Must-see attractions in Provence & the Côte d'Azur

  • Inside the Orange Amphitheatre (Théâtre antique d'Orange).

    Théâtre Antique

    Vaucluse

    Orange's monumental, Unesco-protected Roman theatre is unquestionably one of France's most impressive Roman sights. It's one of only three intact Roman…

  • Restaurant in le Vieux Nice.

    Vieux Nice

    Nice

    Getting lost among the dark, narrow, winding alleyways of Nice’s old town is a highlight. The layout has barely changed since the 1700s, and it’s now…

  • Palais Des Papes, Avignon, France. (Photo by Marka/UIG via Getty Images)

    Palais des Papes

    Avignon

    The largest Gothic palace ever built, the Palais des Papes was erected by Pope Clement V, who abandoned Rome in 1309 in the wake of violent disorder after…

  • NICE, FRANCE, on JANUARY 9, 2017. Promenade des Anglais - the main embankment of the city, one of the most beautiful in the world, stretches along the sea and the beach. Aerial view from Shatto's hill; Shutterstock ID 613405820; Your name (First / Last): Daniel Fahey; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Nice and Graz POIs

    Promenade des Anglais

    Nice

    The most famous stretch of seafront in Nice – if not France – is this vast paved promenade, which gets its name from the English expat patrons who paid…

  • The Avignon Papal Palace (Palais des Papes) and the Avignon Bridge (Pont d'Avignon or Pont St-Bénézet) illuminated at night under the deep blue sky reflecting in the still waters of Rhone river. ; Shutterstock ID 609704714

    Pont St-Bénézet

    Avignon

    Legend says Pastor Bénézet (a former shepherd) had three visions urging him to build a bridge across the Rhône. Completed in 1185, the 900m-long bridge…

  • Aix-En-Provence, France - 04 20 2023: Granet Museum. Sculptures and objects from the archaeological region of Aix-En-Provence; Shutterstock ID 2293616765; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI
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    Musée Granet

    Aix-en-Provence

    Aix established one of France's first public museums here, on the site of a former Hospitallers' priory, in 1838. Nearly 200 years of acquisitions …

  • Site Archéologique de Glanum

    Bouches-du-Rhône

    It might lack the scale and ambition of some of Provence's better-known Roman monuments, but for a glimpse into everyday life in Gaul, this ancient town…

  • Cabanon Le Corbusier, Roquebrune Cap Martin, France.

    Cabanon Le Corbusier

    Côte d'Azur

    The only building French architect Le Corbusier (1887–1965) ever built for himself is this rather simple – but very clever – beach hut on Cap Martin…

  • Amphitheatre in Arles.

    Les Arènes

    Arles

    In Roman Gaul, every important town had an amphitheatre, where gladiators and wild animals met their (usually grisly) ends. Few examples have survived,…

  • Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque and lavender fields.

    Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

    The Luberon

    If you're searching for that classic postcard shot of the medieval abbey surrounded by a sea of purple lavender, look no further. This sublime Cistercian…

  • Gorges de Daluis in France.

    Gorges de Daluis

    Parc National du Mercantour

    This stunning network of scarlet gorges looks for all the world like it's been collected from Arizona and plonked down in Haute-Provence. Carved out over…

  • Chapel of the Rosary, designed by Henri Matisse, in Vence.

    Chapelle du Rosaire

    Côte d'Azur

    An ailing Henri Matisse moved to Vence in 1943 to be cared for by his former nurse and model, Monique Bourgeois, who'd since become a Dominican nun. She…

  • Montagne Sainte-Victoire.

    Montagne Ste-Victoire

    Pays d’Aix

    East of Aix rises Cézanne’s favourite haunt, the magnificent silvery ridge of Montagne Ste-Victoire, its dry slopes carpeted in garrigue (scented scrub),…

  • Colline du Château

    Nice

    For the best views over Nice’s red-tiled rooftops, climb the winding staircases up to this wooded outcrop on the eastern edge of the old town. It’s been…

  • The red rock formations at Colorado Provencal in France.

    Colorado Provençal

    The Luberon

    Named after its fiery red and orange landscape (which locals likened to Colorado), this former ochre quarry is one of the best places to appreciate the…

  • Musée Masséna

    Nice

    Originally built as a holiday home for Prince Victor d’Essling (the grandson of one of Napoléon's favourite generals, Maréchal Massena), this lavish belle…

  • Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - France - July 10 2021: Lavender fields at the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole, Saint-Rémy.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - France - July 10 2021: Lavender fields at the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole, Saint-Rémy.
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    Monastère St-Paul de Mausole

    Bouches-du-Rhône

    This monastery turned asylum is famous for one of its former residents – the ever-volatile Vincent van Gogh, who admitted himself in 1889. Safe within the…

  • Calanques National Park at dawn, view over the city of Marseille.

