Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) is the most popular holiday region in the south of France. It covers a large area from the Mediterranean Sea in the south up to the French Alps in the north and extends west to east along the coast from the river Rhône all the way to the Italian border. Its identity as a geographical region being a legacy of the Roman Empire, the Provence includes the French Riviera and is famous for its sunny weather, colourful countryside, long-standing traditions and local language (Provençal). The region's favourable climate makes the variety of available local produce second to none. Flowers, fruits and vegetables all grow in abundance, the sea's fish and shellfish stocks are rich and all this without forgetting those two most Provençal of industries: wine-making and perfumery.

Perhaps best known for the many fashionable resorts along the Côte d'Azur, the Provence's other main attractions include the Old Port of Marseille, the ancient cities of Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, as well as a plethora of sun-baked villages and mountaintop towns. So why not follow in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh and see for yourself why Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is such a special and inspirational destination?

• 43.2966675.3763891 Marseille — the second largest city in France has around one million inhabitants and a major port
• 43.5277785.4455562 Aix-en-Provence — the city of water and art, Paul Cézanne's hometown and a source of inspiration for many of his landscapes
• 43.6769444.6286113 Arles — an inspiration for Vincent van Gogh, as well as the site of numerous Roman remains
• 43.9486114.8083334 Avignon — known for its Palace of the Popes, where several popes and antipopes lived between the 14th and 15th centuries, and for its folk song-spawning bridge.
• 43.55257.0213895 Cannes — a glamorous and expensive seaside town that hosts the annual Film Festival
• 43.7311117.426 Monaco — a wealthy city-state on the Mediterranean Sea with entertainment for those with money to burn
• 43.7019447.2683337 Nice — a major beach resort along the French Riviera with its famous Victorian waterfront, the Promenade des Anglais
• 43.1255.9305568 Toulon — this medium-sized naval city has an old town and links to Operation Dragoon, aka the Mediterranean D-Day

• 43.5333334.51 Camargue — one of Europe's largest river deltas and wetlands, a great place to spot flamingos and French cowboys
• 44.86.52 French Alps — snow-capped mountains ideal for thrilling snowsports and après-ski elegance
• 43.326.6653 French Riviera — super beaches, superyachts and the super-wealthy
• 43.016.40454 Îles d'Hyères — a semblance of the Caribbean in the azure waters of the Var
• 43.7961115.2238895 Luberon — the stereotypical rural Provence of sleepy villages, joie de vivre and wine (these last two not necessarily being linked)
• 44.1666677.0833336 Mercantour National Park — seven mountain valleys with hiking trails, this is where the Provence shows its wild side. Lucky travellers may catch glimpses of chamois, ibex, golden eagles and even wolves.
• 44.1666675.2833337 Mont Ventoux — the largest mountain in the region has been nicknamed the "Giant of Provence" or "The Bald Mountain"
• 43.7377786.3638898 Verdon Gorge — beautiful turquoise river canyon, great for kayaking, hiking, rock-climbing or just driving around the limestone cliffs

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur covers all the original territory of Provence, together with what used to be the Italian-controlled County of Nice. The term "Provence" comes from the fact that this area - "Transalpine Gaul" - was the first part of what is now France to become a Roman province; it was from here that Julius Caesar launched his famous conquest of Gaul. The region's identity is associated closely with its history and culture. Although a bit stereotyped now (those lavender fields and hill villages that plaster postcards and guidebooks), contemporary Provençal life is rooted in a long heritage of lively regional culture and language.

This is a vast and beautiful region, and merits a long trip, not just a few days or a week. To truly appreciate this region, you must be the type of traveller who likes food, wine and local crafts. It is recommended that you plan your own itinerary, and make it flexible enough so you can linger at an outdoor café or appreciate a historic sight when the moment takes you. There is a joie de vivre attitude throughout the region which is contagious, especially after a picnic of cheese and sausage bought direct from local farmers, and two glasses of a good rosé.

The low-lying parts of this region have a Mediterranean climate, so are generally dry and warm for most of the year, with more rain and wind over the usually brief winters. Summers here are hot and long, and the number of sunshine hours is very high all year round. The higher zones stretching up into the Alps have a mountain climate which, though still dry in summer, can be quite cool. This southernmost part of the Alps is the sunniest in the range, though winter snow is still common.

