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When most travelers hear Provence, they think of Peter Mayle country, with rolling lavender fields and quirky locals. And while this bucolic reverie does indeed exist, the vast region offers much more to discover. There are historically important towns, like Avignon and Arles; great wineries that can be toured along the Rhône; and rugged landscapes like the Gorges du Verdon, a paradise for hikers and rock climbers.
It’s easy to explore along the French Riviera and inland Provence, but you should decide where you want the focus to be. If you’re after Peter Mayle’s Provence (ie the Luberon region), it’s easiest set out from Avignon or Marseilles, both quickly reachable from Paris, where you can rent a car and slowly meander through the small towns until you hit the coast.
If seaside escape and the summer scene of the Côte d’Azur are more of a draw, fly directly to Nice and base yourself in Cannes, Antibes or St. Tropez. Main cities, like Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Nice are well-serviced by train routes. Check the country’s official train Website SNCF (www.voyages-sncf.com) for time tables.
Unless you’re happy to stay put in a resort setting, like St.-Tropez, it’s best to rent a car to explore this expansive and beautiful region. The charming villages of the Bouches-du-Rhone and Vaucluse departments (see Lay of the Land) are relatively close and easy to explore in a few days of sightseeing.
Here are some sample distances between the region’s most popular towns:
Avignon to Aix-en-Provence: 51 miles
Avignon to Arles: 22 miles
Avignon to L’Ile-sur-la-Sorgue: 14 miles
Avignon to St.-Remy-de-Provence: 12 miles
Aix-en-Provence to Cannes: 94 miles
Aix en Provence to Salon-de-Provence: 20 miles
Aix-en-Provence to Marseilles: 19 miles
Marseille to Nice: 117 miles
Nice to St. Tropez: 70 miles
Nice to Antibes: 15 miles
Nice to St.-Paul-de-Vence: 11 miles
St.-Tropez to Monaco: 80 miles
St.-Tropez to Aix-en-Provence: 74 miles
St.-Tropez to Antibes: 60 miles
St.-Tropez to Cannes: 47 miles
Published onFebruary 9, 2014
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