    Parc National des Calanques

    Les Calanques

    The calanques (coves) of the coast surrounding Marseille became France's 10th national park in 2012, preserving their astonishing beauty and harbouring an…

  • Beach, La Croisette, Cannes, Alpes Maritimes, Provence, Cote d'Azur, French Riviera, France, Mediterranean, Europe

    La Croisette

    Cannes

    The multi-starred hotels and couture shops lining the iconic bd de la Croisette (aka La Croisette) may be the preserve of the rich and famous, but anyone…

  • MARSEILLE, FRANCE - 21 FEBRUARY 2016: Interior of Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille, Provence, France

    Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde

    Marseille

    Occupying Marseille’s highest point, La Garde (154m), this opulent 19th-century Romano-Byzantine basilica is Marseille's most-visited icon. Built on the…

  • The Annonciade Museum in Saint-Tropez, France.

    Musée de l’Annonciade

    St-Tropez

    In a gracefully converted 16th-century chapel, this small but famous museum showcases an impressive collection of modern art infused with that legendary…

  • Cloister of the cathedral Saint-Leonce in Frejus, France.

    Cloître de la Cathédrale de Fréjus

    Côte d'Azur

    Fréjus’ star sight is its 11th- and 12th-century cathedral, one of the region's first Gothic buildings. Its cloister features rare 14th- and 15th-century…

  • La foret des cedres with hiking and walking trails and panoramic views near Bonnieux, Luberon, Provence, France.

    Fôret des Cèdres

    The Luberon

    In the scrubby hills about 6km south of Bonnieux, a twisty back road slopes up to this wonderful cedar forest, whose spreading boughs provide welcome…

  • France, Alpes Maritimes, Nice, district of Cimiez Hill, museums and archaeological sites, thermal baths of the ancient Roman city of Cemenelum, Matisse museum in the background

    Musée Matisse

    Nice

    This museum, 2km north of the city centre in the leafy Cimiez quarter, houses a fascinating assortment of works by Matisse, including oil paintings,…

  • Facade of art museum Foundation Vincent van Gogh in Arles, France.

    Fondation Vincent Van Gogh

    Arles

    Housed in a listed 15th-century manor, now twice repurposed (its other incarnation was as a bank), this Van Gogh–themed gallery is a must-see, as much for…

  • The Panier district

    Le Panier

    Marseille

    'The Basket' is Marseille's oldest quarter – site of the original Greek settlement and nicknamed for its steep streets and buildings. Its close, village…

  • ARLES, FRANCE, JUNE 21, 2017: View of a garden inside of the Fort Saint Andre in Villenueve les Avignon, France
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    Abbaye et Jardins de l’Abbaye

    Vaucluse

    The resplendent vaulted halls of this 10th-century abbey, within Fort St-André, can only be visited by guided tour. The stunning terrace gardens, however …

  • Paloma Beach, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France.

    Plage Paloma

    Côte d'Azur

    A dreamy spot for swimming, sunbathing and water sports of all kinds, this secluded crescent of sand 1km east of St-Jean has an iconic bar-restaurant,…

  • Medieval patio with roses in La Chapelle de Sainte-Roseline, Provence, France.

    Chapelle Sainte-Roseline

    Var

    A 1975 mosaic by Marc Chagall illuminates this 13th-century Romanesque chapel, 4.5km east of Les Arcs-sur-Argens. The church contains a crystal shrine…

  • Crystal clear water on Pampelonne beach near Saint Tropez in south France.

    Plage de Pampelonne

    Côte d'Azur

    The 5km-long, celebrity-studded Plage de Pampelonne sports a line-up of exclusive beach restaurants and clubs in summer. Find public entries (and parking…

  • Facade of the Petit Palais from Place du Palais in Avignon
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    Musée du Petit Palais

    Avignon

    The archbishops' palace during the 14th and 15th centuries now houses outstanding collections of primitive, pre-Rennaissance, 13th- to 16th-century…

  • Split shot of underwater scenery in Port-Cros National Park in the Mediterranean Sea, South France.

    Parc National de Port-Cros

    Var

    France’s first marine national park, dating to 1963, Port-Cros boasts exceptional marine fauna and flora, which makes it a snorkelling paradise. It…

  • NICE, FRANCE - AUGUST 23, 2014: View of Cours Saleya - large pedestrian area famous for its flower, vegetable, spice and fish markets is one of the most popular places in Nice.; Shutterstock ID 264711230

    Cours Saleya Markets

    Nice

    Split between its beautiful flower market and rightly famous food market. On Mondays, flowers and food make way for a flea market.

  • Monastère de la Verne

    Var

    The majestic 12th-century Monastère de la Verne sits on a forested ridge in the Massif des Maures, rising like an island of honeyed stone in a sea of…

  • Gallo-Roman Ruins

    Vaucluse

    The ruined remains of Vasio Vocontiorum, the Roman city that flourished here between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC, fill two central Vaison sites. Two…

  • Château de Tarascon

    Bouches-du-Rhône

    The mighty walls of the 15th-century Château de Tarascon rise straight out of the River Rhône, in the relaxed village of the same name. A beauty of a…

  • Vallée des Merveilles

    Parc National du Mercantour

    Wedged between the Vésubie and Roya valleys, this narrow, remote canyon is famous for its amazing Bronze Age petroglyphs – ancient pictures carved into…