Looking for the finest locations to go to in the South of France? You’ve come to the proper place. It had been fairly a while since we’d traveled the South of France, however this summer season we had the success of spending almost a month revisiting this lovely area. While taking a Canal du Midi cruise on our luxurious houseboat with Le Boat, we had the probability to discover some of the lesser-known locations in Southern France.
During this journey down the historic waterway, we have been reminded of all the lovely locations in the South of France that we’ve taken over the years. France actually has all of it. So, if you’re trying to department out from the atypical, take a look at the finest locations to go to in the South of France to create a vacation that can ignite all the senses.
Top Places to go to in the South of France
Historic cities, the French Riviera, and delightful seashores; the South of France oozes with vitality and pleasure. But what are the finest locations to go to in the South of France? Are you in search of a metropolis stuffed with elegant structure and cultural points of interest? Or maybe one of the lovely medieval villages, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by olive groves? Be it sandy seashores, artwork galleries, or conventional French delicacies, Southern France is a timeless vacation vacation spot, and it’s straightforward to see why.
This information will cowl all the pieces from the beautiful pure points of interest in the South of France to nationwide parks and the finest cities. Are you prepared to get began? Let’s have a look.
Best cities and cities to go to in the South of France
When in search of the finest locations to go to in the South of France, an amazing place to begin is with the area’s city areas. South France has some unimaginable cities and cities. Let’s dive straight in.
1. Toulouse
Toulouse was an surprising metropolis in the South of France, situated inland alongside the Spanish border. The metropolis has the nickname ‘La Ville Rose’, that means the pink metropolis due to the pink bricks used to construct most of its buildings. Toulouse is France’s fourth largest metropolis after Paris, Marseilles, and Lyon and but it’s straightforward to discover on foot. When visiting Toulouse, you’ll really feel as if you’re visiting the genuine France with locals eating in outside cafes and college students stress-free by the river’s edge. It is what we think about Paris was like 50 years in the past.
A bustling college metropolis, Toulouse could also be small, however it’s stuffed with vitality. There are a lot of points of interest to see in Toulouse like the primary sq. of La Capitole, Basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, and the Musee Aeroscopia. Toulouse is the heart of the aeronautics and house business in France and this museum showcases its historical past and improvement.
If you go, make sure that to choose up a Toulouse Pass to actually discover the metropolis. The Toulouse Pass affords 1, 2, or 3-day passes that embody public transport and free entrance into most of the metropolis’s hottest vacationer points of interest.
There is an outdated city to wander, a lot of museums, and a reasonably cutting-edge trend scene. It can also be the start line of the Canal du Midi which winds its method down 240 km to the French Riviera. Toulouse is a improbable place to go to in South France, and will certainly maintain you entertained. Read extra: Best Things to do in Toulouse France
2. Marseille
Marseille is the oldest metropolis in Southern France. In truth, it’s the oldest metropolis in all of France and it’s second in dimension solely to Paris. Located on the Gulf de Lyon, which is an element of the Mediterranean Sea, Marseille is the good mix of African and French tradition. A buying and selling hotspot and port hub since 600 BC, Marseille is one of the finest locations to go to in the South of France if you would like a style of historical past and historical tradition.
The most necessary half of Marseille is its Vieux Port. It is right here that fisherman as soon as bought their catch, and a whole bunch of years later, many nonetheless do. You also needs to go to the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, the Musee des Beaux-Arts, and Palais Longchamp.
We counsel spending a minimal of three days in Marseille so that you just expertise the seafood scene, and its finest points of interest together with a day journey out to Chateau d’If made well-known by Alexander Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo written by Alexander Dumas.
When visiting Marseille, we recommend getting a Marseille City Pass – The metropolis move is legitimate for 1-3 days and allows you to hop on hop off to see all the prime vacationer points of interest. With limitless entry to public transportation plus a tour on the Tourist practice to Notre-Dame de la Garde or by means of the Old Marseille. You’ll have entry to MUCEM, and Regards de Provence Museum, plus crossing Frioul Island, or If Island with entrance to Chateau D’If. There are a lot of reductions, entry to municipal museums, and a guided metropolis tour. See particulars right here.
