With its sun-soaked weather and effortless Gallic glamour, Provence is at the very pinnacle of what a spell in southern France can offer Irish tourists. Situated on the bright blue Mediterranean, its zinging azure giving the shoreline its côte d’azur name.
Provence is a world of colour, from the cloudless cobalt skies to the fields of lavender, sunflowers, and poppies the fuel France’s perfume industry. The region’s bright and burning hues were a favourite of impressionist painters like Van Gogh and Cézanne, whose works paid witness and homage to the light and brilliance of the landscape.
La vie provençale seems unchanged from the world documented on the page and screen by Marcel Pagnol, the famed writer and director. And why would it have changed much, for what better way to spend their days than to gather in cafés, sitting in the shade under the awning and wishing each other “Santé!” as the locals clink glasses of Pastis or Orangina, before strolling through the market squares to buy cheese, bread, or fish freshly brought ashore in Marseille earlier that morning.
Provence remains one of the most popular places to visit in France, and it lives up to the hype. So here are the top five things to do in the region...
5: Marseille's Vieux Port
Take a stroll through the docked yachts [Flickr/Dan in Mars]
When making your way through Provence, with its stone villages spread out across the vast lavender fields, getting a first glimpse of Marseille can be a culture shock, as the city’s rough-and-ready grittiness is hard to ignore. But don’t let first appearances put you off.
A must see is the Vieux Port area of Marseille, dotted with market stalls showcasing the best of France and the influences of Africa to the south. Ensure, if seafood is to your tastes, to get a steaming bowl of bouillabaisse, the traditional fish stew flavoured with garlic, orange peel, basil, bay leaves, fennel, and rendered a rich yellow with a dash of saffron.
4: The Papal Palace at Avignon
The palace once played home to several Popes [Flickr/Bernard Delefosse]
While not as decadent as the Vatican, Avignon has its place in religious history, having served as the home to several pontiffs during the 14th century. The grand and Gothic Papal Palace is brilliantly preserved, revealing the stunning art and architecture that once dominated medieval Europe. Nowadays the grounds of what is the largest Gothic palace in the world make for a most picturesque picnic spot.
3: The Camargue Wetlands
Flamingos are an iconic sight at the famous wetlands [Flickr/Dan in Mars]
These bizarre wetlands comes out of the rich and vibrant hues of the rest of Provence to stand like a desolate wasteland, bleached by the sun, and yet, it is not to be missed.
The marshes, rice paddies, and salt plains are now a protected natural reserce, roamed by wild white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos across the 780-sqkm of the Rhone River delta. If you want to see the Camargue’s flamboyance of flamingos make sure to get there before they migrate south for the winter – and don’t forget to pack a strong insect repellent, as the mosquitoes swarming around the marshes are partial to taking a bite out of visitors.
2: Isle sur la Sorgue
A must-visit site for bargain hunters [Flickr/Dan in Mars]
Known as the antiques capital of France, this village, built in Venetian style over a curving set of canals, plays host to the biggest marché aux puces (flea market) this side of the river Seine. So Isle sur la Sorgue is a must-see site for anyone who relishes in driving a hard bargain.
On Sundays and Thursdays, the market stalls are packed with bread, cheese, spices, nuts, fruits and olives. It is as much a feast for the eyes, though your arms might be sorry when you end up carrying some heavy antiques back to the car.
1: The baths at Digne
The water in the area has been known for its restorative properties since Roman times [Flickr/Naomi]
Arguably one of the best spots in all of Provence in which to soak up the natural beauty, from the plant life to the mountain views, Digne is also the best place to take a soak in some thermal baths. Just two kilometres from the town centre, where a lavish festival celebrates harvest time every August, bathers can coat themselves in mineral-rich mud or invigorating seaweed in a lavender-scented tub at the Etablissement thermal. It’s also worth making the journey there by train from Nice, where the train des pignes chugs through some of the region’s most breathtaking countryside.
On Tuesday evenings at 6pm, travel writer Manchán Magan takes George Hook around the world from the comfort of Newstalk's Dublin studios. You can listen back to the podcast of this week's segment below:
