15 Charming Villages in the South of France You NEED to See

Have you ever wanted to spend days exploring charming villages in the South of France? Meander through delightful villages, enjoy beautiful beaches, wander through lavender fields, and taste amazing food from Lourmarin to Saint-Remy-de-Provence. You, too, will find that the South of France is a fantastic place to visit with its quaint old villages, chic resorts, and fantastic beach towns (according to Conde Nast Traveller).

In the summer, you’ll enjoy the warm weather and long summer days that stretch right through into September and October. November introduces more rain and cooler temperatures, but it is a perfect time to visit the South of France if you are looking to avoid crowds. I didn’t realize how much I would love this area of France until my husband and I visited.

South of France Map

15 Charming Villages in the South of France

Plan your itinerary to the South of France with day trips to Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, boat tours of the “Calanques de Cassis”, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, and stunning lavender fields.

If you are visiting in the South of France late in the season, you may find that a lot of the shops and restaurants are not open. However, of the shops that are open, you will be welcomed with a cheery “bonjour”.

I recommend renting a car in Aix en Provence, packing a collapsible cooler bag that can lay flat in the bottom of your luggage, and enjoying picnic lunches wherever you travel in the South of France.

Or better yet, purchase fresh French bread, sandwich meat, cheese and fruit and stop for a picnic lunch under the sycamores along the roadside just outside of Gordes. Perfect!

1. Aix-en-Provence

If you are flying from another location to explore the South of France, your closest airport will be in Marseille, France. Alternately, you could also take the train, take a bus, or travel by car to reach Marseille if you are traveling within Europe.

Choosing a central location, such Aix-en-Provence, allows you to set off each day to explore villages in the South of France without having to pack up and move from one hotel to another. It is certainly an option if you want to find places to stay in the quaint villages. Search for vacation rentals on Booking.com.

In mid-November, you’ll find the countryside is still beautiful and green and dotted with orange-hued sycamore trees.

If you take the bus from Marseille to Aix-en-Provence, be sure to map out the distance from the bus station in Aix to your hotel to determine whether it is walkable or if you will need to arrange a taxi or Lyft/Uber.

Stay at the Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel, a Marriott property, for a short walk from the station to the hotel.

Are you interested in earning points toward hotel stays with the Marriott Bonvoy line of hotels? Their properties range from economy stays to boutique hotels.

The old town of Aix-en-Provence is very walkable and features a rotunda (central fountain), the Paul Cézanne Carousel, restroom facilities, quaint shops and boutiques, and cafes and restaurants. Walking tours are available, though you may just be happy to keep your camera busy snapping away as you wander on your own.

Did you know that the Cours Mirabeau, the main street off the rotunda, had once been a dividing line of class—the poor on the left side of the street, the rich on the right side? At night the gate to the “poor section” used to be locked so that no one could sneak out!

As you continue your exploration of Aix-en-Provence, you’ll discover the Pavillon Vendome, a folie that had been donated to Aix-en-Provence in the 17th century.

A folie is an attractive, non-functional building constructed solely for decoration.

The entrance fee to visit the Pavillon Vendome is 7 euro, though I wouldn’t recommend it. There are maybe five rooms total in the museum. Not quite what you might expect from a museum experience. Definitely a folie!

However, the grounds are lovely and wide open for taking pictures.

If you happen to be visiting toward the end of November, you may find as you walk along the Cours Mirabeau workers assembling the boxes for the upcoming Christmas Market. The market opens mid November and stays open through the end of the year.

You will find everything from handcrafted toys, homemade presents, crockery, local Provençal products, and mulled wine. You might even spy a magician teaching his craft to youngsters and those young at heart. Admission to this market is free of charge.

2. Bonnieux

Bonnieux offers views that go on for miles. You’ll love the patchwork scene of orchards, vineyard, and rolling hills. You can even see the village of Lacoste in the distance.

Bonnieux features a 12th century old church “Vieille Eglise” that dominates the landscape as well as a much newer church, the “Eglise Neuve”. The new church was built in 1870 and features painted scenes of the passion of Christ.

Built into the side of the hill, the terracotta-roofed houses of Bonnieux offer beautiful views and architecture.

Bonnieux distance from Aix-en-Provence: 32 miles (52 km)

3. Cassis

You can’t visit in the South of France without also planning a day trip to Cassis (Cass-ee). When you arrive in Cassis, head down to the harbor to buy tickets for a boat tour to visit the Calanques de Cassis.

“The Calanques are a series of rocky cliffs and bays between the city of Marseille and the town of Cassis, in the south of France. They’re essentially inlets that have been formed in the limestone cliffs, leaving behind a series of beautiful little bays.”

Theculturetrip.com

If you have a little extra time, drive to the top of the mountain, only a 20-minute drive from town. The aroma of the lilacs wafts around as you open your car door and spy purple tufts of lilacs dotting the mountainside.

If you walk carefully along the edge, the view of the harbor opens to impressive, clear blue water below and dramatic cliffs surrounding this lovely coastal town in the South of France.

