Excellent Holiday Weather All Year Round
Your affordable holiday apartment with modern facilities from a private owner or your holiday home with a view of the lavender fields in Provence is located in a region with a mild Mediterranean climate. Warm summers and not too cold winters make Provence an outstanding all-year-round destination. The Mistral, the typical wind that blows from the mountains across the plain and far out to sea, brings dry, cool air. Except for the dry summer months of July and August, with temperatures up to 30°C, it rains on a few days per month throughout the year. The Mediterranean Sea bathing temperatures in the high season rise to 23°C – perfect for a
beach holiday in Provence. In summer, strong heat thunderstorms often build up. In winter, temperatures drop below 10°C. Frost rarely occurs on the plain. The region of Upper Provence (
Alpes de Haute Provence) is generally a few degrees cooler. This offers excellent hiking opportunities in not too hot weather. The area is ideal for a
holiday with your dog in Provence. Your four-legged family members will enjoy the holiday just as much as you do.
Délicieux – Southern France Welcomes You to the Table
It is hard to imagine that the saying "eating like a god in France" originated in the gourmet temples of Paris, once one has tasted the down-to-earth yet divine cuisine of Provence. A blessed landscape and Mediterranean sun provide an inexhaustible supply of fresh ingredients: an abundance of fruit and vegetables, high-quality meat from the pastures and meadows of the hills, game from the forests, and fish from the sea. However, the fish is now generally smaller and only available in small quantities. Just enough for a classic Marseille bouillabaisse with dragonfish, gurnard, and conger eel. Basic ingredients such as tomatoes and zucchini taste so good on their own that a bit of Fleur du Sel and cold-pressed olive oil transform them into a culinary poem. The best olive oils come from the Vallée des Baux de Provence. Provence is famous for its variety of fresh herbs, which give ratatouille its special touch. The bœuf gardian, made with ox meat, is simmered with a handful of herbs in red wine for almost half a day before being served. And every Chef de Cuisine knows that only the best red wine should be used for cooking, in order not to spoil the dish. The fine wines of Provence leave no wishes unfulfilled. If you prefer noble and powerful wines, try the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the Rhône Valley, the wine of the popes. Rarer as a white wine, but just as good. Lighter and fruitier delicacies can be found in the
Vaucluse. Fresh white wines and softly fragrant rosés along with summery red wines that are enjoyable slightly cooled - even in your holiday accommodation amidst the fragrant fields of Provencal lavender. The dreamlike scent will linger in your memory forever.
A Cultural Landscape between the Alps and the Mediterranean Coast
No matter where you rent your holiday home in the hinterland near the sea or your holiday apartment in Provence, whether on the coast or inland, you won't be far from the nearest sights. In Marseille, the largest city of the region on the
Côte d’Azur, art lovers will get their money's worth. The Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean traces the cultural history of this unique landscape. Visual arts can be found in the Museum of Contemporary Art and in the Museum of Fine Arts. Some of Cézanne's paintings also hang here. In Nice, the old town around the harbor is perfect for strolling and promenading. The numerous villas, city palaces, baroque churches, galleries, and museums will keep you enthralled. Continue to the artist and jet-set town of
Saint-Tropez, once a tiny fishing village on the shores of the Mediterranean. Gunter Sachs and Brigitte Bardot, as well as comedian Louis de Funès, made the place famous in Germany. In
Cannes, one of the world's most important film festivals takes place annually. In Antibes, one of the largest marinas in Europe, super yachts and mega yachts of millionaires and billionaires dock, such as the 85-meter yacht of Saudi Prince al-Walid ibn Talal. In the James Bond film "Never Say Never Again", it was the villain's yacht. Above the harbor stands Fort Carré from 1553. On a tour, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city and marina. If you are looking for nature after all the jet-set life, don't miss a visit to the Camargue. The wetland in the Rhone delta is a paradise for water birds. Many migratory birds and pink flamingos live here. A horse breed, the Camargue horses, also live in the area.
There is just as much to see inland as on the coast. Aix-en-Provence is the historical capital of Provence. The old town consists of a medieval and a Roman part. The Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur, seat of the archbishop, is of architectural history interest. The church was rebuilt several times over the centuries, combining different architectural styles, especially Gothic and Renaissance. Nîmes enchants visitors with its numerous buildings from Roman times. At the center of the old town stands the impressive amphitheater, with a capacity of 25,000 spectators, dating back to the 1st century AD. The temple Maison Carrée is also from this time, close to the theater. At Vers-Pont-du-Gard, the Pont du Gard aqueduct from this time remains preserved. This technical building is an impressive example of the Roman architectural skills 2,000 years ago. The medieval structures in Avignon are no less impressive. In the 14th century, popes and antipopes resided in a monumental palace here. Together with the famous and sung-about bridge of Avignon, the Papal Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Between 1335 and 1430, the Papal Palace was the residence of various popes and antipopes. On the square in front of the UNESCO World Heritage Palace, you can enjoy a glass of wine or Pastis with ice and water. The hustle and bustle on the square and the centuries before your eyes pass by. This is pure southern French lifestyle. If you want to experience Provence as a cultural landscape, visit the Plateau of Valensole to see lavender and almond cultivation. At the annual Lavender Festival (Fête de la Lavande), the event revolves around the purple blossoming and delicately fragrant bushes. Hikers will enjoy the Grand Canyon du Verdon, the 700-meter-deep Verdon Gorge. Spectacular hiking trails run along the slopes and deep down in the valley. On climbing routes, you can master the steep flanks of the canyon and gorges. Mont Ventoux is a dominant, 1909-meter-high mountain in the French Provence. The Celts probably worshiped it as a sacred mountain. The Ventoux became popular across the region after being climbed and described by Francesco Petrarca in 1336. For hikers, this is worth a trip alongside the Luberon. Otherwise, explore the surrounding communities.