Provence is a picturesque region in the Southeastern part of France. It is known for its diverse landscape, lavender fields, charming towns, and vineyards. If you are planning a trip to the area, I recommend spending at least 3 days in Provence. Since you are in the countryside, all the towns are spread apart, so the easiest way to get around is by car.
For our trip to France, Provence was just one of the many places on our itinerary. Although I had wanted to spend more time there, we only had three days to explore the area. It was still plenty of time to see the beautiful region.
Top Provence Tours
If you would like to experience Provence as part of a tour group, there are some amazing ones out there. Here are some of the top tour experiences for you to try during your trip. Since Avignon is centrally located in Provence, the majority of tours will pick you up from there.
- Highlights of Provence Tour:This full-day tour takes you to some of the top spots in Provence. You will get to visit the Pont du Guard, Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque, Fontaine de Vaucluse. Next, you will go to the beautiful villages of Gordes, Roussillon, and Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Your last stop will be the stone fortress of Les Baux de Provence. This tour is a great option if you do not have a lot of time in Provence, or want the convenience of a tour. This is also a great idea if you do not have a car! Get Your Guide offers a very similar tour as well.
- Luberon: Roussillon & Gordes: This half-day tour will pick you up and drop you back off in Avignon. You will start at the 12th century Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. The tour includes admission into the abbey and time to see their beautiful lavender fields. From there, you will visit the village of Gordes, followed by a trip to Roussillon.
- Nimes, Uzès, and Pont du Guard: This half-day tour takes you to some of the best Roman ruins and architecture in Provence. You will start with the magnificent Pont du Guard aqueduct. From there, you will see La Maison Carree, the famous Jardins de la Fontaine, the Roman amphitheater in Nimes, and finally, walk through the ancient city of Uzes.
- Half-Day Vineyard Tour: Visit three of Provence’s vineyards for wine tastings. You will learn about the winemaking process and the Côtes du Rhône wine region while drinking some fabulous wine and seeing some of the local villages.
Day 1: L'isle sur la Sorgue and Avignon
We had started our trip in Nice before going to Provence. We rented a car in Nice and took the 2.5 hour drive to Provence. When renting a car, make sure to ask for automatic.
Most of the cars are manual in Europe. The drive to Provence was absolutely beautiful!
We stopped a few times to take pictures of the countryside. Since we could not check into our hotel in Avignon until later in the day, we drove to L’isle sur la Sorgue first.
L’isle sur la Sorgue
This cute little town is mostly known for its antiques but is also extremely charming with lots to do. L’isle sur la Sorgue is full of canals and winding streets to explore. This little village is also known for its art galleries and churches. L’isle sur la Sorgue is also home to some of the best antique dealers in Provence.
Le Village des Antiquaires de la Gare is one of the most well-known stores, and well worth a visit. The best time to go is on Sunday morning when they have their markets. Each week, over 300 stalls are set up throughout the town selling everything you could think of.
Since our first day in Provence was on a Sunday, that was our first stop. The market opens up at 9 am and is over around noon. We could have spent all day there wandering around the different stalls.
City of Avignon
One of the best towns to stay in is Avignon since it is centrally located. This beautiful medieval city is also full of attractions and named a UNESCO world heritage site.
We stayed at the quaint hotel Hôtel de l’Atelier, just on the outskirts of the Avignon. It had the coziest rooms and lots of places to hang out and relax around the property.
The staff was also extremely friendly, and happy to offer suggestions on the best places to eat and see in Avignon. The hotel is only a short walk to the fortified town. After checking into our room, we spent the rest of the day exploring Avignon.
Pont D’Avignon
This medieval bridge spans the Rhône River. It was built back in the 12th century and once connected the two banks of the Rhône. It measured an impressive 920 meters in length and had 22 arches.
Now, only part of the bridge remains. The Pont d’Avignon was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1995. You can admire the bridge from afar, or buy a €5 ticket for a closer look.
If you are already planning to visit the Palais des Papes, a €14.50 will get you access to both the palace and the bridge.
Palais Des Papas
The gothic palace is one of many influential Christian churches in the 14th century. It was built under Pope Benedict XII and finished under Pope Clement VI. Over 160, 000 square feet, the Palais des Papes is the largest in Europe.
Visitors can enjoy over 20 rooms which include the Grande Hall, Clementine Chapel, and the pope’s private apartments. During your visit, climb up to the rooftop terrace for some of the next views of Avignon. Throughout the year, the palace also hosts art exhibits and theater performances.