Stop at the local boulangerie and patisserie to purchase baguettes, croissants, sliced meat, and cheese for an impromptu lunch before boarding the Moby Dick III for a tour of the Calanques.

Beware of where you sit on the boat. If you choose to sit up front in the open air, it will be lovely as you motor out of the harbor, but once you reach the open waters, the waves get a little crazy and you may be get some or a lot of splashback a time or two.

Cassis distance to Aix-en-Provence: 31 miles (50 km)

4. Gordes

Gordes is another one of the spectacular villages in the South of France in the Luberon Valley. The town itself was built into the hillside with stunning views of the whole valley stretching for miles beyond.

When Chris and I visited, we wandered into the courtyard of the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse – Jean Garcin History Museum 39-45; two French-speaking ladies tried with great effort to teach us about the vintage emergency vehicles on display. With Chris’ limited French, their creative pantomime, and lots of nodding, we began to understand. 

The ladies encouraged us to visit the World War I section on the third floor of the museum. As Chris and I climbed the three flights of stairs, we were met with a closed door looking into an area where we thought maybe a meeting was in progress. We didn’t want to interrupt.

Turns out it was just the workers chatting, but our two French lady guides were soon at the top of the stairs checking on us and ushering us in.

The museum employees conveyed their message very well about the evolving bicycles of the era, the instruments of war, and the youth involvement in training.

When they were unable to make us understand about the ineffective bullets that had been utilized and then recreated, they had another man come over and through his crazy pantomime of a soldier falling down and then hopping up laughing as he pointed to the first set of bullets, and then of a soldier falling dead as the guide’s head rolled, we soon came to understand that the first bullets used were ineffective in actually killing people in the war.

A new type of bullet was created. We were glad that we had stopped to visit, if nothing more than to learn from the enthusiastic guides.

Many people suggest that the French are a stoic, unfriendly sort of people. Our experiences showed us otherwise. They were always willing to help and many smiled.

It is the custom to call a greeting as you meet people or walk in to shops. Doing that, with my obvious American way of messing up their language, still garnered kindness, and often a switch to their broken English to communicate.

Don’t forget to schedule time to visit the lavender fields at the Senanque Abbey. They are especially vibrant when they are in bloom between mid-June and late-July.

Gordes distance to Aix-en-Provence: 47 miles (76 km)

5. Goult

If you have the time, put a pin in your south of France map with an itinerary stop in Goult. And…if you happen to be exploring on a Thursday in the summer months, park in the square and enjoy the village market

There is a cute little shop—Les Angles D’Alma—with delightful home decor and treasures.

Follow the narrow road up the hill until you reach old Goult. This section of Goult is constructed out of golden stone, and in some places, homes are even carved out of the rock of the hill. Continue to the top of the plateau where you will find a windmill and picturesque views.

Goult distance to Aix-en-Provence: 37 miles (60 km)

6. Lacoste

The claim to fame of Lacoste surrounds the Chateau de Sade, or the castle of the former Marquis de Sade. Today, it belongs to the famous fashion designer, Pierre Cardin, who lovingly restored the castle and organizes a yearly cultural festival in the summer.

Beyond the Chateau de Sade, wander through the charming village along winding cobblestone streets to discover beautiful homes, restored and decorated with plants and brightly colored flowers.

Lacoste distance from Aix-en-Provence: 36 miles (58 km)

7. Les Baux-de-Provence

Les Baux-de-Provence is a delightful fortress town where you can spend a couple of hours exploring. If you are visiting villages in the south of France in the fall, you may find that you have these castle ruins to yourselves.

Les Baux-de-Provence is nestled in the Allpes mountain range.  

The Carrières de Lumières light show in an old rock quarry on the edge of the village of Les Baux-de-Provence is a popular attraction with visitors. The light show is different each year and attracts large audiences.

Chris and I entered the quarry and found ourselves in the most amazing venue. The walls were tall and the many cameras throughout projected artwork by Picasso and other artists on the wall while music played over the loudspeaker. It was fascinating. If you have the chance, I highly recommend this venue.

Les Baux-de-Provence distance to Aix-en-Provence: 45 miles (73 km)

8. L’Isle sur la Sorgue

If you happen to be visiting the Luberon Valley on a Sunday, you’ll definitely want to include the market in the town center of L’Isle sur la Sorgue. While the market usually starts between 9:00 am and 9:30 am, I recommend that you arrive by 9:00 am or earlier to find a parking spot.

Spend time meandering the streets of this huge market where you’ll find shops selling flowers, antiques, clothes, produce, lavender, olives and so much more. Grab a little lunch and then continue along the country roads to your next adventure.

L’Isle sur la Sorgue distance to Aix-en-Provence: 47 miles (75 km)

9. Lourmarin

Your first stop in the Luberon Valley should be Lourmarin. Lourmarin is just a lovely little village with the cutest shops that you’ll find on your south of France vacation.

Wander the streets of Lourmarin and you may come across this scene. This is one of the favorite pictures that I have taken in my European adventures.

