will notice his grave.
You also needs to dine at La Colombe d’Or, the place the Roux household as soon as let artists comparable to Picasso, Braque, Calder, and Matisse dine in alternate for now well-known work. Consuming scrumptious meals is even higher if you find yourself surrounded by artistic endeavors whilst you eat.
8. Les Baux de Provence
Okay, we could also be concentrating on cities and cities however the village of Les Baux de Provence was too lovely to not embrace. This hilltop village continues to be protected by medieval partitions and makes a beautiful, memorable getaway. In actual fact, it’s so lovely that town is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Website.
The highest points of interest within the village are, The ruins of Castillo de Los Baux, a Twelfth-century fort, and Carrieres de Lumieres. Carrieres de Lumieres (the quarry of lights) is a singular attraction with art work projected onto the disused quarry’s limestone partitions. Artwork lovers will love the novelty of a digital exhibition, and the art work displayed adjustments steadily which retains the quarry thrilling to go to.
Certain, Les Baux de Provence is quiet and distanced from the Mediterranean Sea, nonetheless, the village has a movie set really feel and is bursting with historical past and attraction. If you’d like a quaint, lesser skilled impression of Southern France, Les Baux de Provence is a unbelievable place to go to. You might also like Enchanting Medieval Villages in France – The French Riviera
9. Saint Rémy de Provence
Saint Remy de Provence is one other attractive, rural city situated on the outskirts of the Alpilles Pure Regional Park. Not solely does Saint Remy de Provence have lovely structure and quiet city surroundings, however its pure magnificence was additionally the muse of a very fashionable artist.
Vincent Van Gogh lived in Saint Remy for a yr, the place he checked himself right into a psychological hospital and started considered one of his most prolific working durations. It was in Saint Remy that he painted The Starry Evening. Whether or not you’re a Van Gogh fan, artwork fanatic, or simply intrigued, Saint Remy is a superb place to be taught extra about artwork historical past.
Musee Estrine Presence Van Gogh is the very best attraction for studying extra concerning the artist. Glanum is the very best attraction for historical past and is an outdated Roman city and in depth archeological website. It’s also possible to go to the Monastery Saint Paul de Mausole – the psychiatric asylum the place Van Gogh was admitted. Saint Remy de Provence has heaps to maintain you entertained.
10. Vers Pont Du Gard
Vers Pont Du Gard is one other small city and, like Saint Remy, has a lot of surrounding Roman heritage. Probably the most well-known Roman attraction is the Pont du Gard bridge and aqueduct, which have been protected and maintained to nonetheless stand at this time. I bear in mind taking our highway journey within the South of France and making a detour for the only real goal of seeing this bridge. Vers Pont Du Gard is filled with spectacular structure, and in case you like visiting locations with character, you’ll definitely be in for a deal with.
When you’ve visited the city’s bridge, the Pont du Gard Museum and Chapel Notre Dame de Laval are the very best points of interest to take pleasure in. It’s also possible to swim and fish within the River Gardon. Regardless of being inland, being situated subsequent to a river makes Vers Pont Du Gard an gratifying vacation spot even within the peak of summer season. You aren’t sacrificing a lot by skipping seashore days for river days, and taking a dip is refreshing on a scorching day.
11. Arles
Arles is our ultimate advice and simply among the best locations to go to within the South of France. Within the historical Roman interval, Arles was as soon as a provincial capital. Right now, lots of the structure and historic websites stay – together with Arles Amphitheater.
We advocate catching a efficiency on the Arles Amphitheater, taking a Van Gogh strolling tour to see the areas which impressed well-known works, and visiting the cloisters at St. Trophime. Arles has a lot of non secular and creative historical past, so enable a lot of time for sightseeing.
The town itself sits on the banks of the Rhone River. It’s flanked by the Camargue Nature Reserve and, whereas situated inland, is lower than an hour’s drive from a few of the finest seashores on the Riviera. If you’re seeking to rent a automotive and discover a lot of France, Arles is an excellent base.
Greatest pure locations to go to within the South of France
Now that we’ve lined the very best cities and cities let’s take a look at the very best pure locations to go to within the South of France.
Southern France is filled with superb pure locations to go to, whether or not you wish to use them as a day journey or simply prepare to remain close by. You finest have a Google Maps account since you’ll want offline maps to go to those spots. These locations are the creme de la creme.
