taylor made trip in provence

Day by day

Highlights and the provençal Art of living

Natural wonders

• **Baronnies & Pre-Alps**: This lesser-known region offers a poetic and rugged Provençal escape. Fragrant hillsides of thyme and lavender, limestone cliffs, medieval villages and sunny olive groves - the Baronnies are perfect for long-distance hikers, stargazers, and lovers of silence. Far from mass tourism, it's a region to reconnect with the essentials.

• **Nice Backcountry**: Just behind the glitter of the Riviera, a wilder, more vertical Provence reveals itself. The valleys of the Vésubie, Tinée and Roya offer breathtaking hikes through larch forests, alpine meadows and along ancient mule tracks. Perched villages like Saorge and Belvédère offer timeless charm, and the blend of Mediterranean light with mountain air creates a world apart.

• **Camargue**: A place of contrasts and poetry, the Camargue is shaped by water, wind, and tradition. Its marshes and salt flats are home to flamingos, wild horses, and herons. It's perfect for birdwatching, horseback riding, or gentle bike rides along dikes and lagoons. Here, man and nature coexist in a delicate, enduring balance.

• **Mont Ventoux**: Rising 1,912 meters above the vineyards of the Vaucluse, the "Giant of Provence" is both mythical and majestic. Its slopes are home to rare alpine flora, observatories, and dense forests that give way to a stark, lunar summit. It's a magnet for cyclists and hikers alike, and offers panoramic views stretching to the Alps and the sea.

• **Calanques of Marseille to Cassis**: A masterpiece of geology and sea, the Calanques reveal dazzling contrasts: white limestone walls plunging into deep blue coves, pine-scented trails winding above the sea, and hidden beaches only accessible by foot or boat. This National Park is a haven for hikers, swimmers, climbers, and nature photographers.

**Verdon Gorges**: Often called Europe's Grand Canyon, the Verdon Gorges offer a mix of adrenaline and tranquility. Whether hiking along vertiginous cliff paths, kayaking through turquoise waters, or simply watching vultures soar from a panoramic viewpoint, the Verdon invites a full immersion in awe-inspiring nature. Ideal for multi-activity trips or contemplative retreats.

**The Luberon**: Hilltop villages bathed in golden light, ancient dry-stone terraces, and a network of walking paths winding through vineyards, cherry orchards, and lavender fields. From the dramatic ochres of Roussillon to the shaded cobbled lanes of Bonnieux, this is a land that blends nature, history and art de vivre. It is a perfect region for scenic day hikes, charming accommodations, and slow discovery. 

Iconic Cities

• **Avignon**: Theatrical and spiritual. The Papal Palace, its famous bridge, lively squares and an extraordinary summer arts festival.

• **Aix-en-Provence**: Elegant and radiant. Fountains, markets, Cézanne's inspiration and a refined way of life.

• **Marseille**: Vibrant and diverse. Old Port, calanques, museums, markets and a creative Mediterranean soul.

• **Nice**: Azure elegance. Museums, Belle Époque architecture and a gateway to Alpine escapes.

• **Arles**: Roman and modern. Amphitheaters, galleries, Camargue traditions and a strong artistic pulse.

• **Manosque, Forcalquier, Apt**: Peaceful Provençal villages full of rural charm and local flavors.

The Provençal Way of life

• **Markets**: A festival of colors and aromas - lavender, honey, cheese, olives and herbs.

• **Cuisine**: Generous and sun-filled - pistou soup, tapenade, lamb with thyme, fine rosé wines and olive oil of distinction.

• **Festivals**: Transhumance, harvests, village fêtes, cultural events, ferias.

• **Encounters**: From guides to winemakers - real people, true stories.

• **Light**: The light that inspired Van Gogh, Cézanne and Matisse - and that will bathe your own memories.