Those interested in literary interpretations of Provençal life should look up the works of Marcel Pagnol and Peter Mayle, the latter only if wealthy British expats are your cup of tea. Specifically, Mayle's French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew also gives a bunch of practical tips and recommendations for every district of the Provence, as well as which areas to visit for their gastronomy.

French is of course the official language of this region, but you'll find that many locals have a regional accent. The e at the end of words is often pronounced softly in Provence, whereas in standard French, it is not pronounced at all. For example, the word "Provence" in standard French ends with an "s" sound, as "proh-VAHNSS", whereas in Provence itself, it will often end with a sound resembling a short English "eh", as "proh-VEN-seh". Many vowels are changed as well, so that they are pronounced in a manner somewhat closer to the English pronunciation of the written vowels. However, standard French is understood by the locals.

This accent is largely due to the fact that several generations ago a different language - Occitan or la langue d'Oc - was the dominant local tongue such that most locals only learnt French at school. The dialect of Occitan spoken in Avignon is Provençal, and was the subject of strong preservation attempts in the early 1900s on the part of a group of writers and artists known as the Félibrige. The most famous of these was Frédéric Mistral, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1908. Despite the efforts of the Félibrige, the language has now largely disappeared, though it is still spoken by a minority of the local population. It is also taught in some regional universities and courses run by non-profit groups. In certain areas, road signs are bilingual, with place-names and some local information being printed in both standard French and Occitan.

Travellers interested in speaking some French or Occitan can check out Wikivoyage's French and Provençal phrasebooks.

The two major airports for the region are Nice-Côte d'Azur and Marseille-Provence. Most transatlantic flights to France land at Paris Charles de Gaulle, from where it is possible to travel to the Provence either by catching a connecting flight, using a high speed train, or hiring a car and driving.

• 43.6652787.2151 Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE ^IATA). France's third busiest airport after the two in Paris welcomes flights from pretty much every major European airport and a handful of places further afield, such as Beirut (summer only), Doha, Dubai, Montreal Trudeau (summer only), New York JFK and Newark (summer only) and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion. (updated Dec 2017)

• 43.4366675.2152 Marseille Provence Airport (MRS ^IATA). Has year round services from such European cities as Amsterdam Schiphol, Berlin Schönefeld, Brussels Capital, Frankfurt, London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted), Istanbul IST, Madrid Barajas, Paris (Charles de Gaulle and Orly), Rome Fiumicino and Stockholm Arlanda. There are also year-round flights from cities in Francophone Africa such as Agadir, Algiers, Constantine, Dakar, Oran and Tunis.  

• 43.0972226.1461113 Toulon-Hyères Airport (TLN ^IATA). The only year-round flights arrive from Brest, Charleroi, Paris Orly and CDG. There are summer connections from Copenhagen, Rotterdam and Southampton.  

• 43.9066674.9019444 Avignon Provence Airport (AVN ^IATA). The only scheduled flights here go to Antwerp in the high season only. (updated Jul 2023)

See also: Rail travel in France

Rail connections are excellent. The TGV (train à grande vitesse, high-speed train) gets you down to the Mediterranean sun in about three hours from Paris, and just over an hour from Lyon. There are also high-speed connections from Spain jointly operated by the SNCF and Spanish company Renfe; this allows you to reach Marseille from Barcelona Sants in 4 hrs 41 mins, and from Madrid Atocha in 8 hrs. Rail connections from the east (i.e. Italy) and west (i.e. Occitan cities such as Montpellier and Toulouse) are somewhat slower, but regular connections are provided by SNCF Intercités (within France) and Thello^{[dead link]}, from Milan and Genoa to Nice and Marseille.

From northern Europe, too, there are many possible routes. The TGV has connections as far afield as Brussels Midi/Zuid and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, while Eurostar operates direct services from London Saint Pancras to Avignon TGV (5 hrs 49 mins) and Marseille Saint Charles (6 hrs 27 mins), via Lyon. In July and August, trains run five times a week from the British capital; from April to June and September to October, the service operates three times a week, and from November to March it runs once weekly (on Saturdays). At other times, travellers coming from the UK may catch the Eurostar to Lille or Paris and make the connection onto the domestic TGV network.

Typical rail gateways include Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Marseille and Nice. You can easily use one of these cities as a base for exploring the region.

