French Holiday Ideas | Holidays in Provence: The best places to visit inland

Away from the hustle-bustle of the Côte d’Azur, inland Provence is a land rich in historic towns. Here we take a quick look at some of the best places to visit inland north of Marseille.

Avignon

Made famous by the song “Les Desmoiselles d’Avignon” referring to the half-finished Pont St-Bénézet (now known simply as the Pont d’Avignon) across the Rhône river, this is a cultured and delightfully lively town.

Visual wonders include the enormous Palais des Papes (popes were present here from 1309 to 1423), one of the most important medieval gothic buildings in Europe.

Other places to visit include the Place de l’Horloge, site of the old Roman forum, and a diverse collection of museums such as the Calvet museum.


Aix-en-Provence

The ‘city of fountains’ – so called because of the number of squares with a water feature – is the old capital of Provence and an elegant, bourgeois place where the pace of life is slow and the living is easy.

With charming markets and a laid-back feel, it’s a great place for a city break – the TGV station just out of town makes it an ideal place to visit direct from Paris in a couple of hours.

Relax over coffee on the plane-lined cours Mirabeau and marvel at the antiquities at the Musée Granet before heading into Old Aix for some shopping and sightseeing. The church of Ste-Marie-Madeleine is a must, as is the Tour de l’Horloge.

Arles

The amphitheatre (Les Arènes) is Arles’ most noted landmark, in the heart of the former city of Roman Gaul.

The arena still puts on bull runs but the less bloodthirsty can enjoy the town’s many Roman monuments and retrace the footsteps of artist Van Gogh, who stayed here with Paul Gaugin.

Arles runs countless cultural and artistic events, especially during the summer season.

The UNESCO heritage city is also gateway to the Camargue, a rugged natural environment where you can spot pink flamingos and cowboys on white horses!

Orange

In the heart of the Côtes du Rhône, Orange is another of these elegant Provençal cities that demands a visit. It boasts two important landmarks from the Roman period – the Triumphal Arch and the Antique Theatre, both monuments ranked as UNESCO world heritage sites, and any first-timer should take a Roman tour to marvel at the architectural legacy from 35BC and after.

The Museum of Art and History houses many important artefacts and documents, while any summer visit should coincide with the Chorégies d’Orange music festival.

Be sure to order a local Gigondas or other local AOC wine when settling down for dinner!

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