The Most Beautiful places in South of France

The south of France is the gift that keeps on giving. Known for being a fancy location, it is a very popular part of France for tourists. I don’t know anyone who has visited and did not fall in love with it. The most beautiful places in south of France cut across Provence and Côte d’Azur aka the French Riviera. From walking around cobblestone villages to fields of lavender, to gorgeous beaches and historic cities, there is something for everyone. I especially love that it is coastal as much as it is countryside.

We recently spent 7 days in South of France and I have written a detailed itinerary of our trip. It follows everything we did, where we stayed and everywhere we went. It was our 3rd time to that part of France and as always, it was a delight.

The best places to visit in Provence

GORDES

This fairytale village looked like it was straight out of a Disney film. We got to the view point after driving from Aix en Provence and enjoyed seeing an aerial, drone-like picture. Gordes is definitely one of the most beautiful places in South of France. It was just so incredibly pretty. Although we did not spend much time exploring Gordes, the little glimpse was enough to fall in love with it. It reminded me of one of the stills from Beauty and the Beast; of Belle’s village.

You will notice a common theme with villages I fell in love with in the south of France. They all reminded me of Belle’s village lol.

The exact view point is on Rte de Cavaillon which you see on the right as you drive towards Gordes. It is unmissable as there are signposts and even a little car park just by the spot. However, as it is a popular stop, there might be buses of tourists stopping at the same time; so it can get busy.

The Gordes viewpoint is on Rte de Cavaillon

Gordes is one of the more popular villages in the Luberon valley and it is the one everyone tells you to visit. I can understand why; it is beautiful and is home to one of the best hotels in France, Airelles Gordes. A trip to Provence is truly incomplete without a visit to Gordes.

A mini TV reference:

For Emily in Paris lovers, she dined in Clover Gorges, Jean François Pièges’ Provençal restaurant on that infamous trip to Provence.

ROUSSILLON

This is one of the lesser visited villages of Luberon valley and I genuinely think it deserves its glory too. It is well known for its red dramatic cliffs as it is the largest deposit of ochre in the world. I think it is one of the most beautiful places in south of France. It is different, colourful, charming and has that quaint feel to it. Walking through the village is like walking in a cartoon production. The buildings are painted in shades of reds, pinks and oranges which give the village a distinct look.

There is a small centre where it looks like all roads lead to and there are restaurants dotted around. We walked in and out of the beautiful streets and just enjoyed the calm atmosphere. In comparison to the other popular villages in the Luberon valley, Roussillon was the least busy.

One of the most popular things to do in Roussillon is walking the Ochre trail aka Le Sentier des Ocres. It is about 30 – 60 mins long depending on the walk you choose.

Must visit place in Roussillon?

Nougat des Lices- the famous dessert shop for Nougat Traditionnel de Montelimar which was established in 1884. Its on 68 Rue des Bourgades, 84220 Roussillon.

LOURMARIN

Lourmarin is one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France like Gordes and Roussillon. It is also another one of the most beautiful places in South of France.

This is the Luberon valley village where we spent most of our time. We arrived early evening and enjoyed a quiet walk around before we settled for an early dinner. Lourmarin is what your mind imagines when you think of Provence. I found it très romantic, extremely charming and just so beautiful. If there is one village to visit in the Luberon valley, I totally vote Lourmarin. There are a few boutique hotels like Le Galinier and Le Moulin.

STAY IN LE GALINIER

STAY IN LE MOULIN

What to do in Lourmarin:

Château de Lourmarin is a must as it is Provence’s 1st renaissance château from the 16th century. For parents travelling with kids to Provence, there is an outdoor play ground that our bubba loved.

Where to eat in Lourmarin:

It has to be Café Gaby which is right in the centre of the village on the prettiest cobblestone street. There is the option to eat al fresco and indoor as well. I had a burger and Mr E had the steak; both meals were delicious.

Other places in the Luberon valley that I thought were beautiful include Bonnieux and Ménerbes. As they are quite close to Gordes and Lourmarin, they are also worth checking out.