See also: Driving in France

France has an extensive and comprehensive motorway network that is well-maintained and often free of congestion. Enter PACA from Lyon and the north via the A7, from Liguria and the rest of Italy via the A8, and from the west (Montpellier, Toulouse, Spain) via the A9.

If you're travelling from elsewhere in the country, or from nearby Italy or Spain, driving may be the way to go. However, because of the price of petrol and most of the motorways being toll roads, visitors coming from the UK and northern Europe may think twice before getting behind the wheel. At any rate, with typical (non-stop) driving times from the Eurotunnel terminal and the English Channel ports being around 10 hours, the journey is long but doable. Some northerners who plan to tour the region by car or by campervan choose to make the initial journey part of their trip, making stops on the way down.

The region can be easily explored by car or bicycle, using the easily-navigated and dense network of country roads and highways. With a village every ten minutes by car, and something interesting around every corner, Provence is one of those places where getting lost can work in your favour.

Still, for longer journeys, you will want to know where you're going. The main autoroutes (motorways) of the region are:

• A7: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, from Lyon, Orange (A9), Avignon, Alpilles / Luberon, Salon-de-Provence (A54), A8 for Aix-en-Provence, A51, Marseille (A50, A55)
• A8: A7, Aix-en-Provence (A51), A52, Brignoles, A57, Draguignan, Fréjus, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Menton, Italy, towards Imperia and Genoa
• A9: Orange (A7), Occitanie, towards Nîmes and Montpellier
• A50: Marseille (A7, A55), Aubagne (A52), La Ciotat, Toulon (A57)
• A51: A7 from Marseille, Aix-en-Provence (A8), Manosque for Luberon / Verdon, Gap, the Hautes-Alpes, continues as N85 into Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, towards Grenoble
• A52: A8 near Aix, Aubagne, A50 towards La Ciotat
• A54: A7 / Salon-de-Provence, Arles, Occitanie, towards Nîmes
• A55: Marseille (A7, A50), Martigues, Camargue
• A57: Toulon (A50), A570 to Hyères, inland Var, A8

The main lines operated by the national company SNCF are:

• Along the coast between Marseille and the Italian border, with both local and TGV trains, though all the trains runs at normal speed.
• From Marseille and Aix into the Alps: Digne-les-Bains, Gap.
• From Marseille west to Avignon and on towards the south-west of France and along the Rhône river.

A full map of services in the region can be downloaded from the SNCF website.

Local trains are prone to delays, so plan some margin if you have to change for a TGV or a flight. This region is one of the most impacted in the country by rail strikes when they happen. Usually long-distance trains are not impacted, and strikes rarely last longer than one day, but the few trains that do run are packed with commuters.

There is also a "small" line (meter gauge), the Chemins de Fer de Provence that links Nice with Dinge-les-Bains.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is a region of artists, and many of the greats have been inspired by the vibrant colours and excellent light quality that the landscape offers. Nice has museums dedicated to Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse, while Vence has Matisse's stunning Rosary Chapel. Tragically, there are no paintings by Vincent van Gogh left anywhere in Provence, but the town where he was most productive - Arles - pulls in the crowds because it still has many of the sights the great artist pictured like no-one else ever had. For something a little different, you can't go wrong with Le Corbusier's monument to brutalism, the Unité d'Habitation tower block in Marseille. Avignon has a large contemporary art museum, the Collection Lambert, with a range of works all produced since the 1960s. The city also has an unmissable summer theatre festival for three-and-a-half weeks every July.

The region is known on the world stage for its glitz and glamour, none more so than in the Riviera. Whether you're drawn to see millionaires' yachts at Saint-Tropez, rub shoulders with film stars at Cannes, go to the pools in Monaco, or just soak up the atmosphere of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, there are many ways to get a taste of the celebrity lifestyle. The Riviera is also known for its luxury homes, and some of the most famous open their doors to tourists. For instance, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has the insanely opulent graecian Villa Kérylos, and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, which is surrounded by nine spectacular themed gardens.

