Provence is a very highly sought-after destination in the south east of France, often paired up with its glamorous neighbour the Côte d’Azur, which borders the Mediterranean sea.

Home to some of the most beautiful villages in the country, the stunning Provence region is characterised by picturesque scenery, flavoursome cuisine, and a truly laid-back way of life – best enjoyed with a glass of chilled rosé in hand. Whether you’re looking to relax in unspoilt countryside surroundings or you’re an adventure enthusiast, Provence has something for everyone.

Given the extensive size of the region, below is a list of some of our favourite bases from which to discover the delicious wines of Provence.

Marseille

The Provence region’s capital, Marseille is the second largest city in France. Known as Massalia during the Greek and Roman empires, the city has always been a key hub for trade, and its large port has always played an important role in the wine trade.

The jewels in this vibrant city’s crown include the charming Old Port (Vieux-Port) with its surroundings forts, Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean. Here, you will find a good range of cafés and restaurants as well as a daily fish market. Another sight to behold is the City Hall, which dates back to the 17^th Century. Marseille Cathedral, located on top of a hill is a National Monument and well worth the climb to the top. The remains of the Abbey of Saint Victor are also quite impressive and bear testimony of the city’s colourful history.

Marseille also boasts an extensive range of museums, such as the History Museum, the Cantini Museum and the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations amongst others.

For those who enjoy a spot of shopping, the Centre Bourse and its surrounding streets offer an astonishing range of shops and boutiques.

With a whopping 300 days of sunshine per year, our favourite activities include savouring a delicious bouillabaisse straight from the fresh waters of the port and marvelling at the amazing Calanques on a cruise along the coastline.

Aix-en-Provence

A few kilometres north from Marseille stands Aix-en-Provence, a delightful city founded by the Romans.

The Cours Mirabeau is one of the city’s main streets and is renowned for being a lively, popular place with many bustling cafés, bars and restaurants.  The Café Les Deux Garçons is the most famous Brasserie in the city. In the 18^th Century, it used to be the meeting place of some the greatest French minds such as the painter Paul Cézanne, or the writers Albert Camus and Emile Zola. The Cours Mirabeau is also famous for its lovely fountains, especially La Rotonde.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral is a stunning building with gothic and neo-gothic architecture as well as some Roman elements. It is built on the site of the former Roman forum. The archbishop’s palace and the cloister can be found right next to the Cathedral.

Aix is also renowned for being the city of countless fountains. Why not visit the 17^th Century Fontaine des Quatres Dauphins in the Quartier Mazarin – it’s a nice piece of art and certainly worth a look.

Our favourite things to do in the city include browsing the array of confectionary shops to find the city’s best Calisson (the local speciality- a mixture of almonds and candied melons with orange blossom fragrance), and bartering with the eccentric characters who sell their wares in the daily markets.

Ventoux

The region’s famous 1,912-metre-high Mont Ventoux may be best known by cycling enthusiasts as one of the most gruelling stages of the legendary Tour de France, but year-round, this region has much to offer those who like to keep themselves active.

At its foot, the vineyards of the AOC Ventoux region spread throughout the regional national parks of Ventoux and the Luberon. And there is one more thing Ventoux is particularly famous for: its wind! Its cooler climate contributes to fresh and balanced wines.

Alpilles

Further south from Ventoux sits another breathtaking national park, the Alpilles. Home to a scattering of picture-postcard villages, everywhere you look the Provence you dreamed of is brought to life. Discover bright and colourful Provencal markets, family vineyards and olive oil estates.

Draguignan

According to the legend, the name of the city comes from the Latin word for dragon. It is said that in the first century the bishop of the city killed a dragon and saved the inhabitants of Draguignan.

The Tour de l’Horloge is a stunning tower which measures 18 metres and overlooks the city. This tower is the symbol of Draguignan and is open to visitors from June to the end of September. Another “must see” in the city is the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions.

Pierre de la Fée (the fairy’s stone) is one of the most important dolmen (megalithic tombs) of Provence dating back to 1000-2000 BC. According to the legend, women who could not conceive went to visit the fairy Esterelle who blessed them with fertility.

Bandol and Cassis

The picture-perfect village of Cassis is located east of Marseille on the Mediterranean coastline. Its breathtaking cliffs and beautiful inlets called Calanques make it an extremely popular destination and gives visitors a true taste of the French way of life.

Here, you can expect to find Azur blue seas, quintessentially Mediterranean ports and flotillas of luxurious yachts which flood the docks at midday to enjoy a mouth-watering Provençal lunch in the quaint cafés which line the water’s edge.

Only a few minutes’ drive from Cassis, Bandol AOC wines are most famous for its red wins containing a high proportion of Mourvèdre, as well as some Grenache and Cinsault.

The Camargue

A largely untouched and unspoiled nature haven, the Camargue is vastly different from its glamorous neighbours, Cannes, Saint Tropez and Monaco. Boasting incredible fauna and flora, gorgeous lagoons and astonishing expanses of marshland, the region is particularly sought-after due to its unique inhabitants: flamingos and wild horses.

The Gorges du Verdon

The Verdon Canyon is a stunning site crossed by the river Verdon at the heart of Provence. Considered one of Europe’s most beautiful canyons, it is the ideal place to relax away from the touristic Mediterranean coast and take an invigorating walk or swim into the clear blue lakes. For those who are a bit more adventurous, why not try some kayaking, hiking, rafting, canoeing or paragliding?