12. Verdon Pure Regional Park
Verdon Pure Regional Park is likely one of the finest locations to discover pure points of interest, not simply mountaineering trails and exquisite views. Positioned in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the 180,000-hectare park is most identified for the Gorges du Verdon and Lake Croix.
The Gorges du Verdon is a 25 km (15.5 miles) lengthy river canyon with an excellent milky blue river. Anticipate white water rapids and steep cliffs reaching as much as 700 meters (0.4 mi) on both aspect of the river. This pure surprise is the deepest gorge in France. You may hike to quite a few viewpoints, and even e-book a rafting expertise for a bit of additional exhilaration. The Gorges du Verdon is an enormous deal and is named France’s reply to the Grand Canyon.
After exiting the Verdon Gorge, the river runs straight out into the Lake of Sainte-Croix. There are three villages alongside its shores and you’ll take your choose to seize a chew to eat and go for a swim.
13. Calanques Nationwide Park
Calanques Nationwide Park covers each ocean and land, and the 128,000-acre reserve is located on the shoreline an hour’s drive from Marseilles en path to Cassis. In case your thought of heaven is coastal hikes with hidden coves and dramatic cliff faces, then Calanques is an ideal spot. It’s the solely nationwide park in Europe that’s situated close to city areas and is each on land and sea.
The phrase ‘Calanques’ describes a dolomite or limestone inlet – mainly dramatic pale gray or white sea cliffs. The park is filled with these lovely areas and it’s best to undoubtedly spend money on a superb high quality digital camera so that you’ve got footage to cherish after your vacation.
Preserve your eyes peeled whereas mountaineering as nicely, because the marine reserves are well-liked spots for pods of dolphins. The park has over 140 species of protected animals and crops, which is a nature lover’s dream.
14. Pure Reserve of the Courant d’Huchet
In comparison with the opposite spots on this listing, the Pure Reserve of the Courant d’Huchet is tiny. Nonetheless, it has a few of the most putting landscapes and is definitely among the best pure locations to go to within the South of France. It’s situated an hour’s drive north of Biarritz and makes for a unbelievable day journey.
The reserve is primarily marshland however has a seashore within the midst of the park. The seashore incorporates excessive hills of sand dunes that fantastically distinction the surrounded marshes and forest. Guests can head to the seashore to swim and climb the sand dunes.
It’s also possible to hike the community of trails, recognizing native animals and flora as you stroll. If you’d like one thing actually totally different although, we advocate a ship tour. You may rent a ship to discover independently or take a tour for a extra informative expertise – whichever takes your fancy.
15. Baronnies Provencales Regional Pure Park
Have you ever ever seen these artsy lavender area photographs plastered throughout Instagram? Nicely, Baronnies Provencales Regional Pure Park is the place you possibly can take your very personal. Aside from its distant villages and low-lying mountains, Baronnies Provencales is filled with lavender fields. Should you go to the South of France between June and September, it’s best to undoubtedly make your strategy to the park to see them.
Baronnies Provencales Regional Pure Park is about an hour and a half drive from Avignon. You might go to on a day journey or discover lodging in one of many park’s villages. Aside from the lavender fields, you’ll discover 1000’s of mountaineering trails and different out of doors actions.
16. Regional Park of Camargue
Camargue Park is known for a lot of issues, together with the as soon as wild herds of Camargue horses. The Camargue horses are extremely prized in France and are thought-about to be one of the historical horse breeds on the earth. Whereas breeding is strictly regulated now, you would possibly nonetheless be fortunate sufficient to identify a semi-feral herd.
Aside from the horses, Camargue Pure Regional Park options wetlands, tough grazing areas, and a marine reserve. Additionally it is situated alongside the shoreline, simply exterior of Marseilles and close to town of Arles.
The perfect issues to do in Camargue are animal associated. You may spot flamingoes at Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau and go to a ranch to take a horseback experience out to identify the semi-feral horses from afar.
17. Alpilles Regional Nature Park
Fancy getting lively? Alpilles Regional Nature Park has probably the most to supply when it comes to biking, mountaineering, and horseback driving trails with loads of equestrian facilities. With all its limestone rock formations and cliffs, there’s loads of climbing alternatives as nicely.
