Attractions in Provence
Hilltop Villages
Let yourself be charmed by lovely villages perched atop hills, including Les Baux de Provence, Sainte-Croix-de-Verdon, Moustiers Sainte Marie and Saint-Auban-sur-Ouvèze, and get delightfully lost in the garrigue (South of France scrublands) and Provence’s endless fields of lavender. More information about the Haute-Provence Alps region
The Savage Coast
Along the Mediterranean Coast, you may wish to discover the glorious coves in the Cassis region, as well as creeks and fishing villages such as La Ciotat and Cagnes sur Mer.
Villages of Provence Classified Among "The Most Beautiful Villages in France"
Ansouis, Gordes, Lourmarin, Moustiers Sainte Marie, Séguret, Les Baux de Provence, Ménerbes, Roussillon, Venasque, la Gard-Adhémar, Le Poët Laval, Montbrun-les-Bains.
Film Culture in Provence
- The Lumière brothers, inventors of cinematography and color photography, made their first films : L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat (Arrival of a Train in La Ciotat Station) and L'Arroseur arosé (The Waterer Watered) at their country home in La Ciotat.
- The films were projected on September 25, 1895, in Eden, the world’s first movie theater. The film hall still exists today at the center of La Ciotat.
- The works of Auguste and Louis Lumière was saved in a house in Signes (Var).
- Many movies were filmed in the area’s towns and villages.
- La Femme du Boulanger (The Baker’s Wife), by Marcel Pagnol, was shot in the village of Le Castellet.
- The writer, playwright and French filmmaker Pagnol is a French culture icon. He is recognized worldwide for his many works filmed in Provence.
- The region has become a must-see for anyone passionate about the 7th art. The Festival of Cannes, the prestigious and renowned international film festival, is held every year at the end of May.
- It is not uncommon to cross paths with some of the celebrities who call Provence home. Who knows? You might end up buying a baguette alongside Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie in the tiny village of Brignoles.