When asked what is my favorite country, more often than not I turn to France. It has everything: mountains, beach, food, culture, hills, valleys, green, wine, cheese, cognac, cheese, bread, cheese…you get the idea. Provence, when in season, was always something I wanted to see for its purple spotted landscapes and well, that’s about it. But I had no idea how enchanting the entire region would be and how it would capture a piece of my heart in it.
Marseille…or are we in Hollywood? Marseille certainly wants to make a statement to visitors upon entering this delightful seaside city. For those who schedule to visit Provence when the lavender is not in bloom will not be short of things to do. It is just as delightful any time of year. Our trip happened in May; we wanted to skip the busy tourist season in late June. We stayed in Marseille to give us a bit of city life upon our return from the lavender countryside. But we will get to seaside city a bit later. Let’s take a drive, shall we?
Lavender Routes
My only piece of advice is to hire a car. Don’t go on a tour bus or with a group.
Get a car. Get a map. and Go on your own.
Take the time to drive in the countryside, windows down, to let the lavender smell fill you and cling to your clothing for happy reminders later. You can find many routes to follow the lavender but for short city trippers, I recommend to stick to Luberon and Verdon just to the north of Marseille. The majority of the fields can be found here.
There are several touristy spots to hit along the route and I have listed a few that I believe should not be missed.
The Abbey might be the number one spot we tourists stalk during our time in Provence, and rightly so. But it is not equipped for much more than a photo and a very expensive coffee–or maybe a potty break if your bladder is full. From the Abbey, and for a small break from lavender (if you actually need that) then from the Abbey, a stop in Roussillon is highly recommended.
This red rock mountain top village is the perfect spot for lunch and/or beverage break. With breathtaking views of Provence below, you can indulge in a wonderful hike to see the city’s iconic red cliffs, lush trees sprinkled throughout a rainbow of natural colors. Do not miss the lavender ice cream at the top!
Vineyards
And what is a trip to southern France without a trip to a vineyard for a tasting? They have tastes for every wine lover but this part of the country produces some of the most exquisite rose wines I have ever tasted. We spent the afternoon in Chateau Du Seuil and were not disappointed. Hidden behind tall trees was a quiet, country, family owned chateau that offers tastings, tours and lunches in their quaint French gardens.
Seaside at Marseille
Finally, we get to the seaside Marseille city. Even though we slept here, we did not spend a lot of time touring about the city. Anthony Bourdain praised it for wonderful local dishes and specialties; hopefully next time we will tick off his hot spots. But the seaside was a wonderful end to our Provence weekend. Sitting by the water, drinking French Rose and watching the waves roll in.
Provence has many towns and villages to uncover. It is not a one and done area to visit. It is important to remember to be respectful of the lavender farms when you are there. While they are lovely to look at, they are not growing for tourists to pick apart– it is an industry providing income to farmers. Take your pictures and leave the lavender in the ground.
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