The French really know how to create a vignette to draw you in to their stores and homes, as well as vignettes as you drive to make the passing countryside even more inviting.

Lourmarin distance from Aix-en-Provence: 24 miles (39 km)

10. Luberon Valley

If you need a few tips on where to go, what roads to take, and which enchanting villages in the south of France to visit, take a moment to chat with the hotel concierge. They have a wealth of knowledge about the area and can inform you of road closures and possible delays in your travels.

They might even have an umbrella to borrow if you are visiting France on a rainy day.

The Luberon Valley is about one hour from Aix-en-Provence and offers one little town after another of picturesque beauty. As you drive, enjoy the beautiful vineyards, the olive gardens, the lavender fields, the apple orchards, and the rolling hills.

Make use of the WAZE app as it can handily route you around any traffic disturbances if you happen to take the secondary roads. Getting off the main roads helps you to avoid toll booths as well as to enjoy the magnificent scenery along these tree-lined roads.

Apparently, Napoleon was instrumental in planting trees many years ago to provide shaded relief for his soldiers as they marched. These sycamore trees are now stately and grace long sections of road in the French countryside.

11. Pont Julien

Be sure to plan a quick stop at Pont Julien, a small Roman-built bridge, that has survived for hundreds of years. It was used as a main thoroughfare through the area up until 2005.

Pont Julien is centrally located between Roussillon, Goult, and Bonnieux and not too far from Lourmarin.

Pont Julien distance from Aix-en-Provence: 35.6 miles (57 km)

12. Provencal Colorado

Your hotel concierge might suggest a visit to The Provençal Colorado located not too far from Roussillon and outside the village of Rustrel. It is somewhat similar to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but on a much smaller scale.

Colorado Provencal is a former ochre (a clay-based rock that contains iron oxide) quarry and has two hikes you may wish to try:

• Sahara Circuit @ 1.3 miles (2.1 km) EASY
• Lookout Circuit @ 2.4 miles (3.9 km) EASY to MEDIUM

The Provençal Colorado distance from Aix-en-Provence: 43.5 miles (70 km)

13. Roussillon

Roussillon is outstanding with its red rocks and is not too far from Provencal Colorado. If you happen to be touring the city on a chilly day in November, stop at the Bistrot de Roussillon for hot chocolate and a respite from the weather.

The village of Roussillon captivates you with its charm and ambiance. Wander among the maze of picturesque alleys and squares where you will see the homes in varying shades of ochre.

Roussillon distance from Aix-en-Provence: 42 miles (67 km)

14. Saint-Remy-de-Provence 

Before returning to Aix-en-Provence, make a quick stop in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence—or Saint-Rémy—to discover so many amazing streets and shops in one of the cutest villages in the south of France.

The main street of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence circles the old village centre. Park on or near this ring road and discover the heart of the town with beautiful shops, old fountains, and shaded squares.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence distance to Aix-en-Provence: 48 miles (77.5 km)

15. Senanque Abbey and Lavender Fields

Outside of Gordes, lives the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque or Senanque Abbey. In the summertime, it is surrounded by aromatic lavender fields in brilliant hues of purple. The best time to schedule your visit is between mid-June and late-July.

Unfortunately, if you visit in the fall, the lavender in fields and throughout the valley surrounding the Abbey will have long been harvested. Chris and I just had to imagine how stunning it would be in the summer months.

As you leave the Abbey and Gordes, check your South of France map to navigate the back country roads past vineyards and fields and an awesome windmill, the Moulin de la Badelle.

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque distance to Aix-en-Provence: 53 miles (85 km)

The World is full of Adventures… Discover Yours!

Photography Gear to Improve Your Travel Photos in the South of France

I take photos everyday and everywhere. Sometimes I quickly grab my phone before the opportunity is gone, and sometimes I use my Canon 6d Mark II for a well-composed quality shot.

And sometimes when I travel, I have both my phone and my camera ready to go (I look like such a tourist)!

You may encounter people who are passionate about their brand of camera. There has long been a debate about which camera brand is the best—Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc. The answer? Whatever camera you have with you!!!

Here are a few ideas for your camera gear options:

• Point and Shoot Camera
• Mid-range DSLR
• DSLR – Canon 6d Mark II
• Canon EF-S 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 
• Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens 
• Nifty Fifty Lens
• Phone

Just remember, you don’t have to travel with ALL of your photography equipment. Pack lightly. Take only the essentials. That may mean your camera body, one possibly two versatile lenses, and a few accessories.

Do you need to brush up on your photography skills as a traveler? Maybe you’re a beginner wanting to learn more. Check out the 5 Best Travel Photography Courses for Beginners.

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Final Thoughts on 15 Charming Villages in the South of France You Need to See

However many days you choose to explore during your South of France vacation, you will absolutely LOVE the magical villages and towns that dot the landscape. Having a car to drive from one village to another is an absolute must.

While there, plan to visit markets, peruse museums, explore the Calanques, and soak up the sun along the coast. And, of course, take lots of pictures.

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