3. Cannes
Who hasn’t heard of Cannes? If you’re visiting Southern France and craving a metropolis expertise, it’s essential to go to Cannes. The metropolis is maybe the most well-known spot on the French Riviera thanks to the glitz and glamour it exudes on an annual foundation. It is beloved by celebrities, and adored for its annual movie competition, The Cannes International Film Festival. It has many beloved seashores and cultural points of interest as effectively.
Much of Cannes and its points of interest may be skilled by strolling (or driving) alongside the Boulevard de la Croisette. The boulevard spans the Cannes shoreline, with beautiful views over the Bay of Cannes on the Mediterranean Sea. The Boulevard de la Croisette is lined by luxurious lodges, boutiques, and eating places and caters completely to an upscale crowd.
Cannes is finest for individuals who need luxurious, resort-style ambiance. When we visited Cannes, we couldn’t afford the luxurious lodges and as an alternative stayed at a campsite simply out of city. But we nonetheless had the probability to brush shoulders with the wealthy and well-known as we visited the seashores to work on our tans and luxuriate in a style of that five-star hospitality.
4. Nice
Nice is the greatest metropolis on the French Riviera which makes it one of the prime locations to go to in the South of France. It has the most city really feel out of all the locations on our checklist and is right if you would like to really feel in the center of all the motion. A good selection for a resort is Hotel Nice Riviera. This 4-star resort is one block from the seaside with cheap costs.
Like Cannes, Nice has a scenic stretch of highway alongside its shoreline. Promenade des Anglais stretches 7 km and is the place you’ll discover the majority of points of interest and the finest ocean views. It is on the Promenade des Anglais that you just’ll discover the Nice Carnival, which takes place each February or March. You ought to stroll the promenade, Old Town, and make time to go to the Castle Hill of Nice – an outdated medieval fortress overlooking the metropolis.
Interestingly, Nice can also be surrounded by a quantity of lovely cities and villages – many of which date again to the Middle Ages. You can spend days stress-free in the metropolis and on its lovely seashores, taking the odd day journey to a medieval city for the finest of each worlds. Read extra: 24 Hours in Nice – Sometimes You Only have a Day to See it All
5. Aix en Provence
The area of Provence is one of the most magical areas in France, and Aix en Provence is all the pieces you’d anticipate of a metropolis in southern France. It has class, class, and historical past by the bucket hundreds. The former capital of Provence is ideal for vacationers who worth tradition when selecting a vacation vacation spot. Aix en Provence has a quantity of nicknames, together with “The city of a Thousand Fountains” and “The City of Counts”. It is full of issues to do and see, and it has a noble ambiance to match.
Aix en Provence is an artsy college city simply 20 minutes north of Marseille. It was additionally the birthplace and residential of the nice painter Paul Cezanne. The metropolis is proud of this historic truth and traces of Cezanne may be discovered in every single place in the metropolis. The Cezanne stroll is your finest method to see all the pieces Cezanne. This is a enjoyable and fascinating self-guided tour that Dave and I did on a sunny afternoon throughout our go to. Our strolling tour took us round the Old Town, visiting Cezanne’s Studio, and Camp De Milles.
Some of the finest issues to do in Aix en Provence is to discover its artwork galleries, museums, and different historic points of interest. Expect a energetic nightlife scene and many of short-term exhibitions and occasions.
6. Saint Tropez
Yearning to be steps away from the ocean? Saint Tropez is the excellent candidate. Saint Tropez is ideal if you would like glamour and sweetness, but a quieter really feel than huge cities like Nice. The small city sits on the French Riviera and was as soon as a little bit fishing village.
The fishing village shot to recognition after getting used as a filming location for And God Created Woman starring Brigitte Bardot in 1955. Since the Nineteen Sixties vacationers have been flocking to one of the hottest locations to go to in the South of France, however Saint Tropez has nonetheless retained some of its most charming village qualities. You can nonetheless spot some little fishing boats in the Old Port, and La Ponche Quarter remains to be full of slim streets with cobblestones.
The finest seashores in Saint Tropez are Plage de Pampelonne, Plage St. Tropez and Bouillabaisse Beach. However, when you’ve spent a day on the seaside make sure that to expertise the city’s hospitality scene, and don’t miss trying out the central sq. at the market at Place des Lices. It has a status for scrumptious meals and improbable regionally owned eating places; positively attempt the contemporary seafood and regionally grown olives.
7. Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval villages on the French Riviera. Picture a walled city with cobblestone streets and historic, overhanging buildings. Everything is constructed from conventional stone and Saint Paul de Vence is the kind of place the place each inch of rock feels prefer it has a narrative to inform.
The city sits on a hill overlooking the French Riviera. It is comparatively straightforward to go to as a in the present day journey from Nice however, if you happen to can, it’s best to attempt to keep in the city itself. Saint Paul de Vence looks like someplace out of a fairy story. Just strolling by means of its cobbled streets and Old Town (keep in mind a digicam) is sufficient to maintain you entertained for a full day.
It was as soon as the house of well-known painter Marc Chagall and once you go to one of its prime points of interest, the Cimetière de Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you will notice his grave.
You also needs to dine at La Colombe d’Or, the place the Roux household as soon as let artists corresponding to Picasso, Braque, Calder, and Matisse dine in trade for now well-known work. Eating scrumptious meals is even higher when you find yourself surrounded by works of artwork when you eat.
8. Les Baux de Provence
Okay, we could also be concentrating on cities and cities however the village of Les Baux de Provence was too lovely not to embody. This hilltop village remains to be protected by medieval partitions and makes a beautiful, memorable getaway. In truth, it’s so lovely that the metropolis is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The prime points of interest in the village are, The ruins of Castillo de Los Baux, a Twelfth-century fort, and Carrieres de Lumieres. Carrieres de Lumieres (the quarry of lights) is a singular attraction with paintings projected onto the disused quarry’s limestone partitions. Art fans will love the novelty of a digital exhibition, and the paintings displayed modifications ceaselessly which retains the quarry thrilling to go to.
Sure, Les Baux de Provence is quiet and distanced from the Mediterranean Sea, nonetheless, the village has a movie set really feel and is bursting with historical past and attraction. If you need a quaint, lesser skilled impression of Southern France, Les Baux de Provence is a improbable place to go to. You may additionally like Enchanting Medieval Villages in France – The French Riviera
9. Saint Rémy de Provence
Saint Remy de Provence is one other attractive, rural city situated on the outskirts of the Alpilles Natural Regional Park. Not solely does Saint Remy de Provence have lovely structure and quiet city surroundings, however its pure magnificence was additionally the muse of a highly regarded artist.
Vincent Van Gogh lived in Saint Remy for a yr, the place he checked himself right into a psychological hospital and commenced one of his most prolific working intervals. It was in Saint Remy that he painted The Starry Night. Whether you’re a Van Gogh fan, artwork fanatic, or simply intrigued, Saint Remy is a superb place to study extra about artwork historical past.
Musee Estrine Presence Van Gogh is the finest attraction for studying extra about the artist. Glanum is the finest attraction for historical past and is an outdated Roman city and in depth archeological web site. You may also go to the Monastery Saint Paul de Mausole – the psychiatric asylum the place Van Gogh was admitted. Saint Remy de Provence has tons to maintain you entertained.
10. Vers Pont Du Gard
Vers Pont Du Gard is one other small city and, like Saint Remy, has tons of surrounding Roman heritage. The most well-known Roman attraction is the Pont du Gard bridge and aqueduct, which have been protected and maintained to nonetheless stand in the present day. I keep in mind taking our highway journey in the South of France and making a detour for the sole function of seeing this bridge. Vers Pont Du Gard is full of spectacular structure, and if you happen to like visiting locations with character, you’ll definitely be in for a deal with.
Once you’ve visited the city’s bridge, the Pont du Gard Museum and Chapel Notre Dame de Laval are the finest points of interest to get pleasure from. You may also swim and fish in the River Gardon. Despite being inland, being situated subsequent to a river makes Vers Pont Du Gard an fulfilling vacation spot even in the peak of summer season. You aren’t sacrificing a lot by skipping seaside days for river days, and taking a dip is refreshing on a scorching day.
11. Arles
Arles is our closing advice and simply one of the finest locations to go to in the South of France. In the historical Roman interval, Arles was as soon as a provincial capital. Today, many of the structure and historic websites stay – together with Arles Amphitheater.
We advocate catching a efficiency at the Arles Amphitheater, taking a Van Gogh strolling tour to see the areas which impressed well-known works, and visiting the cloisters at St. Trophime. Arles has tons of non secular and creative historical past, so permit tons of time for sightseeing.
