13 Unbelievably Beautiful Places In Provence You Need to See At Least Once In Your Life
Provence is a world-famous region that entices visitors with its idyllic countryside, historic towns, and charming villages scattered across rolling landscapes.
Known for its fields of lavender, olive groves, cypress trees, sun-drenched vineyards, and scraggly mountains, Provence offers natural beauty in droves.
Each town and city in the region holds its own allure, from bustling markets filled with local produce and artisan goods to quaint cobbled streets lined with pastel-colored shutters.
You’ll discover medieval fortresses, Renaissance architecture, Roman ruins, and art history as you travel through Provence, falling more and more in love with each stop (I know I did!)
Truly, Provence is a special region in France. These are my favorite places to visit in Provence – I know you’ll love them too.
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13 Beautiful Places to Visit in Provence
1. Aix-en-Provence

Let’s start this list with my favorite Provencal city: Aix-en-Provence, a beautiful, upscale city known as the “City of a Thousand Fountains.”
These fountains, dating back to Roman times, fill the squares and sidewalks of the city, from the grand Fontaine de la Rotonde to the stately Fontaine d’Albertas, to the moss-covered Fontaine Moussue, which is fed by a natural hot spring.

Aix-en-Provence is also well-known for its almost daily markets. The Cours Mirabeau, the city’s main avenue, is lined with cafes, shops, and grand mansions, and hosts a 3x weekly clothing market. This avenue is a favorite gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.

Squares like Place Richelme and Place des Prêcheurs host markets full of Provencal goods, including lavender, honey, soap, and fresh produce.
Aix is also closely tied to the Post-Impessionsist artist Paul Cézanne, whose legacy is visible throughout the city in many attractions tourists can visit, from his former studio, to his family home, to exhibits at the Musée Granet.

Aix’s elegant architecture and charming streets create the perfect setting for the city’s many independent boutiques and specialty shops. Known as a top shopping destination, Aix offers a unique experience where local brands and independent boutiques fill the streets—chains and big names are refreshingly scarce here.
2. Arles

Arles is an ancient city full of Roman and artistic history. Founded in 46 BC by Julius Caesar, Arles has one of the richest collections of Roman monuments in France.
The Arles Arena is the city’s most iconic site—a massive structure that once held 20,000 spectators for gladiator battles and continues to host events today.

Alongside it is the Roman Theater, where cultural performances took place, and the atmospheric Alyscamps, a necropolis lined with sarcophagi and chapel ruins, as well as the Roman thermal baths and crypoportiques ruins.
Arles is also famously tied to Vincent van Gogh, who lived here during a highly productive period in the late 1880s. Many of his masterpieces were inspired by the city’s unique light and landscapes, and visitors can trace his steps with markers around town that highlight the exact spots he painted.

Sites like the Espace Van Gogh, the hospital where he stayed after his infamous ear incident, and the Rhône River viewpoint where he painted Starry Night Over the Rhône offer a vivid connection to his life and work.
The Musée Arlaten is one of Arles very excellent museums, and offers a fascinating glimpse into Provençal life with exhibits on local customs, crafts, and 19th-century traditions.

Beyond its Roman sites and Van Gogh’s legacy, Arles charms with its winding streets and squares like Place de la République, filled with café terraces and old-world charm.
3. St-Remy de Provence

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a small, absolutely charming village in Provence, known for its oak-lined streets, pastel shutters, and quaint corners filled with cafes and ivy.

The town holds a special place in art history, as it’s where Vincent Van Gogh spent the final years of his life, creating some of his most famous works. Walking through Saint-Rémy feels like stepping into a Van Gogh painting, with landscapes and buildings that appear straight from his canvases.

The village does a wonderful job of honoring his legacy, with a Van Gogh walking trail that takes visitors through town and out into the countryside, with posters of the paintings directly in front of the real-life locations.

Saint-Rémy also offers a fascinating mix of history and local culture. Saint-Paul de Mausole monastery, where Van Gogh stayed, is surrounded by olive groves, peaceful gardens, and Les Alpilles mountains that feel quintessentially Provence.

Just outside town, you’ll find Les Antiques—two remarkably preserved Roman monuments—and the Glanum archaeological site, where you can explore the ruins of a Roman city.
4. Les Baux

Les Baux-de-Provence is a perched village unlike any other in France. Built into a rugged, cliff-top plateau with dramatic limestone formations, the town feels as though it has emerged directly from the rocks.
With views over the jagged Alpilles mountains, olive groves, and valleys stretching to the sea, Les Baux is as scenic as it is historic.

The heart of the town, mostly built from local limestone studded with seashells, is filled with charming stone alleys, artisan shops, and restaurants with outdoor patios.
The centerpiece is the Château des Baux, a massive ruined medieval fortress with ramparts, ancient siege weapons, cave dwellings, and a medicinal garden.

