PROVENCE HOLIDAY TRAVEL GUIDE

If you’re thinking of heading to Provence/Cote d’Azur for your next holiday, read through the following helpful Travel Guide on what to see and do, information on Provence’s culture and cuisine and some events that you can enjoy whilst there.

Famous for glamorous resorts such as Cannes and Nice, the stylish sun-kissed French Riviera is one of the holiday hot spots of the world. Cannes of course is famous for its annual Film Festival whilst no visit to Nice would be complete without strolling the Promenade des Anglais.

However, Provence also possesses a traditional side. High in the hills, you’ll discover olive groves, lavender fields and peaceful medieval villages.

For art and culture, visit the Roman spa town of Aix-en-Provence or Avignon with its maze of cafes and shops, plus the Palais des Papes. Arles, where the River Rhone splits, has an important Roman heritage and the Roman arena built in 1BC is still in use today.

This region of outstanding beauty includes one of the world’s largest gorges – Gorges du Verdon – and iconic Mont Saint Victoire, painted by Cezanne more than 50 times.

From beach to the Alpes d’Azur takes just an hour, offering skiing in winter, or summer exploration by foot or on horseback.

And whilst in Provence, don’t forget to visit a market. This region is renowned for its wonderful cuisine – dishes prepared with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and herbs – and has an important wine industry. Provence has some 500 vineyards with an annual production of 140 million bottles of wine – ideal if wine-tasting is on your holiday ‘to do’ list.

There are 6 departments in the Provence region:

·          Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

·          Alpes-Maritimes

·          Bouches-du-Rhône

·          Hautes-Alpes

·          Var

·          Vaucluse

For further travel information about holiday destinations, the Provence Cote d’Azur Regional Tourist Board can be contacted at:

Provence, Alpes, Cote d’Azur Regional Tourist Board

BP 46214

F-13567 Marseille Cedex 02

Tel: (00 33) 491 56 47 00