Photo by James Orr
Can you smell some lavender? See endless rolling fields of purple? Sunflowers smiling brightly at you?
We're back with another dollop of travel and this time I'm all French and this is my Guide to Provence.Think pretty, luxurious scents, beautiful sunsets, Rosé wine, medieval villages, cheese platters and the Côte d’Azur!
I spent a fourth night here a couple years ago. I’ve adventured around Europe quite a bit but honestly, I could move! I’ve literally never seen anything more beautiful than those deliciously smelling fields of lavender. The villages look like you’ve walked into beauty and the beast and the food is just soo moorish! A small part of the Provence-Alpes-Cote de Azur region, this place has the prettiest blue skies dotted with candy like clouds. We spent a week driving around sun drenched villages, flower fields and gorging on Lavender ice cream(yes that is a thing- a very glorious thing), drinking glasses (and more glasses) of the cote de Provence rose. Lunches in the farmers markets was divine with marinated olives, sourdough from boulangeries nearby and tomatoes…. Ohhh these tomatoes!
We based ourselves in Aix which was perfect for us wanting to juggle between the luberon and valensole (for more lavender obvs)
Gordes
One of the most gorgeous villages in Provence, this is built at the foothills of Monts of Vaucluse. It’s famous for the Abbey of Senanque (which funny story, I manifested seeing!) It’s got art galleries, cafés and cobble stoned paths that meander around to stunning views! We picked up some bread from a local boulangerie and some truffle cheese and make a picnic here.
Roussillon
This town is straight out of a fairy tale. Think red cliffs, ochre quarries and paint made out of these pigments. Roussillion is an artist's paradise. It’s part of the Luberon valley and is dotted with ceramic artists stores and gorgeous cafés. The ochre trail is a gorgeous 1 hr long trail that takes you around the quarries and cliffs.
To eat- Le Grappe de Raisin. It’s a great French/european lunch and dinner. The terrace overlooks the town and is just gorgeous!
Visit- La Place de La Marie - it’s the towns square which is a great stop for some souvenir shopping.
St Remy
The Village that’s famous for Van Gogh. He lived in a Monastery here that’s lined by a lavender field. He painted The Starry Night from his window. It’s another artists village that’s backed by the Alpilles Mountain range. It’s an idyllic village that’s filled with art galleries, antique stores and gorgeous store and restraint facades. Ivy trailing on walls , each corner is so sooo picturesque. Every Wednesday the local farmers market presents an array of local cheeses, vegetables, Boulangeries, spices, olives et al. Saint Paul de Mausole, this is where Van Gogh spent his years and painted. There’s a trail that leads up to the monastery.
Valensole
This is the plateau that’s famous, very famous for those rolling lavender fields. It’s straight out of Pinterest and all you need to do is drive around till you find a field you like and its lavender galore! It’s about an hrs drive from Aix and beautiful during sunrise as well as sunset! Twirling around these fields in a white dress(yess i indulged) and i was dreaming lavender dreams!
Grasse
This is close to Nice and is the perfume capital of Europe. The whole town literally smells sooo enchanting. The cobbled lanes are lined with perfumeries and they’re the perfect sensory feast! The first ever perfumers - Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard started here and it is the Mecca for all things scent. They offer guided tours and even have “make your own perfume “ workshops. Safe to say, I’ve got quite a few tantalising scents from here that i enjoy very much.
Even Christian Dior has his flower fields here and grows the roses that makes the gorgeous lady Dior perfume!
Eze
A tiny town that’s oooh so gothic lies high above at the edge of the Riviera. around 45 mins from Nice this place is gothic glory! Think stone buildings, cactus gardens and tiny gorgeous corners through stony archways. It’s a photographer's dream!
The Jardin exotique is a gorgeous lil garden right at the top that boasts views of the Mediterranean ocean. It’s a steep walk but the views are worth it. The town also has a 12th century castle and many gorgeous restaurants to eat at! My favourite being the Les Remparts
Cassis
Cassis is another gem on the Cote d'Azur! It’s famous for 2 things: wine and Les Calanques.
The Calanques are breathtaking rock formations that people hike. These are by the ocean and are just breathtaking! Our day was spent on a boat looking at this gorgeous marvel and then of course swimming in the ocean. Post a beautiful lunch of warm pasta we headed up to the vineyards that are old and very traditional. These are right on top of the Calanques that kiss the ocean. They’re famous for their dry, fresh and aromatic white wines as well as fruity rosés. A wine tasting was the perfect way to end the day before we headed off to aix.
Of course there’s Nice and Cannes and soo much ore but to me, this makes up all my favourites of Provence! It’s the charm of tiny villages, of the cheese platters and the smiling Boulanger at the farmers markets. The rolling flower fields and cones of lavender ice cream that signifies Provence to me
