The best postcards are those of the South of France. This part of the country brings together everything one can expect from a French vacation with beaches, boutique shops, gourmet food… basically the description of places like Nice, Cannes or Saint-Tropez.
But it is not the only thing in the south of France, this part is also home to Provence with its historical attractions, the Roman ruins or the lavender fields or even Marseille and maybe, turning to the southwest you like the idea to visit Biarritz or the beautiful region of Languedoc-Rousillon. Today, What to see in the south of France
South of France
So, we can say that in the south of France there are Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Saint Tropez, Arles, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseilles, Biarritz, the city of Carcassone, on the UNESCO list, but is also Toulouse. I mean, a little bit of everything!
Touring this part of France is easy because there is a very good network of roads and trains, the weather is always good, the summer days are warm and long and there is good weather even in September and October, the coast is superb, there are Roman monuments and incredible landscapes.
But when planning a visit to the south of France seriously, it must be said that it is best to avoid the end of November and January because, although the skies are extremely blue in the evenings, the temperature drops and the wind makes it not very comfortable. Think of an average temperature between 14 and 15 ºC.
Thus, a good time of year to visit the south of france is april and may and september and october. From May to September good weather is guaranteed. June is even more pleasant, and yes, July and August are hotter months. Rain? In August there may be occasional drizzles or showers that last a few days.
What to visit in the south of France
La Blue Coast It covers the French departments of Var and the Alpes-Maritimes so here are Nice, Cannes, Saint Tropez, Frejus, Menton, Antibes and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Nice It is a beautiful city of wide avenues, with its bay and its beach of golden sands. Every year 3 million travelers come to enjoy and perhaps only Paris is competition.
In Nice is the The English Pier, the Matisse Museum, the Russian Cathedral and much more. If you like jazz there is the Jazz Festival dating from the 40s, usually in July. Another important event is the carnival, one of the oldest and largest in the world, in the month of February and with Mardi Gras and everything. For Christmas, the Le Villeage de Noel market. A beauty.
Another popular and very chic destination is Saint Tropez . Artists, models and rich people from all over the world meet here. The Tahiti and Pampelonne beaches are among the best in the world and its port is filled with yachts and cruises of the richest people in the world. The city rests in a small bay, about 50 km from the city of Toulon and 70 km from Cannes.
Speaking of Cannes It is the seat of a famous film Festival for more than seven decades, but it offers more. It has a beautiful central boulevard called Croisette, many shops, good beaches and in the surroundings charming places to spend the day such as Antibes or Mandelieu La Napoule.
However, leaving the Côte d'Azur there is also the French provence with its beautiful cities and towns like Arles or Aix or Saint Remy. Saitan Remy, for example, is a small town in the heart of the region with a labyrinthine center and a very large market to wander through on Sunday mornings. Nostradamus was born here in the XNUMXth century and here also the painter Vincent van Gogh was treated for his mental illness. If you go, be careful with the strong wind between May and September. The Mistral can complicate the visit.
Aix It has a charming old cathedral, a beautiful square, thousands of fountains and a wide tree-lined avenue that follows the line of the old city, dividing the city into two parts. Aix is a old college town and it is highly recommended to visit it.
Also in the south of France is the Verdon canyon, with walls 700 meters high that fall into the river bed. To do a day trip it's great. The Canon it has 25 kilometers and the river has turquoise waters. A wonder that was only “discovered” in the XNUMXth century. Don't stop going!
Arles It is destiny if you are interested in Roman ruins, there is a forum, an amphitheater and a theater from that time. There are also mansions from the XNUMXth century and of course, the legacy of the artists Van Gough and Gauguin. Arles is also in a beautiful region, the Camargue, famous for its white horses, flamingos and marshes.
Seillans is a charming village west of Cannes, on a hill and must be one of the most beautiful villages in the south of France. Have a medieval center to explore on foot because its streets are narrow and full of small squares. It has a castle, a chapel and many beautiful houses. Amen to vineyards and olive fields…
Marseilles is second largest city in France and the largest in French Provence. It can be dangerous, like any big city, and it can also be charming. There is a mixture of cultures in the neighborhoods and gastronomies, there are shops, there is much to walk around and also, Marseille is always a good outlet for the rest of the region.
L'Isle sur Sorgue is another beautiful city that is situated on the banks of the Sorgue River. Originally it was a fishing village that was in a little island in the middle of a swamp. The inhabitants are still dedicated to fishing and grinding oil and flour, in addition to being a center for the manufacture of silk, paper, wool and dyes. There is a whole network of canals that cross the town and it is very picturesque.
Roussillon is on top of a mountain It is one of the most beautiful towns in the region.. It is a super popular destination among tourists because the views are great and its colorful houses are even better. Therefore, if you go, it is better to go at sunset, which is when the sun's rays cast everything into a thousand shadows on the walls of the houses.
Roussillon is near Avignon. It has no more than 1300 inhabitants, and the views of the Luberon National Park they are fantastic. Precisely Avignon is another possible destination in the south of France, on the banks of the Rhone river, former and brief seat of the Vatican. Today this chapter of history is seen in the huge gothic palace, the largest in Europe, once the papal home in the XNUMXth century.
About Nimes, another town with a Roman legacy, in turn is the Pont du Gard, an old Roman aqueduct World Heritage Site (there are four UNESCO heritage sites in this part of France). Another beautiful town is Uzes, with its narrow streets and its little shops, its large central square with fountains and several restaurants. On Saturdays there is a colorful market and for the little ones there is the Haribo Sweets Museum, a sort of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory but French.
Finally, in the south of France you can meet Aigues Mortes, a medieval walled town super romantic, founded in the XNUMXth century by Louis IX. What can I tell you? Summer is coming, sunny days, the freedom to travel more calmly... the south of France awaits you!