A Photographer’s Data to principally in all probability probably the most beautiful villages in Provence!
The Provence area of France is form of a gourmand platter of all factors photogenic. Character crammed medieval villages mix with vibrant fields of flowers and olive bushes. You in all probability can stand up by the Mediterranean Sea, meander by means of historic stone paved streets and sip native wines as you {{{photograph}}} the photograph voltaic setting over mountain ranges.
For a go to to Provence make sure to take additional reminiscence having fun with enjoying playing cards than you suppose you’ll want. Picture choices are infinite; whether or not or not or not you’re into landscapes, avenue scenes, journey footage or coastal coves.
After a yr of residing in Aix en Provence, I’ve put collectively an information to principally in all probability probably the most beautiful villages to {{{photograph}}} contained in the Provence area.
Beneath you’ll uncover a little bit of bit description of every village, a map of the place to hunt out them and a few event photos of what you may anticipate to see.
*Keep scrolling for a map you may open with Google Maps with the entire villages marked!
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The Most Lovely Villages in Provence…
#1 Aix en Provence
The place a heat breeze blends with the scent of freshly baked baguettes and fountains sprinkle chilled water over historic stone streets. Aix en Provence is the central hub and glowing gem of the world. The outdated metropolis is a maze of vibrant alleys with the normal orange and pink hues making a myriad of pictures choices. Sit and other people watch on the Cours Mirabeau or wander vibrant updated meals markets in definitely one among many many character crammed squares spherical metropolis.
Finest time for images: Market mornings of Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday whenever you’ll uncover updated produce, flowers and antiques to {{{photograph}}} alongside the colorful avenue scenes. Late night is prone to be beautiful too with dimly mild streets providing an very important likelihood for moody footage!
Best lodges in Aix en Provence – Click on on proper right here for present reductions by Reserving.com or scroll to the underside of this information for my private concepts.
#2 Moustiers St Marie
Cute, quaint and spectacular are all phrases that describe this medieval village tucked into the cliffs close to Gorges du Verdon. You in all probability can climb a stone staircase used for pilgrimages since 470AD to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel which sits excessive above the village and in addition to makes for an unbelievable vantage diploma for images over the rooftops. A waterfall runs by means of the middle of the village additional along with to the enchantment that exudes by means of the small streets the place facades are embellished with vines, trinkets and vibrant doorways and window shutters.
Finest time for images: Should you’re doing a day journey to the realm, spend your day down at Gorges du Verdon and Lac St Croix then head to Moustiers contained in the late afternoon to seize the sunshine dipping over the mountains.
Moustiers will likely be merely all through the nook from the Grand Canyon of France the Gorges du Verdon. The Gorges du Verdon is a 25km stretch of the Verdon River that flows beneath large cliffs and cascades. Take a look at my kayaking adventures correct proper right here.
#3 Fontaine de Vaucluse
Take into accounts a fairy-tale village with a water wheel spinning in an emerald inexperienced stream that flows from inside a 230m excessive cliff. Fontaine de Vaucluse is charming from all angles. The village oozes character nonetheless what I discovered most spectacular is the trail alongside the river banks of River Sorgue ensuing inside the bottom of the cliff. The spring is principally in all probability probably the most extraordinarily environment friendly in France and varies in depth on account of the seasons change. In winter and mid-summer you may stroll 30 or so metres deep down into the cave nonetheless on account of the native climate modifications in spring and autumn the water stage rises and creates a implausible pool and raging torrent, an unbelievable sight to see the dramatic distinction. See beneath for an event of the same tree in fairly just a few seasons!
Finest time for images: Late afternoon to have sufficient shade for blurring the little cascades or in the midst of the day to confirm there’s sufficient mild contained inside the cave.
#4 Roussillon
Nature areas on a little bit of bit present in Roussillon with crimson cliffs and ochre quarries making a rainbow of rouge all by the forests and village itself. Ochre fibres are used inside the homes creating streets crammed of character and hues. Suppose crimson facades with vivid blue window shutters…get your digicam prepared!
You in all probability can merely wander from the village into the Sentier des Ocres two paths meander by means of the forest and a panorama of crimson and yellow pigmented cliffs.
Finest time for images: Because of the photograph voltaic fashions over the village it’s fairly particular to see a crimson sundown sky over a crimson village. To seize the entire shade scheme of the village and surrounding forest although it’s good to shoot in the midst of the daylight so the colors are shining vivid.