Tickets for the palace are only €12, but for €14.50 you can get access to both the palace and Pont d’Avignon. The Palace also offers some great guided tours!
TRAVEL TIP: Most hotels and B&Bs offer parking for their guests. If you are not staying in Avignon but need a place to park your car, head to the large parking area next to the Palais des Papes.
Day 2: Wine Tasting
Wine Tasting in Bonnieux
Provence is full of vineyards. We decided to stop at the Château la Canorgue Winery. This vineyard is in the little town of Bonnieux, between Avignon and Aix en Provence.
The movie A Good Year is one of my favorite romantic movies. It also happens to be filmed at the Château la Canorgue. The vineyard has been run by the same family for over 200 years.
It produces some of the best wines in the region. For a tasting at their wine shop, stop by anytime between 9 am- 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm Monday through Saturday.
Next, we stopped off at the Domaine de Fontenille. This luxurious hotel is also a vineyard. Both the hotel and its vineyard have been around since the 17th century.
The vineyard offers tours of their cellars and vines that also include a tasting. You can also stop by their wine shop for a tasting.
The shop is open from 10 am -1 pm and 2 pm – 6 pm every day. Their hours differ slightly depending on the season, so make sure to double-check before your visit.
Aix-en-Provence
Another popular city in Provence in Aix en Provence. It is within an hour’s drive of Avignon and full of things to see and to. The town has over 1,000 fountains, thermal hot springs, markets, shops, and wonderful restaurants.
This city is one of the more expensive ones to visit, however. If you decide to stop for a bite, be prepared to pay a little more for your meal.
Pont du Gard
This large aqueduct was built in the 1st century AD by the Romans. It is one of many UNESCO world heritage sites in Provence. Many people like to pack lunch and swim in the water under the Pont Du Gard.
It is really pretty to visit at sunset as well! Entrance tickets are only €8.50 per adult and there is a place to park your car. We decided to go later in the day for a more romantic view.
We stopped at the Halles Market in Avignon and got some cheese, meats, fruit, and of course, wine to bring with us! Picnicking on the edge of the water, watching the sunset was the most amazing end to our day.
Day 3: Gordes and Luberon
Lavender Fields and Senanque Abbey
One of the popular things to do in Provence is to visit their lavender fields. The best time to visit is in June and July before the lavender gets harvested. The best lavender fields are in the Plateau de Valensole, which is about an hour and a half away from Avignon.
There are plenty of fields located in this area, so most people drive around until they find one they want to stop and see. Valensole is not the only place you can stop to see the lavender fields. Luberon and Sault also have some pretty fields.
Since we were in Avignon for only a few days, we were worried we would not have enough time if we drove to Valensole. We opted to see the lavender fields around the Luberon area.
There are not as many, but they were still very beautiful! One of the best places in Luberon to see lavender is Senanque Abbey.
Senanque Abbey is an old monastery dating back to the 12th century. It opens up to the public at 10 am, so I recommend getting there before that to get the best pictures.
If you have time, you can go into the abbey shop and purchase some wonderful lavender products. If you would like to learn more about the abbey’s history, they offer hourly guided tours.
Another field we found was right near the Cave de Bonnieux Winery near the village of Bonnieux.
Village of Gordes
This hilltop village is a little less than an hour’s drive from Avignon. During your visit, you have to stop at the viewing point (13 Route de Cavaillon, 84220 Gordes, France) for the most beautiful views of the city.
If you happen to be in Provence on a Tuesday, I highly recommend seeing this farmer’s market. It is full of wonderful stalls selling clothes, food, fabrics, and lavender.
Gordes is a magical little town, and perfect for getting lost in. We spent the majority of the trip wandering around the winding paths through the city and exploring all the little shops and market stalls.
Another great place to visit is the 10th-century castle and its museum. If you have time, I highly recommend seeing the ancient cellars under the Saint Firmin Palace. For information on the history of this labyrinth of cellars and opening times, visit their website.
ConClusion
Provence is a delightful part of France full of charming towns, colorful lavender fields, and picturesque vineyards. Need some other ideas about how to spend your time in the south of France? Check out some other related posts.
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Travel Planning Resources
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Booking.com is one of the best sites to book hotels and vacation rentals. They offer some of the cheapest rates and different payment options.
SCHEDULE YOUR TOURS
Get Your Guide is one of the top sites for tours, excursions, and activities. Viator is another terrific website for all types of experiences.
GET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
World Nomads is one of the top travel insurance companies. It will cover you if you must cancel your trip or if something unexpected happens.
Check out the resource page for additional travel planning resources.
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