AIX EN PROVENCE

Aix en Provence is the university city in Provence and most importantly, the birth place of Paul Cezanne. To any creative, art lover or just anyone who appreciates art, Cezanne is a legend. Aix en Provence is known for its stunning romanesque architecture and fountains dotted all over the city. It is no wonder that it has been nicknamed the “city of a thousand fountains”. Aix en Provence will introduce you to Provençal markets, yummy French delicacies and in the summer months, lavender fields.

What to do in Aix en Provence:

This is another city where you walk around and get lost. There is so much beauty and history that walking is the best way to discover it all. We loved walking on Cours Mirabeau which was at some point made for horse drawn carriages.

There are lots of cafés, restaurants and gorgeous terraces to relax and watch the world go by. Other things to do include retracing Cezanne’s life. The route is marked with the letter “C” and it will lead you from the house he was born to where he is buried in St Jean cemetery.

Aix en Provence – The home of Paul Cezanne

Where to stay in Aix en Provence:

It has to be Le Pigonnet. The hotel on its own is one of the most beautiful places in South of France. It is one of the best hotels in Provence and as far as luxury hotels go, it is reasonably priced. It is a 5 star hotel set around the most stunning Provençal gardens.

One of Paul Cezanne’s favourite spots is located within the garden so it is a hotel with lots of history. You can see where he painted one of his Mount Sainte Victoire classics and to me, you can’t beat that.

Le Pigonnet is romantic and family friendly. For a full review of where to stay in South of France, see my review of Le Pigonnet.

Where to eat in Aix en Provence:

Le Grillon. When we checked into Le Pigonnet, we asked for recommendations and this one was top of the list. For an area which is known to be expensive, it is decently priced and is right in the centre of town.

The best places to visit in the French Riviera

SAINT PAUL DE VENCE

My favourite fairytale village in France is without a doubt, Saint Paul de Vence. I genuinely think it is the most beautiful place in south of France. I fell in love with this one when we stayed for 2 days and I understood why it was a trap for artists. We drove from Cannes and parked right in the village since we were staying there. However, parking within the village is limited if only coming for a day trip. There are car parks just outside the village and then you walk in to explore. The bus 655 from Parc Phoenix in Nice is also a more sensible option.

Saint Paul de Vence is as perfect as fairytale villages go. Again, think Belle’s village in Beauty and the Beast; cobblestone streets, disappearing alleys and charming shops. It is one of the oldest medieval towns in the south of France and its fortified wall is still present to date. It was home to artists like Picasso, Chagall and Metisse. The renowned French poet Jacques Prévert lived there in the 1940s and his home is available on airbnb.

What to do in Saint Paul de Vence:

Visit the galleries that line the streets. It is a creative’s haven as there is so much inspo from walking around the village. You can also visit the Cimetière where Chagall is buried.

Where to eat in Saint Paul de Vence:

Le Lotus d’Or was the one that we absolutely loved. It is a Vietnamese restaurant and the special thing about it is that we could eat our food alfresco. We loved it so much we returned the following night to get take out.

Le Lys d’Or cafe and patisserie for the perfect coffee and pain au chocolat.

Read my full review of Saint Paul de Vence here.

If you can, stay in Jacques Prévert’s former cottage, La Miette. We did and it is still one of my most magical travel experiences to date.

Read my full review of the most beautiful cottage in South of France: La Miette here

ÈZE

I had seen Èze for the longest time in photos and knew I had to visit. Èze is one of the most beautiful villages in south of France. It is the medieval village between Nice and Monaco. We drove straight to the carpark which is right next to the entrance of the village.

Èze is a popular day trip from Nice and you can see why when you arrive. It is filled with quaint, cobblestone streets and I always find villages like Èze quite romantic. They are scenic and as one weaves in and out of the pretty streets, you’re transported to a time in the past. Cars cannot drive into the village which to me, makes it even more special. Everyone gets off and has to walk into the beautiful village.

How to get to Èze:

We drove and parked next to the village entrance which was very convenient. However, you can take the bus 82 from Nice which takes you to the front of the village. Make sure to avoid the train as it is a very long hike up from where it stops you.

