Best Provence
The Barbegal Roman Mills complex in southern France dates to approximately the 2nd century AD and represents one of the largest known concentrations of mechanical water power in the ancient world. The facility consisted of 16 water wheels arranged in two parallel cascades down a steep hillside, whic...
Domaine Tempier is a historic wine estate located in the Bandol appellation of Provence, France. The domaine was significantly expanded and modernized in the mid-20th century by Lucien Peyraud, who advocated for the Mourvèdre grape to be the cornerstone of the region's red and rosé wines. The estate...
Le Thoronet Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in the Var department of Provence, France, founded in the 12th century. It is one of the three Cistercian "Sisters of Provence," alongside Silvacane and Sénanque. The abbey exemplifies the austere Cistercian style with plain stone walls, minimal orn...
Lucienne “Lulu” Peyraud is a celebrated French winemaker specializing in Bandol wines from Provence. Her work with Domaine Tempier, alongside her husband Lucien, significantly shaped the region's reputation for intensely concentrated reds primarily utilizing Mourvèdre grapes. She’s recognized for pr...
Eloi Dürrbach is a Provençal winemaker operating Domaine de Trévallon since 1973. He specializes in natural winemaking using grapes primarily from the Alpilles region. His wines are recognized for their complex character and skillful integration of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varieties. These wines...
The Barbegal Mills represent one of the most significant archaeological discoveries relating to Roman industry. Located in Provence, France, this complex utilized sixteen waterwheels powered by an aqueduct system to process grain. Constructed around the 2nd century AD, it’s notable for its scale and...
Marché Forville is a covered municipal market in central Cannes, France, near the old quarter of Le Suquet. Its stalls are primarily associated with fruit, vegetables, flowers, cheese, meat, fish, and other foods from Provence and the Mediterranean region. The market operates mainly during the morni...
Les Halles d'Avignon is a prominent covered food market located in the city of Avignon in southern France. Serving as a central hub for regional gastronomy, the market houses dozens of vendors selling fresh Provençal produce, meats, cheeses, and baked goods. The interior is noted for its lively, com...
The Roman Theatre of Orange is an ancient Roman theater located in Orange, Provence, France, constructed during the 1st century AD under the reign of Emperor Augustus. It is distinguished by its exceptionally well-preserved stage wall, or frons scaenae, which stands 37 meters high and provides excep...
Montmajour Abbey is a ruined fortified Benedictine monastery in Arles, France, founded in the 10th century, noted for its unique unfinished monumental tower.
The Basilique de Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is a Gothic Dominican basilica in Provence, southern France, whose construction began in 1295 under Charles II of Anjou. It was built to house what are traditionally believed to be the relics of Mary Magdalene, who, according to medieval tradition, live...
The Château de Tarascon stands prominently on the banks of the Rhône River in Provence, France. Constructed beginning in 1401 by King Louis II of Anjou, this medieval fortress is notable for its unique Machicolons – projecting galleries with defensive openings. Its strategic location and innovative...
The Verdon Gorge is a steep river canyon located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Carved by the Verdon River, the gorge reaches depths of up to 700 meters, distinguishing it as one of the deepest and most prominent canyons in Europe. The sheer limestone cliffs lining...
Eric Pfifferling is a French winegrower and the founder of Domaine de l'Anglore in Tavel, in the southern Rhône Valley. He works primarily with regional varieties such as Grenache, Cinsault, and Clairette, producing both red and rosé wines through low-intervention cellar practices. The domaine is es...
The Spice House Herbes de Provence is a southern French herb blend named for Provence and commonly includes thyme, rosemary, savory, basil, and lavender.
The Massif des Calanques is a coastal mountain range located in southern France between Marseille and Cassis. It is characterized by striking white limestone cliffs that plunge directly into the Mediterranean Sea, forming deep, narrow inlets known as calanques. The entire area is ecologically protec...
The Massif du Ventoux is an isolated limestone mountain range located in the Provence region of southeastern France. Its highest peak, Mont Ventoux, reaches an elevation of 1,909 meters and is widely recognized as the "Giant of Provence" due to its massive prominence above the surrounding plains. Th...
Silvacane Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery located in the Provence region of southern France, established in 1144. It is one of the three prominent Cistercian abbeys in Provence, alongside Sénanque and Le Thoronet, collectively known for showcasing early Cistercian architectural principles. Th...
The Arc de Carpentras is a Roman arch in Carpentras, France, constructed in the early 1st century AD, distinguished by its highly detailed and well-preserved historical carvings.
Spice Islands Herbes de Provence is the brand's version of the southern French herb blend, sold by Spice Islands, founded in 1941.
Glanum is an ancient Roman and Hellenistic archaeological site situated just south of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in southern France. The settlement originally began as a Celto-Ligurian oppidum before developing into a substantial Greco-Roman city. It is best known for its well-preserved antiquities, inc...
The Massif de la Sainte-Victoire is a limestone mountain ridge in Provence, southern France, rising east of Aix-en-Provence. Its pale rock face and changing appearance under different light became a recurring subject in paintings and watercolors by Paul Cezanne. The massif is also a destination for...
The Moulin de Daudet is a stone windmill near Fontvieille in Provence, France, traditionally associated with French writer Alphonse Daudet. The connection reflects Daudet's 1869 collection Lettres de mon moulin, or Letters from My Mill, although he did not live permanently in the mill that now bears...
The Tarasque is a dragonlike monster from Provence said to have been tamed by Saint Martha; Tarascon's related festivities entered UNESCO's heritage list.
Known as the 'City of a Thousand Fountains,' Aix-en-Provence is an elegant oring that exudes sophistication. It was once a hub for painters and writers, and its wide boulevards and cafes still reflect that artistic legacy. The city offers a slower pace than Marseille but more urbanity than the rural...
The Arc de Cavaillon is a Roman triumphal arch located in Cavaillon, France, notable for its well-preserved single span and intricate decorative reliefs dating to the 1st century.
Saucisson d'Arles is a traditional French dry-cured sausage originating from the Provence region in southern France. The sausage is distinguished by its use of a specific meat blend that historically includes pork combined with beef or donkey meat. Seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and red wine, i...
Located in Normandy, France, this 15th-century watermill is unique for functioning primarily as a horse-driven and water-powered apple cider press rather than a gristmill.