Alpilles has a fantastic mixture of actions. Whether or not you need historical past, tradition, a health problem, or a brand new profile image, Alpilles has sufficient variety to match your wants. It’s a walkers paradise with mountaineering trails by way of pine forests, olive groves, and vineyards.
It’s also possible to simply go to the fort, and quarry artwork show in close by Les Baux de Provence which we already talked about above.
18. Sainte Baume Pure Regional Park
Sainte Baume Pure Regional Park is the place the alpine meets the Mediterranean. The park is filled with dramatic limestone mountains, ridges, and pine tree forests.
Climbers will love Saint Baume, which is centered round an extended mountain ridge. There’s a fantastic vary of climbing routes to discover, ranging in problem and magnificence. Sainte Baume additionally holds a lot of non secular significance. Guests will discover a grotto the place Mary Magdalene allegedly lived. The location is well-liked amongst pilgrims and may be reached by way of a fairly forest path in round forty minutes.
19. Pyrenees Nationwide Park
Pyrenees Nationwide Park is likely one of the finest locations to go to within the South of France. The park sits on the French-Spanish border and we had been stunned to search out them in South France. We had identified the Pyrenees from our time in Spain, however we at all times considered them as additional north. We had been stunned to see the mountains whereas cruising in 40-degree warmth to Carcassonne.
From alpine meadows and high-altitude lakes to towering, craggy mountains, the park is gorgeous. If you’d like an thrilling, lovely place to go to in Southern France, Pyrenees Nationwide Park is bucket listing worthy.
Cirque de Gavarnie is likely one of the most well-known points of interest within the Pyrenees of France. A cirque is a big cliff face that curves in form like an enormous, pure amphitheater. Cirque de Gavarnie is finest identified for its many waterfalls, which cascade down the cliff partitions.
Aside from the Cirque de Gavarnie, the park is filled with mountaineering trails, countless out of doors actions, and climbing alternatives. Should you love mountaineering particularly, you’ll like it right here.
20. Landes de Gascogne Regional Pure Park
Landes de Gascogne Regional Pure Park is a nature reserve at first, which we love. The park caters to tourism however in environmentally pleasant methods, and there are points of interest like an eco-museum and hen sanctuary to go to.
The park sits in southwest France, together with some coastal areas and a few inland. Guests can kayak down rivers, swim in pure lakes, or hike the quite a few trails. Landes de Gascogne is a serene, lovely park that’s bursting with nature. Guests can cherish being surrounded by a whole bunch of various species of wildlife.
21. Narbonnaise en Mediterranee Pure Regional Park
Narbonnaise en Mediterranee is a various area. You’ll discover seashores, cliffs, forests, and even vineyards. The vineyards are significantly well-liked, and a few folks confer with the park because the land of wine.
You may go wine tasting, take a hike, or go for a tenting getaway. Narbonnaise en Mediterranee is about an hour and a half’s drive from Montpellier and Toulouse. It sits on the Mediterranean shoreline and is ideally mixed with a seashore vacation. If you’d like someplace to wine style and discover, it’s a small, lovely, and simple pure place to go to in Southern France.
22. Mercantour Nationwide Park
A shocking 167,297-acre park, Mercantour is a combination of alpine lakes, irregular mountain ranges, and many scenic mountaineering trails. Even higher? It’s simply an hour’s drive away from Good.
The park is numerous and comparatively unvisited in comparison with France’s different nationwide parks. For people who make the journey although, there are countless rewards. You’ll uncover tiny villages and mountain communities the place many individuals nonetheless dwell off of the land. You may pattern decadent cheeses and opulent honey and possibly even deliver some dwelling as a memento.
After appreciating the cultural aspect of Mercantour, you possibly can dive straight into its out of doors actions. Hike, bike, climb, swim, and experience till your coronary heart is content material.
It’s no secret that the South of France is mesmerizing. That is simply the tip of the iceberg of locations to go to within the South of France.
We hope that this helped offer you a way of what you possibly can see and do from strolling cobblestone streets in medieval cities or lazing on sandy seashores on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. All of those locations to go to within the South of France are value visiting. Glamorous, historic, and naturally lovely, the South of France is certain to ensure reminiscences for a lifetime.