Lovers of historical buildings can't go wrong in PACA, and there are examples from all eras to see. The Romans more than left their mark here, and Arles is the most blessed, with sights including a very well-preserved amphitheatre which is still used for festivities, the subterranean cryptoporticus and Roman baths. For a slice of living Roman history, the UNESCO-listed Théâtre Antique d'Orange is a stunning 1st century outdoor theatre - if you visit in summer (end of June to beginning of August), you can go and see the opera there! A more low-key, but still impressive, offering from antiquity is the Roman bridge in Vaison-la-Romaine. The 14th century brought crisis to the Roman Catholic Church, and the western Popes upped sticks and built themselves an enormous Gothic palace - the largest building of its style - in Avignon. The building is still standing in all its majesty, though the interior is now quite sparse due to a spot of bother in the French Revolution. Provence is also known for its medieval hill towns; one of the best known is Gordes - all golden stone and cypress trees - while the much rockier Les Baux-de-Provence is overlooked by the ruins of its château.

What's the most Provençal sport you can think of? Go to any town square or public park in the region and chances are you'll see groups of older men playing pétanque. The aim of this southern French variation of boules is to roll one's own metal balls as close to the cochonnet (a little wooden ball known in English as a "jack", although cochonnet actually means "piglet"!) as possible, knocking out other players' ball in the process; the player whose ball is closest to the cochonnet at the end wins the game. Visitors wishing to try it out can usually find a cheap set on sale in supermarkets and larger towns even have their own pétanque courts. More adventurous travellers may even volunteer to join a locals' game. If you are friendly and polite, the other players will most likely jump at the chance to share their sport with a foreigner and this can be a great way to try out your French on the locals. But be warnedː despite the game's relaxed reputation, competition can get quite fierce among more seasoned playersǃ

Visit the production centres of some of Provence's most famous exports. Vineyards (vignobles), olive groves (oliveraies) and lavender fields (champs de lavande) can be found all over the region, and many offer you the chance to "try before you buy". The Visites Gourmandes website^{[dead link]} is useful for locating such places. Each of these products is grown by season, so the best time to visit the producers varies: lavender fields bloom from June to August, particularly around the Drôme, Luberon and Vaucluse; vines come to fruition between September and November; olive trees are harvested in November and December. In addition to edible produce, Provence is one of the world's leading centres of perfume. The most prestigious perfumeries (parfumeries) are concentrated around the town of Grasse. All sell to the general public, and three prestigious maisons (Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard) are also open to visitors.

Don't miss out on the marchés hebdomadaires (or weekly markets), laden with an enormous array of produce. Expect to see everything from wonderfully local breads to meats and cheeses, fresh seafood as well as herbs, citrus fruits, olives and figs, not to mention artisan crafts and the ubiquitous lavender. As in much of France, locals are fiercely proud of their region's produce, and with such a diverse repertoire, you can hardly blame themǃ

Centuries of intense study of the culinary arts has produced a country where the food is almost invariably excellent. It is difficult to have a bad meal because French standards are so high. Nonetheless, in tourist traps there are places where standards slip, but to avoid this the classic tip is to choose restaurants that are busy with locals.

Each village in the region has a market day. You can buy local fare such as breads, cheeses, sausage, olives and preserves straight from the farmers and take them (the food that is, not the farmersǃ) for a picnic while exploring the countryside.

If you are going out for a sit-down meal, there are three main types of dining experiences to choose from. Restaurants are more formal in France, serving full dinner menus and at a pace that is slower than in, say, North America. You are expected to enjoy the food and it should be the main reason for going out. It is considered inappropriate to request that a dish be prepared in a different way than is stated on the menu. Restaurants usually have a selection of set menus, each with a different price range. You can also choose from a list of à la carte items. A bistrot is more casual and has more individual items, while a café is more casual still, serving press coffee, drinks, sandwiches (such as the ubiquitous croque monsieur) or pizzas.

Provence has a unique cuisine that reflects its Mediterranean history and frequent exchange of cultures. This is an olive-growing region, and there are many varieties, ranging from the tiny peanut size Niçois olives to the large Bouteillan or Aups olives. Other than oil, olives are also enjoyed as spreads either alone (Olivade) or mixed with capers (Tapenade). Many producers offer guided visits of their groves; these can be smallholding-sized plots but some are set in the grounds of real châteaux.