The metropolis itself sits on the banks of the Rhone River. It is flanked by the Camargue Nature Reserve and, whereas situated inland, is lower than an hour’s drive from some of the finest seashores on the Riviera. If you’re looking to rent a automotive and discover tons of France, Arles is a superb base.
Best pure locations to go to in the South of France
Now that we’ve coated the finest cities and cities let’s have a look at the finest pure locations to go to in the South of France.
Southern France is full of superb pure locations to go to, whether or not you need to use them as a day journey or simply organize to keep close by. You finest have a Google Maps account since you’ll want offline maps to head to these spots. These locations are the creme de la creme.
12. Verdon Natural Regional Park
Verdon Natural Regional Park is one of the finest locations to discover pure points of interest, not simply mountain climbing trails and delightful views. Located in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the 180,000-hectare park is most identified for the Gorges du Verdon and Lake Croix.
The Gorges du Verdon is a 25 km (15.5 miles) lengthy river canyon with a superb milky blue river. Expect white water rapids and steep cliffs reaching up to 700 meters (0.4 mi) on both aspect of the river. This pure marvel is the deepest gorge in France. You can hike to quite a few viewpoints, and even ebook a rafting expertise for a bit of additional exhilaration. The Gorges du Verdon is a giant deal and is named France’s reply to the Grand Canyon.
After exiting the Verdon Gorge, the river runs straight out into the Lake of Sainte-Croix. There are three villages alongside its shores and you may take your choose to seize a chew to eat and go for a swim.
13. Calanques National Park
Calanques National Park covers each ocean and land, and the 128,000-acre reserve is located on the shoreline an hour’s drive from Marseilles en route to Cassis. If your thought of heaven is coastal hikes with hidden coves and dramatic cliff faces, then Calanques is an ideal spot. It is the solely nationwide park in Europe that’s situated close to city areas and is each on land and sea.
The phrase ‘Calanques’ describes a dolomite or limestone inlet – mainly dramatic pale gray or white sea cliffs. The park is full of these lovely areas and it’s best to positively make investments in a superb high quality digicam so that you’ve got footage to cherish after your vacation.
Keep your eyes peeled whereas mountain climbing as effectively, as the marine reserves are standard spots for pods of dolphins. The park has over 140 species of protected animals and crops, which is a nature lover’s dream.
14. Natural Reserve of the Courant d’Huchet
Compared to the different spots on this checklist, the Natural Reserve of the Courant d’Huchet is tiny. However, it has some of the most putting landscapes and is definitely one of the finest pure locations to go to in the South of France. It is situated an hour’s drive north of Biarritz and makes for a improbable day journey.
The reserve is primarily marshland however has a seaside in the midst of the park. The seaside comprises excessive hills of sand dunes that fantastically distinction the surrounded marshes and forest. Visitors can head to the seaside to swim and climb the sand dunes.
You may also hike the community of trails, recognizing native animals and flora as you stroll. If you need one thing actually totally different although, we advocate a ship tour. You can rent a ship to discover independently or take a tour for a extra informative expertise – whichever takes your fancy.
15. Baronnies Provencales Regional Natural Park
Have you ever seen these artsy lavender discipline pictures plastered throughout Instagram? Well, Baronnies Provencales Regional Natural Park is the place you possibly can take your very personal. Apart from its distant villages and low-lying mountains, Baronnies Provencales is full of lavender fields. If you go to the South of France between June and September, it’s best to positively make your method to the park to see them.
Baronnies Provencales Regional Natural Park is about an hour and a half drive from Avignon. You may go to on a day journey or discover lodging in one of the park’s villages. Apart from the lavender fields, you’ll discover hundreds of mountain climbing trails and different outside actions.
16. Regional Park of Camargue
Camargue Park is known for a lot of issues, together with the as soon as wild herds of Camargue horses. The Camargue horses are extremely prized in France and are thought of to be one of the most historical horse breeds in the world. While breeding is strictly regulated now, you would possibly nonetheless be fortunate sufficient to spot a semi-feral herd.
Apart from the horses, Camargue Natural Regional Park options wetlands, tough grazing areas, and a marine reserve. It can also be situated alongside the shoreline, simply exterior of Marseilles and close to the metropolis of Arles.
The finest issues to do in Camargue are animal associated. You can spot flamingoes at Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau and go to a ranch to take a horseback journey out to spot the semi-feral horses from afar.