#5 L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Successfully-known for it’s Brocante, L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue is taken under consideration definitely one among Europe’s predominant hubs of antiques with quite a few lush yard courtyards full of treasures from the sooner. It’s like strolling by means of a reasonably outdoor museum blended with canals and vibrant facades winding by means of city’s outdated centre. Should you’re on the town on a Sunday I terribly advocate visiting the morning meals markets then staying till the afternoon for the traditional markets that line the canals!
Envisage to cease in on the Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges cathedral the place mild shines by means of the ceiling revealing the inside detailing. Furthermore contained in the sq. beside the cathedral you’ll uncover the photogenic Cafe de France.
Finest time for images: Personally I actually really feel it’s good to go to on Sunday for the markets on account of there’s fairly a bit occurring and so many colors to seize! Wander by means of metropolis then cross the canal and hit the pores and skin traditional markets full of gems from the sooner and Parc Municipal Gautier.
#6 Gordes
Distinctive and fairly, Gordes is called the golden woman of Provence with stone buildings cascading down the hill facet on the rock whereby the village is perched. On the very extreme you’ll uncover the cathedral and beneath winds tiny cobbled streets with one issue enchanting spherical each nook.
For an very important view of Gordes cease on the Route de Cavaillon the place rocks jut out providing the becoming vantage diploma for images of your full village.
Finest time for images: Wander by means of the stone alleyways inside the heat afternoon mild then head over to the vantage diploma to try the photograph voltaic set over the village and fields.
#7 Lacoste
Fairly as an image, Lacoste provides the quintessential Provence village with out the crowds. Château de Sade overlooks the village and surrounding Luberon landscapes with streets and buildings paved in calade stone making a singular scene not like one different village in Provence. Envisage to cease by correct proper right here for some images, if just for 20minutes it’s positively undoubtedly definitely worth the detour!
Finest time for images: Any time of day this beautiful village is photogenic nonetheless as with most villages in Provence, the great and cozy afternoon glow is right.
#8 Bonnieux
With the church tower dominating the skyline, Bonnieux is hard to overlook whenever you’re taking the highway between Lourmarin and Roussillon. Overlooking fields and the Luberon mountain ranges, this village affords panorama footage choices together with the frequently village scenes of Provence. Keep a watch fixed out for the small lanes all through the church and in addition to within the occasion you happen to’re visiting in Autumn, quite a few the homes some courting as soon as extra to the 16th century are lined in brightly colored autumn leaves that distinction fantastically with their blue window shutters.
#9 Ansouis
This was the primary village I ever visited in Provence (exterior of Aix en Provence) and I nonetheless bear in mind it’s most likely in all probability probably the most beautiful. A medieval citadel from the 12th century sits on extreme of the hill whereas the streets are full of artists’ workshops, vine lined stone homes and an air of nation residing.
#10 Cucuron
Surrounded by farmland, Cucuron is vibrant all yr prolonged and has a implausible neighborhood environment. On the centre of city you’ll uncover a vast pool (bassin) the place tall bushes mirror into the nonetheless water creating a superb {{photograph}} numerous with the colored homes and cafes lining the waters edge. Wander by means of the streets the place you’ll see cats sleeping on window sills, wheelbarrows full of flowers and on the extreme of the village is the dungeon of Saint-Michel, the one remaining a part of what as rapidly as was a citadel. Good views overlooking the terracotta rooftops beneath.
#11 Lourmarin
Fashionable and fashionable, Lourmarin is full of gourmand eateries and boutiques. Its streets are correctly saved and tremendous cute with doorways creating the becoming {{photograph}} choices to seize Provence life at its most beautiful. All through city you’ll uncover vineyards and a 15th century citadel that sits beside the native soccer area.
#12 Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon
Sitting fairly overlooking the massive aqua blues of Lac Saint-Croix, this village is a should go to in Provence. Fashionable in summer season season season, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon is largest considered from above on the extreme of the highway that winds down the hillside within the route of the lake. Or within the occasion you happen to seek out out to take a paddle boat or kayak out on the water, it seems to be merely as beautiful from beneath. There’s a substantial amount of cafes open that supply panoramic terraces!
Finest time for images: You’ll uncover the village is shaded contained in the late afternoon on account of the photograph voltaic dips behind the encircling mountains. Dawn is a wonderful time of day correct proper right here nonetheless all by the day you’ll have the ability to seize the intense colors of the village and lake.
#13 Gréoux-les-Bains
Head for the centre of the village and likewise you’ll uncover Rue Grande, a brightly colored rainbow avenue of outlets and consuming areas promoting native devices and providing a vibrant outdoor environment in summer season season season. Typical colors are discovered all through the surface edges of the village nonetheless the inside is daring reds and yellows. Gréoux-les-Bains will likely be acknowledged for it’s pure thermal water you may go to thermal caves or the citadel of the Templars which rests above the village.
