The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

Choosing the most beautiful villages in Provence is not easy because Provence is filled with divine flower-filled, stone and terracotta-tiled villages, many of them perched high with stunning views or with attractive rivers running through them.

Many visitors to Provence see the Big 3 “A” cities—Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence. But what about the smaller towns and villages of Provence? My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence and love to wander around the region. Let me tell you about some of our favourite and most beautiful villages in Provence.

St-Rémy-de-Provence

Of course, we need to start with our town. St-Rémy is nestled at the base of the Alpilles, a small mountain range popular with hikers and bikers. The town’s charming old center is full of narrow, winding roads lined with fountains and interesting shops. Be sure to come on Wednesday for one of Provence’s best outdoor markets, which sprawls all over town. And if you love art, you’ll want to visit the Saint-Paul de Mausole, the mental institution where Vincent Van Gogh painted many of his masterpieces. You can still see the room where he lived!

Les Baux-de-Provence / Maussane-les-Alpilles

Just south of St-Rémy is Les Baux-de-Provence, protected by a rugged mountaintop fortress from which you can enjoy fabulous views. A short walk away is the Carrières de Lumières with perhaps the world’s greatest sound and light show. Every year a different artist is featured, like Van Gogh, Picasso, or Chagall. Their works are projected on the walls and ceilings of an abandoned quarry—a series of massive indoor rooms carved out of the mountain—and choreographed with beautiful music. It’s one of the most popular sites in Provence and just magical.

When you are ready for lunch or a coffee, head down the hill to nearby Maussane-les-Alpilles with one of the most charming squares in Provence. Around the gurgling fountain you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants and cafés. My favorite is Le Clos Saint-Roch, just a few steps off the square.

Gordes / Senanque Abbey

Near Roussillon is Gordes, another hilltop village that seems to start at the top of the hill and then pour down the side. It’s so photogenic that there is a special pull-off area for picture taking as you drive into town.

Be sure to have a coffee or drink in Gordes and enjoy the wonderful views of the Luberon Valley below. Then head to nearby Senanque Abbey, an ancient Cistercian abbey in a gorgeous valley. In front is a lavender field and when the lavender is in bloom it is a sight to behold, an iconic image of Provence.

L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue / Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Heading north, we come to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, whose name means “Island in the Sorgue” because the pretty Sorgue River goes around and through the town. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famous for its antiques shops—you can find anything here! And its Sunday outdoor market is one of the largest in France. Have a relaxing lunch at one of the many restaurants along the banks of the river.

10km east of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the source of the Sorgue River, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Most rivers start as little streams that slowly combine with others and gain strength, but not so the Sorgue! No, it bursts forth fully formed, from one of the largest springs in the world. It is quite a sight after a few days of rain, when the spring is at its fullest.

Roussillon

Now we head to the heart of the Vaucluse region, made famous by Peter Mayle’s book A Year in Provence. My favourite village here is colourful Roussillon, perched on a hilltop.

Long ago, pigment for paint came from a certain kind of sandy clay called ochre, found in places like Roussillon. Today you can walk through the town’s abandoned ochre quarry, marvelling at the red, orange, yellow, and purple cliffs where the clay is still exposed.

Lacoste

Lacoste is a tiny hilltop village with old buildings and cobblestone streets—time seems to stand still here. It is topped by a ruined chateau (very picturesque!) that was once owned by the infamous Marquis de Sade and has since been purchased by the designer Pierre Cardin. The views from the chateau are magnificent. One of my favourite spots for a coffee is at the Café de France, with outdoor tables that overlook the Luberon Valley.

Lourmarin

Further east we come to Lourmarin, whose Friday market gives St-Rémy a run for the title of Best Market in Provence. The cozy little town center is full of cafés and restaurants along its delightful cobblestoned streets. For those who can’t eat gluten, the world’s best gluten-free restaurant, l’Auberge la Fenière, is just outside of town. It has both a Michelin-starred restaurant and a casual bistro.

Cassis

Now we go all the way to the Mediterranean Sea where we find Cassis, a jewel of a port town that sits next to the tallest cliff in France. Stroll along the quay, with sailboats bobbing in the harbour, and watch the fishermen come in with their catch. Then pick from one of the many port side restaurants for a delicious meal.

Just outside of Cassis are the famous calanques, small inlets in the rugged coastline that are like mini-fjords. Take a boat ride to see them, but buy your ticket early because they often sell out. For the adventurous, you can hike to several of the nearest calanques.

Uzès

While not technically in Provence, Uzés is definitely worth a visit. It has the prettiest plaza you’ll find anywhere, the Place aux Herbes, and all around it are charming restaurants and cafés where you’ll want to while away a few hours. The town is famous for its towers, scattered here and there, and its Saturday market is up there with the best Provence has to offer.

Near Uzès is the Pont du Gard, the Roman aqueduct that’s as tall as an 18-story building! This is a not-to-be-missed site for any lover of Roman history.

This article was written by Keith Van Sickle who is the author of the best-sellers One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence and Are We French Yet? You can read more funny stories about France on his website, Life in Provence, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

You can read reviews of Keith's books here: One Sip at a Time: Book Review and Are We French Yet? Book Review.

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