The site, which once housed 3,000 people, was built to control trade routes between Arles and Aix-en-Provence but was eventually dismantled in the 1600s, and is an exciting, sprawling site to explore.

Just a few minutes walk outside the village is the Carrières des Lumières, a former quarry. Today this massive cavernous space hosts immersive art shows, with paintings and pictures projected to music on the walls of the caves.
5. Orange

Orange is home to two of the best-preserved Roman monuments in France.
The Ancient Theater of Orange is the city’s standout attraction—a vast structure with a 103-meter-wide, 37-meter-tall stage wall, famously well-preserved and richly decorated with columns, niches, and statues.
Built in the 1st century AD under Emperor Augustus, the theater once hosted tragedies and comedies for up to 10,000 spectators, offering free entertainment to integrate people into Roman culture.

Today, it remains a striking sight and still hosts concerts and events, its acoustics enhanced by the imposing stage wall.
Nearby, you’ll find the Arc de Triomphe, a three-bay arch also from the 1st century AD, celebrating Rome’s military victories with detailed carvings. It marks the entrance to the ancient city, connected by the historic Rue Victor Hugo.

Other points of interest include the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, with Roman artifacts, and Notre Dame de Nazareth Cathedral, a 13th-century church with beautiful painted arches.
6. Camargue

The Camargue Natural Park, delta where the Rhone River meets the Mediterranean, is one of the most unique landscapes in France, with its vast salt flats, rice paddies, and marshlands creating a landscape unlike anywhere else.
As you move closer to the sea, the soil becomes saltier, giving rise to red samphire plants and open wetlands where tall, slender flamingos wade through shallow waters.
The Camargue is also known for its iconic Provencal bull and horse farms, or manades, where open-air breeding of Camargue bulls and hardy white horses takes place.

The bulls, smaller and more agile than their Spanish counterparts, play a central role in local bull games, a humane form of bullfighting where athletes aim to capture ribbons from the bull’s horns without harming the animal.
The horses, used to herd the bulls, are highly respected in the region for their strength and endurance.

Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer is the main town in the Camargue, known for its thatched-roof huts, bull game arena, and bustling port.
Visitors can also explore the salt marshes, rice fields, and manades by taking a guided tour from nearby Arles or Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer. These tours often include close encounters with the bulls and horses, while also giving you a chance to witness the area’s spectacular landscapes and distinctive flora and fauna.
Overall, the Camargue offers an unforgettable glimpse into a side of Provence that feels worlds away from the vineyards and hilltop villages nearby.
7. Gordes

Gordes is one of Provence’s most iconic perched villages, sitting dramatically on a rocky hilltop with the Luberon Mountains as a scenic backdrop.
Approaching Gordes, you’ll get stunning views of the village cascading down the hillside, its stone houses and winding lanes seemingly carved from the cliffs themselves. The best views are just across the ravine, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the town, especially beautiful at sunset.

Within Gordes, narrow, cobblestoned streets lead you through a maze of charming corners, ivy-clad stone buildings, and scenic little squares.

The main square, Place Gently Pantaly, sits in front of the Château de Gordes, a Renaissance-era castle that now houses a museum with local historical exhibits and rotating art installations.
From here, you can explore more of the village secrets, including the 18th-century Saint Firmin Church with its colorful interior, and the lavoir, or public washhouse, in the lower part of town, where villagers once gathered to do laundry.
8. Cassis + Calanques

Cassis is a vibrant, seaside village that feels like a picture-perfect postcard of Provence. Nestled between cliffs and the Mediterranean Sea, this former fishing town is filled with pastel-colored buildings, a lively waterfront, and narrow lanes lined with cafes and shops.
Its relaxed vibe and beautiful setting make it a popular stop, but what truly sets Cassis apart is its proximity to the Calanques National Park.

Just a short boat ride or hike from Cassis, the Calanques are narrow inlets with striking turquoise waters flanked by towering limestone cliffs.
There are 26 calanques spread along the coast between Cassis and Marseille, offering gorgeous views of the rugged cliffs.
The most famous calanques—like Calanque d’En-Vau, Calanque de Port-Miou, and Calanque de Port-Pin—offer incredible spots for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling.

Calanque d’En-Vau is especially breathtaking, with its secluded cove surrounded by dramatic cliffs, but it does require a more challenging hike to reach.
You can also discover these inlets by boat or kayak tours from Cassis, which offer a scenic way to take in the rugged coastline and the stunning mix of colors where limestone meets sea.

For anyone visiting Provence, a day spent between the charm of Cassis and the beauty of the calanques is a must.
9. Avignon

Avignon is one of Provence’s most historically significant cities, famous for its well-preserved medieval architecture and as a former seat of papal power.

The Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes) is the city’s crown jewel, an imposing fortress-like palace that served as the residence of the popes in the 14th century. (Yes, for about a century, the popes ruled from Avignon, not Rome).

Thee massive walls and grand halls of the palace reflect the power the papacy held over both religiously and politically, making it a fascinating look into medieval church history.

Plus, the tour of the palace is just very well-conceived, with every visitor getting a Histopad that helps you envision the once opulently decorated interiors that are now mostly bare stone.
Just a short walk from the palace is the Pont d’Avignon, or Benezet Bridge. Built in the 12th century, it once stretched across the Rhône River with 22 arches.

Only a portion of the bridge remains today – the bridge stops abruptly in the middle of the river – as parts of it were washed away by the river in the 17th century and never rebuilt.

The bridge is also steeped in legend, with a tale of a young shepherd named Benezet who, guided by a divine vision, initiated its construction.
These two sites—the Palais des Papes and the Pont d’Avignon—are the highlights of Avignon’s historic core, where cobblestone streets and lively squares complete the atmosphere of this vibrant city.
10. Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a picturesque riverside town in Provence that lives up to its name—its historic center is literally an island surrounded by the Sorgue River.
Known for its colorful buildings, pastel shutters, and charming canals, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is one of the region’s most scenic spots.

It’s especially famous for its vibrant Thursday and Sunday morning market, which is one of the largest in southern France. With around 300 stalls winding through the town, you’ll find an enormous variety of goods, from fresh produce and lavender products to antiques and artisan crafts.




The town also boasts a unique collection of historic watermills dotted along the riverbanks. The most picturesque mill, Roue à Aube de la Porte d’Avignon, is covered in moss and offers a lovely, shaded spot by the water.

For sightseeing, don’t miss Esplanade Robert Vasse, the best viewpoint over the canal, and the Notre Dame des Anges Church, a beautifully ornate church with richly decorated interiors.
With its lively markets, scenic canals, and old-world charm, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a must-visit in Provence.
11. Roussillon

Roussillon, a tiny perched village in the Luberon surrounded by striking ochre cliffs, is famous for its warm, red-toned buildings painted with pigments from the nearby ochre quarries.
This vibrant color scheme makes Roussillon feel like it’s part of the landscape itself, with its structures blending seamlessly into the fiery cliffs visible from the village.

The village itself is full of charm, with winding streets, art galleries, and ceramics shops showcasing locally produced goods.

While the streets are captivating, the real highlight of Roussillon is its stunning views, especially from the Place de la Forge, the remains of an old Roman fort. From here, visitors can look out over the ochre hills and the lush Provençal landscape.

For a closer look at these cliffs, the Sentier des Ocres trail offers a scenic walk through the ochre hills just outside the village, bringing you face-to-face with the unique warm-toned rock formations.
12. Lavender Fields

The lavender fields of Provence are a quintessential sight, filling the countryside with vibrant purple hues between the end of June through July.
Lavender is woven into everyday life in Provence—you’ll find it in local markets, infused in soaps like the iconic Savon de Marseille, and in perfumes.

Two of the most famous areas for these fields are Valensole and Luberon, each offering its own distinct take on this stunning landscape.
In Valensole, just north of Aix-en-Provence, endless rows of lavender stretch across rolling hills, creating a breathtakingly vast and colorful sea of purple under the Provençal sun.

Luberon, meanwhile, combines lavender fields with a backdrop of rugged hills and charming stone villages, blending natural beauty with a touch of Provencal charm.
Sault and Drome are two other regions with abundant lavender fields, and the growing season for these areas extends into August, giving you a bit more time to catch the bloom.
13. Marseille

Marseille is France’s oldest city, its 2nd largest city, and its largest port city. The capital of Provence, it’s famous for its vibrant and enormous Old Port (Vieux-Port), where rows upon rows upon rows of fishing boats and yachts float against a lively backdrop of waterfront cafés and seafood markets.

One of Marseille’s biggest attractions is the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, a hilltop basilica with a stunning view over the city and sea.

The Chateau d’If, an island fortress turned prison just off the coast is also quite famous in Marseille, as it is the location of the fictional novel, “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

Marseille is a city that can be a bit polarizing – people tend to either really like or dislike it, and there are definitely some parts of it that are “gritty” instead of idyllic.
I’ve visited Marseille a few times, and while its certainly not my favorite French city, it undeniably has a lot of cultural and historical importance and many interesting things to see and do.
Final Thoughts
Provence is one of the most scenic regions of France. The charming villages and idylic countryside pair with the grand monuments and rich history to create something unique. You won’t regret exploring these unbelievably beautiful places in Provence!
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