While many products are found all over the region, some are best sampled in certain areas. Let it be known that despite the region's bounty of native fare, the Provence has a highly popular pizzeria culture. OK, now that that announcement is out of the way, let's move on to some real Provençal cuisineǃ

On the coast, most of the cooking is fish-based, with sardines and anchovies being the most popular. For English speakers, the region's two best-known plats are of course bouillabaisse, a fish stew rich in herbs and spices, and the famous salade niçoise, a tunafish salad made with eggs, anchovies, tomatoes, green beans and black olives. While sampling both of these is a must, other lesser-known but equally tasty dishes include anchoiade, which is an anchovy-based apéritif spread, garlicky aioli and a Marseille specialityː grilled sardines. Another wonderful Provençal speciality is the savoury soupe de poissons, which is made with a base of tomatoes, onion, garlic and herbs and often served with croutons, grated gruyère cheese and a very spicy aioli.

In the hills, easily the most famous and best-loved dish is ratatouille, which in real life is even better than a certain Pixar film shows it to be. Though it be but a simple vegetable stew, and a peasant dish to boot, ratatouille is a very special mix of fresh courgette (USː zucchini), mushrooms, aubergine (USː eggplant), bell peppers, tomatoes and onion as well as garlic and Provençal herbs. In season, one can also enjoy stuffed vegetables (farcis) that are typical of rustic cooking. If the thought of all those vegetables is making you queasy, here's one for the carnivores. Daube is a scrumptious beef stew that is often mixed with olives.

For dessert, the tropézienne cake is not to be missed. This fluffy sponge-cake will cool you down nicely in the summer inferno. At the other end of the year, you may experience a unique Christmas ritual that will have pudding lovers salivatingː at the end of the Christmas meal, no fewer than thirteen desserts are servedǃ Which particular thirteen is a hotly-debated question (debate being one of the Provençal people's favourite activities). Despite the disagreement, an official list has been drawn up which encompasses: pompe à huile, the so-called "four beggars" (nuts, dried figs, almonds and raisins), dates, apples, pears, water melon, grapes, both black and white nougat and sorbet.

Most of the wine in this region is of very high quality and must be tastedǃ If this seems like a ludicrous and impractical task for the average holidaymaker, then why not try the locals' favouriteː a good rosé. Totally unlike the sweet, cheap crap many of us remember from the 1970s, traditional Provençal rosé is dry, light and acts as a perfect accompaniment to an afternoon picnic of bread and cheese.

Viticulture aside, the drink most endeared to the Provençal psyche is pastis, an apéritif liqueur made from anise. The many brands may be indistinguishable to outsiders but each one has a devoted local following, similar to sports teams and their fans. With an average alcohol content of 40-45%, this is strong stuff and will likely lead to some memorable nights (or not, depending on how much you indulge inǃ)

Fancy yourself a super spy at heart? Sipping a Martini ("shaken, not stirred" or however you like) while on a night out in the Riviera? When you order a Martini in France, you must be very specific. Don't just say "Martini", as for many French barmen, this means sweet vermouth apéritif on the rocks, as in a red or white Martini and Rossi. Better ask for a 'gin Martini', 'vodka Martini' or 'American Martini', and specify your preferred style like stirred, lemon zest, dry, etc.

If alcohol isn't your thing, or if you just fancy a break from all that Pastis, the region's excellent range of fruit trees yield a healthy fruit juice crop, and French coffee culture is ubiquitous.

In an emergency, dial 112.

If you decide that the Provence is your place to stay, you might as well stay safe. The last 10 years have seen a sharp rise in the crime rate on Côte d'Azur, with many houses burgled. Help and information for victims of burglary and those who want to check or improve the security of their property is best done with the assistance of the local police chief. If you decide to make the Provence your base and you are looking to buy a property, you should be just as cautious as in anywhere else. Don't just buy your property without doing the necessary research. Make sure you buy your property through a listed agent who is in possession of a "permit".

In addition to that, many cities in the region like Marseille, Nice, and Toulon have their share of pickpocketing and muggings.

• Catch a ferry from Nice, Toulon or Marseille to Corsica, known in French as "L'île de Beauté" (the "Island of Beauty").
• Go north to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and explore landscapes as diverse as the upper Rhone valley and the high French Alps.
• Go west to Occitanie, a region which curves along the coast until it collides with the Pyrenees and Spanish Catalonia.
• Go east into Italy, where the wealthy regions of Liguria and Piedmont await you.