What to do in Èze:

The best thing to do in Èze is to explore its quaint, cobblestone streets. Le Jardin Exotique which has the best views in Èze village. Church Notre Dame de l’Assomption is an interesting and historic stop. Fragonard Perfume factory is also in the village so it is one to add to the list if you fancy. The converted Château, Château Eza also has a restaurant that is popular for lunch and dinner. Other places to eat in Èze are Le Nid d’Aigle and Château de la Chèvre D’Or. However, for a no fuss meal, just stick to any of the restaurants you see on the path to the village. We also bought some ice cream from Le Palais des Glaces.

MOUGINS

The beautiful village of Mougins is quite small. We drove to the mini town centre and went for a walk to the flower and fruits shop. It is a really pretty medieval village in the French Riviera and a lovely base to visit Cannes. Mougins is the perfect mix of countryside and coast; it feels like Provence within Côte d’Azur. It is no wonder that people who talk about it group it as a Provençal village.

We stayed in historic hotel, Les Rosées which made our time in Mougins even more special. Something quite special about Mougins is that it is the village where Pablo Picasso lived for the last 12 years of his life. It is where he died in 1973 and although his house is closed to the public, this fact draws tourists to Mougins.

Mougins is a celebrity trap and I suspect that the serenity and proximity to Cannes (Film Festival) makes it attractive. Jean Cocteau, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Catherine Deneuve and many more spent time in Mougins in their lifetime.

What to do in Mougins:

Explore the medieval village that has lots of art galleries, restaurants and museums. Stop at Chapelle de Notre Dame which is close to the property Picasso spent the last years of his life. Picasso spent the last 12 years of his life in Notre Dame de Vie, a private house that is closed to the public. For nature lovers, L’étang de Fontmerle, a serene oasis set in a beautiful park. It is in one of the biggest lotus parks in Europe.

For where to eat in Mougins, we stopped at a gorgeous Boulangerie to buy some pain au chocolate and baguette. There was a pizzeria just off the road where we bought some pizza and ice cream to take back to the hotel for our dinner.

MENTON

Menton is the last place on the French Riviera just before the Italian border. So you can see how it has been inspired by both French and Italian architecture. It is very colourful and is very much worth a must visit if you are in South of France. You can get a direct train from Nice and it is another popular day trip from Nice.

We drove from Monaco as it is only 25 minutes from there and I must confess that parking was a nightmare lol. However, this did not stop us from spending some time there – it is an artist’s dream. Blocks and blocks of colours lined side by side and in the sun, it is absolutely glorious. I kept wondering what it must feel like to actually stay in one of the colourful houses.

What to do in Menton:

Les Sables beach is a must as it has the famous gorgeous colourful backdrop of houses. Other places to see are the Botanical garden and for the best views, head to Cemetery of the Old Château.

VILLEFRANCHE SUR MER

If there is one place I wish we had a full day to explore, it is Villefranche sur Mer. It is one of the most beautiful places in south of France. However, I will settle for driving through it and stopping to take it in from the view point. Next time, I am in the South of France, it will definitely be the first place I’m heading to.

Villefranche sur Mer is beautiful even from the glimpse I caught. It is no wonder why it is quite popular with the wealthy who buy up the real estate. It is the quintessential coastal town and even though there is not so much to do in comparison to Nice, it is well worth a day trip.

On our way to Eze, we noticed cars stopping at a particular spot so we followed suit. It looked like a photo you’d see on a typical south of France postcard. Just incredibly beautiful and I was so happy that we stopped.

The most beautiful places in South of France

From my list, you can tell where we stayed over as I have recommended hotels we stayed in. South of France is an absolute dream and I know that I am not yet done with it. You know how you visit some places and feel like you still need to see more of it, that’s how I feel about south of France.

I’d like to see even more villages in Provence and show my bubba the charm of St Tropez. The fact that it is an area where there are villages, cities, beaches and everything in between makes it perfect. What is even more lush is its proximity to the UK so there is no reason why we won’t be back in the near future.

Bisous, Bugo x