A route to discover the violet treasures of Provence

lavender fields provence

France is always a nice box of surprises. No matter how many times we have been able to visit the neighboring country, there are always beautiful places to discover. For those who are about to enjoy the summer holidays, a good place to visit and get to know is Provence, that unique territory that captivated many artists centuries ago with its beauty and whose landscapes were captured in their iconic works.

The best way to enjoy Provence is to get hold of a vehicle and travel along its roads and country lanes, discovering the villages that have managed to remain intact for mass tourism.
It is lavender, mimosas and fresh flowers that dress the fields of the French Riviera with perfumes and colors that seduce everyone. From the end of June to the end of summer, the fields take on a deep purple color and lavender becomes the absolute protagonist of an almost fairytale landscape..

Travelers will find in Provence many things that will remind them of their places of origin and a common history, especially those that belong to Mediterranean cultures.

Provence location

It is located in the southeast of the Gallic country and, without a doubt, it is the most Mediterranean France. A territory of winding fields that captivated the Romans thousands of years ago and that in recent centuries has been a source of inspiration for artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso or Cezánne. Nowadays, travelers flock to its villages looking for the charm of the Mediterranean lifestyle, its unique architecture, its delicious cuisine and the aroma of its fields of flowers.

Route through Provence

Avignon

Avignon

Gordes is a perfect start for a route through Provence. A charming town with stunning panoramic views of the Luberon valley and mountains, with fields of lavender, olive and almond trees. It is crowned by a XNUMXth century fortress. In addition, a few kilometers from Gordes, to the northeast, is one of the most idyllic landscapes in Provence with the characteristic lavender fields and the Sénanque Abbey.

Thirty kilometers to the east, in Avignon, the papal palace stands out as the most important building. A fortress in which up to seven pontiffs of the church lived, some of the best known were Urban V and Clemente V. Leaving this town heading southeast to travel fifteen kilometers to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, we will fully enter the Provencal countryside, those that the traveler has seen countless times in the paintings of popular XNUMXth and XNUMXth century painters.

Heading towards Aix-en-Provence appears Les Baux-de-Provence, well known for its medieval citadel collapsed on a promontory. After passing through Tarascon, the monster's village that is now taken out in procession during the festivities, another of the main dishes of Provençal cities arrives: Arles.

Arles

Arles

There, everyone wants to visit the café that Van Gogh painted and that today bears his name to feel like part of his famous work. Before the outburst of anger that led him to cut an ear, he had time to also create Los girasoles, a still life that concentrates all the landscape and light power of Provence. Arles is also home to what was once the largest Roman circus in Europe.

Aix-en-Provence is an hour's drive away, the longest on the itinerary. Among vineyards that offer the pleasure of tasting French wines, the Villa de las Mil Fuentes arises, where Paul Cézanne was born and spent much of his life, whose workshop is located in the historic center. In the center there is also the flower market, the Saint-Sauveur cathedral and its popular boulevards.

Gastronomy in Provence

provence market

Very popular with travelers visiting Provence is its gastronomy and ancient traditions. In its colorful markets we will find its tasty specialties such as olive oil, lamb from Sisteron, cheese from Banon, melon from Cavaillon, almond cakes from Aix or honey from Provence.

How to get to Provence

The most practical, useful and fastest way to get to Provence depends on where we start from. From the northwest of Spain, the car can be the cheapest and fastest option. From the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, the car is no longer such a practical means of transport since it takes many hours to reach the destination. In those cases, it may be best to use the plane, Ryanair and Iberia link Madrid and Marseille while Vueling flies from Barcelona.

How to tour Provence

provenza

The car is the most practical means, although in cities it is best to get around by bicycle or on foot. Regional buses connect all towns efficiently and quickly.

The great tourist diversity that this French region offers allows covering all the stripes, from sea and beach tourism, urban tourism for the traveler who likes cultural and historical cities, rural tourism, ecological tourism covered with its national parks and even winter tourism, with its fifty ski centers on the alpine fringe of the region.


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