Beyond its bustling cities, France is arguably one of the most relaxed countries in the world. Summers in Provence, in southern France, are especially idyllic. Lazy days are filled with leisurely lunches, delicious food, fine wine, and the aroma of lavender. What better place to unwind, recharge, and reflect? Here are some of our favorite places in the south of France to escape from stress and savor the simple pleasures of life.
ANTIBES, FRANCE
While the Cote d’Azur is known for its mega-yachts and flashy coastal towns, Antibes enjoys its own gentle pace of life. It’s within easy reach of Nice and Cannes for a day of boutique shopping and sightseeing. Antibes has long been favored by many well-heeled visitors in the past, including Elizabeth Taylor, Hemingway, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The wooded peninsula is dotted with luxury villas enjoying their own private piece of paradise. Explore the Old Town with its 16th-century ramparts and star-shaped Fort Carre or spend time at Musée Picasso in the Chateau Grimaldi. Book a meal or stay a night or two at the opulent Hotel du Cap Eden Roc and enjoy magnificent sea views, wonderful cuisine, and glamorous surroundings. In late May, the hotel is packed with celebrities and movie moguls attending the Cannes Film Festival.
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Wine lovers will revel in the opportunity to visit the historic walled city of Bordeaux and tour the surrounding wine region. There are 6,000 wine-producing chateaux in the region providing the world with quality Bordeaux wines including full-bodied merlot, sauvignon blanc, and sparkling Crémant. There are many unique places to stay including turreted chateaux that have their own upmarket B&B, winery, and renowned restaurants onsite. Saint Emilion is an enchanting old town lined with wine shops offering tastings of their world-famous appellation. Explore the 12th-century rock-carved Eglise Monolithe de Saint-Emilion (church) with its catacombs and artworks, take a guided tour around the medieval town, visit the quarry caves and tour some of the family-owned vineyards nearby. The Grand Cru St Emilion is the ultimate souvenir for any discerning wine connoisseur!
ÈZE, FRANCE
One of the famous hilltop villages (village perché) that the French Riviera is known for, Eze is a beautiful village with stunning views of the blue Mediterranean from its 400-meter elevation. Sitting aloft above the stunning Cap-Ferrat coastline, the village is known for its luxury chateaux accommodation and Michelin-star dining. Explore the cobblestone streets, pop into museums, and dine alfresco in the old town square. The streets are lined with perfume houses where visitors can enjoy the fragrant experience of shopping for their favorite brand of perfume or sample one of the authentic fragrances produced in the area for hundreds of years. Don’t miss the Jardin Exotique, a mountainside garden of succulents with stunning coastal views.
ST. REMY, PROVENCE
For an authentic taste of Provence, head to the enchanting town of St. Remy. It’s a truly relaxing place to wander and enjoy with a relaxed pace of life you’ll quickly find yourself adopting. Art lovers may have a sense of déjà vu as it frequently appeared in paintings by Vincent van Gogh. The picturesque village was the inspiration for his famous artwork “Starry Night”. St Remy makes a wonderful base for enjoying a comfortable stay in a luxury spa hotel. After a leisurely petit déjeuner, enjoy a scenic drive through the countryside. In summer and early fall, the smiling golden heads of sunflowers and waving drills of lavender make a sensational sight. For a little adventure, visit the extraordinary Pont du Gard, a three-story 360-meter-long bridge built by the Romans in the first century AD. The broad Gardon River is an inviting place for a refreshing swim or a kayak trip.
AIX-EN-PROVENCE
Immerse yourself in the timeless way of life enjoyed in southern France when you visit Aix-en-Provence. Explore the open-air markets, picking up tasty morsels of smoked meats, delectable French cheese, warm baked goods, and freshly caught seafood. Known as the “City of a Thousand Fountains’ these gushing Art Deco water features create a refreshing focal point in many public squares. Look out for the Fontaine de la Rotunde with its bronze carved lions and statue representing the Three Graces of mirth, elegance, and youth. Sit beneath the plane trees at a sidewalk cafe on the broad Cours Mirabeau and watch the world go by. Explore the Vieil Aix (Old Town) with its mellow architecture and aristocratic palaces and pop into the Garnet Museum, the former art studio of impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, the “Father of Modern Art”.
GRASSE, FRANCE
Once surrounded by fields of jasmine, lavender, and roses, Grasse is the historic home of French perfume. Perched on the hillside above Cannes, the town has many fascinating attractions including the cathedral with its priceless Rubens artworks. The major perfumeries of Fragonard, Molinard, and Galimard all offer factory tours proving an insight into how the floral essence was originally collected on sheets of wax and made into French perfume. Visit the Musee International de la Perfumeries or book a place on a perfume-making course. Under the expert tutelage of a “nez” you can blend your favorite essences to create your own named perfume and receive a 100ml bottle to take home. Your unique perfume recipe will be cataloged for future orders!
Old towns, fascinating museums, cultural experiences, wonderful food, and some of the best wines in the world will all be part of your relaxing break in the South of France. What’s not to like about that!
