The Luberon
Surrounded by lavender fields and beneath some of Europe’s darkest night-time skies, this observatory reveals astronomical wonders using high-powered…
Must-see attractions in Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
This family-run cheese farm near Banon makes superb chèvre de Banon (Banon goat's cheese). It's about 3.5km south of the village along the D51; look out…
Sanctuaire Notre Dame des Fontaines
Parc National du Mercantour
Dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the Southern Alps, this church is famous for its wall-to-wall 15th-century frescoes, created by Piedmontese painters Jean…
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode
Marseille
Over 2000 rare and often-wonderful examples of furniture, tapestry, ceramics and clothing from the 18th century to the present day are displayed across…
Var
Côtes de Provence and La Londe Appellation rosés, reds and whites can be tasted at this winery with a view of the sea. Technically it's in Bormes-les…
Var
Excellent wines are produced using traditional methods, in vineyards originally cultivated by monks in the 12th century. Ring the bell if it seems no one…
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth
Vaucluse
The peaceful 12th-century Romanesque cloister at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth is a five-minute walk west of La Villasse – and a great spot to find…
Var
Scenic, with a cellar located under a former Carthusian monastery, des Bormettes is also ancient, with evidence of wine-production in the area going to…
Vaucluse
Beneath the town's namesake château, these small, magnificent wine caves (cellars)date back 2000 years. The bar carries 80 of the town's 250 labels…
Avignon
Basilique St-Pierre, in the centre of the walled city of Avignon, was built between the 14th and 16th centuries in the Flamboyant Gothic style.
The Luberon
Sample local wines at this superior cellar, 5km from Bonnieux on the D36. Tastings are free.
Marseille
Its subdued façade makes the Fotokino visual art gallery easy to miss, but inside it offers a dazzling world of graphic eye-candy. Expect illustrations,…
Var
Not content with owning just one island (Bendor), in 1958 Paul Ricard also bought the largest of the Embiez archipelago, 1km off the Presqu’île du Cap…
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
The Route du Temps is a signed route that winds through some of the area's most dramatic valleys, historical sites and rock formations; it starts just…
Var
A place of exile during the 17th century, once-desolate pinprick Bendor was subsequently abandoned for 250 years. Then in 1951 along came Paul Ricard, a…
Camargue
Built on the potential first site of Christianity in the Camargue, this fortified church is of uncertain vintage, but probably hails from the 12th century…
Parc National du Mercantour
A rather oddball mix of exhibits are on show at Digne's main museum – from 19th-century Provençal paintings and natural history exhibits to contemporary…
Pays d’Aix
Built in the 10th century to consolidate land 'reconquered' from the Moors, this ruined castle originally bore the name Ventabren – the village growing…
Pays d’Aix
From the turn of the 20th century until the 1950s, soap was a buoyant business in Salon, making fortunes for manufacturers such as Marius Fabre. Run by…
Marseille
One of Provence’s most enduring Christmas traditions is its santons (plaster-moulded, kiln-fired nativity figures), first created by Marseillais artisan…
Pays d’Aix
Michel de Nostredame, popularly known as the prognosticator Nostradamus, lived here from 1547 until his death in 1566. A physician and philosopher, he…
Var
Sitting in a delightful 500-hectare valley planted with ancient vines and olive groves, Château de Miraval was a monastery in the 13th century, then…
Vaucluse
The façade of this eye-catching hôtel particulier dating from 1900 is pure romance. Sitting pretty in pink on the left as you walk from the car park to…
Bouches-du-Rhône
On Marseille's northern outskirts the little port of L'Estaque is renowned as an epicentre of the impressionist, Fauvist and cubist movements. A trail…
The Luberon
This part-ruined, 9th-century château once belonged to the scandalous Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) but was bought in 2001 by the couturier Pierre Cardin…
Var
A eucalypt-shaded pétanque pitch dominates central place d’Armes, which, as its name suggests, was once a parade ground. Music concerts fill Église Ste…
Gorges du Verdon
Moustiers’ decorative faience (glazed earthenware) once graced the dining tables of Europe’s most aristocratic houses. Today each of Moustiers’ 15…
Arles
Just as social, political and religious life revolved around the forum in Roman Arles, so the busy plane-tree-shaded place du Forum still buzzes with life…
Aix-en-Provence
A wonderful terraced garden perfect for a picnic, from where Cézanne, among others, painted the Montagne Ste-Victoire. The view of the jagged mountain is…
Var
A cubist maze of concrete and glass, the villa was designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens in 1923 as a winter residence for devoted lover of modern art Vicomte…
Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard
Var
This research institute on the Île des Embiez, dedicated to understanding and conserving the Mediterranean's marine environment, has a small aquarium to…
Marseille
This niche museum is housed in the city’s former sanitary station, operational from 1948 until 1971. It’s essentially a graphic art museum exploring…
Marseille
Guarding the southern side of Marseille’s harbour (and threatening its sometimes rebellious citizens, who attempted to destroy it during the Revolution)…
Vaucluse
Two kilometres north of Le Barroux along thread-narrow lanes, this abbey hears Gregorian chants sung by Benedictine monks at 9.30am daily (10am Sundays…
The Luberon
A museum all about the history of breadmaking might not sound like a Bonnieux must-see, but it’s actually an intriguing visit. Located in a 17th-century…
Marseille
Nestled around this picture-postcard fishing village, a remnant of old maritime Marseille long since swallowed by modern sprawl, are traditional cabanons …
Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges
Vaucluse
In the very heart of the old town, the stately exterior of the Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges shows no sign of the baroque theatrics inside – 122 gold…
Parc National du Mercantour
Surrounded by a fine public park, this intriguing museum explores the valley's history. Highlights include a fascinating collection of Bronze Age…
Var
While there's been a fortress on this site since the 11th centry, the present handsome pile was assembled piecemeal between the 15th and 18th centuries…
