Introduction
The fabled lavender fields of Provence and the ritzy resorts of the French Riviera captivate the imagination like no other region in France. Van Gogh, Picasso, Renoir and countless other artists have been drawn to its unique light and the sheer beauty of its countryside.
But Provence is far more than expanses of purple lavender and yellow sunflower. In the east, the Gorges du Verdon are Europe's largest canyon, some immensive limestone cliffs, reaching up to 700 m in height, and interspersed by turquoise lakes. Further up in the Alps are the breathtakingly beautiful Mercantour and Écrins national parks, home to some of the richest fauna and flora in Europe. In the southwest, the Rhône delta forms a vast ecosystem of marshes and lagoons, the Camargue, home to Europe's largest colony of flamingoes, as well as wild white horses and herds of black bulls used for bullfighting in nearby Arles and Nîmes.
The modern region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (or PACA for short) was created from the old provinces of Provence, Dauphiné, Comtat Venaissin, and the County of Nice (which was only annexed to France in 1860). It is the third most populous and third richest French region after Île-de-France and Rhône-Alpes.
The region is traditionally Occitan-speaking, the main dialects being Provençal in the south and Vivaro-Alpine in the north. Nowadays there are only about 350,000 native speakers of Provençal, and Vivaro-Alpine is endangered, but the colourful Provençal accent of French-speaking locals remains strong and unmistakable.
Famous people from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur include (chronologically): the prophet Nostradamus, the Nobel Prize writer Frédéric Mistral, the painter Paul Cézanne, the novelist Marcel Pagnol, the actor Fernandel, and the singer Mireille Mathieu.
Cuisine
The region has a very diverse gastronomy, and specialities vary a lot between traditional provinces. Dishes like ratatouille, bouillabaisse, soupe au pistou (presto soup) and pissaladière (a sort of pizza) are found in most of the PACA. Among famous sauces, we find tapenade, aïoli, and rouille.
- In the Alps, you will find gratin dauphinois, tourtons (ravioli), and pieds paquets (mutton offals stewed in white wine and tomato sauce).
- Around Avignon, daube avignonnaise (lamb stew with white wine), daube comtadine (same with olives), crespeou (pie of omelette, vegetables and herbs), bohémienne (ratatouille of aubergines and tomatoes in olive oil), papeton d'aubergine (a sort of caviar d'aubergines), and alose à l'étouffée (Avignon-style shad). The area is also renowned for its melon of Cavaillon, one of Europe's most famous canteloupes, originally imported by the Popes of Avignon from Italy in the 14th century.
- In Provence itself, anchoïade ('southern French fondue' with anchovy, capers and olive oil), moules à la provençale, daube provençale (beef and vegetable stew braised in wine), gibassier (a galette made with fruited olive oil), and gardianne de taureau (Camargue bull meat cooked in red wine).
- Specialities of Nice include salade niçoise, daube niçoise (same with mushrooms), pan bagnat (Nice-style sandwich), and socca (crêpe of chickpea flour originally from Genoa).
Attractions
Département du Vaucluse
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Avignon ※ |
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 Enclosed by 4.5 km long stone ramparts, Avignon is the famed 'City of the Popes', seat of popes and antipopes from 1309 to 1423. The historic centre and the Gothic Palais des Papes are World... Read more |
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Gordes |
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 Gordes |
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Lacoste |
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Lacoste |
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Orange ※ |
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Named after the Celtic god Arausio, Orange was the site of the worst Roman defeat in Gaul in 105 BCE. The city was founded by the Romans in 35 BCE, and from this period survive the Theatre... Read more |
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Rustrel |
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 Rustrel |
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Vaison-la-Romaine |
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 Vaison-la-Romaine |
Other attractions
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Luberon Massif
Cucuron
Gordes
Lacoste
Lourmarin
Oppède
Pertuis
Roussillon
Rustrel
Saignon
Vitrolles-en-Luberon
Mount Ventoux
Département des Bouches-du-Rhône
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Aix-en-Provence |
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Aix-en-Provence |
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Arles ※ |
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Gateway to the Camargue, major city of the Roman Empire, and famous work place of Vincent van Gogh, Arles is a delightful Provençal town with a chic, laid-back atmosphere and something to offer to almost everyone... Read more |
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Les Baux-de-Provence |
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Overlooking the spectacular Alpilles plateau, the ruined stone village of Les Baux, perched on a craggy hill, is nearly indistinguishable from the cream-coloured rocks of the landscape. It is one of France's most visited villages... Read more |
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Marseille |
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Founded by Greeks in 600 BCE, Marseille has a strong, independent local culture reflecting its long-acquired cosmopolitanism. During the colonial period, Marseille linked France to the... Read more |
Other attractions
Cassis
Martigues
Montmajour Abbey
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Tarascon
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Cities, towns, villages & historic buildings
- : Local interest
- : Moderately interesting
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Natural attractions
- : Local interest
- : Moderately interesting
- : Highly recommended
- : World-class natural attraction
- ※ : UNESCO World Heritage site
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Enclosed by 4.5 km long stone ramparts, Avignon is the famed 'City of the Popes', seat of popes and antipopes from 1309 to 1423. The historic centre and the Gothic Palais des Papes are World...
Gordes
Rustrel
Vaison-la-Romaine
Vitrolles-en-Luberon
Mount Ventoux
Calanques National Park