#14 Valensole
The Plateau de Valensole is dwelling to infinite rows of purple lavender inside the summertime months. You’ll uncover a myriad of areas to shoot the enduring Provencial lavender photos with stone farm cottages, sunflowers and the setting sky to make the most of in your composition. For an entire information to top-of-the-line lavender fields and pictures areas spherical Valensole, take a peek at my full information to ‘Photographing the Lavender Fields of Provence’ for a map and extra particulars.
Furthermore for an additional detailed information to Valensole, you should purchase my eBOOK ‘A Photographer’s Data to Provence, France’ which decisions an itinerary for touring Valensole in summer season season season!
#15 Les Baux-de-Provence
Heritage listed, Les Baux is traditionally intriguing with citadel ruins positioned on a rocky plateau resting excessive above the olive plantations beneath. The citadel is a reminder of the village’s medieval historic earlier with the restored sections providing an unbelievable notion and stone steps as rather a lot as a result of the citadel partitions showcasing very important positioned on from use over 1000’s of years. The village is now fairly vacationer good nonetheless there are nonetheless quite a few quaint alleys and the Romanesque and Renaissance Church of Saint Vincent. From the easiest of the plateau you may see all the easiest way whereby to Arles and the Camargue! Furthermore merely all via the highway you’ll uncover Carrières de Lumières, a spectacular artwork work gallery carved into the rock which duties it’s exhibitions onto the stone.
The place to remain in Provence?
From the smaller villages to the larger centres of Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, there’s so many prospects concerning selecting a base to remain. You in all probability can every decide to stay in a single place and journey out into the world on day journeys, or enterprise spherical spending one or two nights in fairly just a few areas. Beneath are some properties and lodges I personally advocate all via the Provence area…
Aix-en-Provence
Aix is in my view top-of-the-line base for exploring Provence. From correct proper right here you may drive to the lavender fields of the Plateau de Valensole, the Mediterranean shoreline of Cassis, La Ciotat or Saint-Tropez in merely over an hour or go to the fairly just a few Luberon villages inside an hour.
In Aix you may revenue from the morning markets before setting off for a day journey elsewhere. There’s quite a few lodges, villas and residences to find out on between, all of it in any case depends upon funds and need. Should you’re hiring a automotive in Aix-en-Provence merely make sure to test that the lodge has parking available on the market as there’s minimal on-street parking because of the slim alleys.
Click on on proper right here to view on the market lodges in Aix-en-Provence
Gordes
The important unbelievable issue about Provence, Gordes is surrounded by luxurious villas and sprawling spa lodges. It’s the place to base your self or spend just a few nights within the occasion you happen to’re looking for to loosen up, take inside the sunshine and uncover a few of the villages and landscapes of the Luberon. From correct proper right here you’re near Roussillon, Bonnieux, Menerbes, Avignon and within the occasion you happen to’re on the town on Sunday, the traditional markets of L’isle-sur-la-sorgue are just some minutes down the highway.
Click on on proper right here to view on the market lodges in Gordes
Plateau de Valensole
Should you’re visiting in summer season season season, the Plateau de Valensole is for the lavender lovers and eager outdoor explorers. With the lavender fields surrounding loads of the villages on the plateau, the engaging setting of Gorges du Verdon merely minutes away and infinite mountaineering trails shut by, it’s an very important base for journey. I’d advocate staying contained in the village of Riez, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon or Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
Click on on proper right here to view on the market lodges on the Plateau de Valensole
Avignon
For historic earlier buffs and metropolis scenes, Avignon is an efficient base in Provence. On the shores of the Rhone, from Avignon you may enterprise into the Luberon, west in course of Le Pont du Gard or south to Les Baux-de-Provence. Should you’re opting to remain in Avignon, it’s price leaving your self a minimal of a day or two to seek out Avignon itself and the Palais des Papes notably!
Click on on proper right here to view on the market lodges in Avignon
PROVENCE Map: Provence Photographs Areas + Lovely Villages in Provence
Have to check additional about areas to go to in Provence, France?
Research additional correct proper right here …
14 Photogenic Experiences to have in Provence, France
When to {{{Photograph}}} the Landscapes of Provence – an information of top-of-the-line seasons for lavender, poppies and extra!
Electronic mail correspondence howdy@thewanderinglens.com for additional data on excursions and workshops contained in the Provence and Côte d’Azur, together with underwater footage contained in the calanques!
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Whats up there! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as an skilled journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this web site is from my private expertise on the highway. I hope it’s helpful in your personal travels and wish to take heed to contained in the recommendations about your journeys and experiences throughout the globe.