17. Alpilles Regional Nature Park
Fancy getting energetic? Alpilles Regional Nature Park has the most to supply in phrases of biking, mountain climbing, and horseback using trails with a lot of equestrian facilities. With all its limestone rock formations and cliffs, there’s a lot of climbing alternatives as effectively.
Alpilles has an amazing combine of actions. Whether you need historical past, tradition, a health problem, or a brand new profile image, Alpilles has sufficient variety to match your wants. It is a walkers paradise with mountain climbing trails by means of pine forests, olive groves, and vineyards.
You may also simply go to the fort, and quarry artwork show in close by Les Baux de Provence which we already talked about above.
18. Sainte Baume Natural Regional Park
Sainte Baume Natural Regional Park is the place the alpine meets the Mediterranean. The park is full of dramatic limestone mountains, ridges, and pine tree forests.
Climbers will love Saint Baume, which is centered round an extended mountain ridge. There’s an amazing vary of climbing routes to discover, ranging in problem and magnificence. Sainte Baume additionally holds tons of non secular significance. Visitors will discover a grotto the place Mary Magdalene allegedly lived. The web site is standard amongst pilgrims and may be reached by way of a reasonably forest path in round forty minutes.
19. Pyrenees National Park
Pyrenees National Park is one of the finest locations to go to in the South of France. The park sits on the French-Spanish border and we have been shocked to discover them in South France. We had identified the Pyrenees from our time in Spain, however we at all times thought of them as additional north. We have been shocked to see the mountains whereas cruising in 40-degree warmth to Carcassonne.
From alpine meadows and high-altitude lakes to towering, craggy mountains, the park is beautiful. If you need an thrilling, lovely place to go to in Southern France, Pyrenees National Park is bucket checklist worthy.
Cirque de Gavarnie is one of the most well-known points of interest in the Pyrenees of France. A cirque is a big cliff face that curves in form like an enormous, pure amphitheater. Cirque de Gavarnie is finest identified for its many waterfalls, which cascade down the cliff partitions.
Apart from the Cirque de Gavarnie, the park is full of mountain climbing trails, countless outside actions, and climbing alternatives. If you like mountaineering in specific, you’ll find it irresistible right here.
20. Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park
Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park is a nature reserve in the beginning, which we love. The park caters to tourism however in environmentally pleasant methods, and there are points of interest like an eco-museum and chook sanctuary to go to.
The park sits in southwest France, together with some coastal areas and a few inland. Visitors can kayak down rivers, swim in pure lakes, or hike the quite a few trails. Landes de Gascogne is a serene, lovely park that’s bursting with nature. Visitors can cherish being surrounded by a whole bunch of totally different species of natural world.
21. Narbonnaise en Mediterranee Natural Regional Park
Narbonnaise en Mediterranee is a various area. You’ll discover seashores, cliffs, forests, and even vineyards. The vineyards are notably standard, and a few folks refer to the park as the land of wine.
You can go wine tasting, take a hike, or go for a tenting getaway. Narbonnaise en Mediterranee is about an hour and a half’s drive from Montpellier and Toulouse. It sits on the Mediterranean shoreline and is ideally mixed with a seaside vacation. If you need someplace to wine style and discover, it’s a small, lovely, and simple pure place to go to in Southern France.
22. Mercantour National Park
A surprising 167,297-acre park, Mercantour is a mix of alpine lakes, irregular mountain ranges, and plenty of scenic mountain climbing trails. Even higher? It is simply an hour’s drive away from Nice.
The park is various and comparatively unvisited in contrast to France’s different nationwide parks. For people who make the journey although, there are countless rewards. You’ll uncover tiny villages and mountain communities the place many individuals nonetheless reside off of the land. You can pattern decadent cheeses and opulent honey and perhaps even carry some house as a memento.
After appreciating the cultural aspect of Mercantour, you possibly can dive straight into its outside actions. Hike, bike, climb, swim, and journey till your coronary heart is content material.
It’s no secret that the South of France is mesmerizing. This is simply the tip of the iceberg of locations to go to in the South of France.
We hope that this helped offer you a way of what you possibly can see and do from strolling cobblestone streets in medieval cities or lazing on sandy seashores on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. All of these locations to go to in the South of France are value visiting. Glamorous, historic, and naturally lovely, the South of France is bound to assure recollections for a lifetime.