Bonjour mes amis! There’s a specific magic to driving the South of France in summer season or early autumn, with the home windows down, the scent of untamed thyme and pine bushes drifting in from the hillsides, and a soundtrack of cicadas you didn’t even know was taking part in. That is the a part of my homeland that I like exhibiting guests most: a sun-drenched ribbon of coast, vineyards, and stone villages that stretches all the best way from the Italian border to Spain.
“Within the South of France, the highway doesn’t take you wherever — it offers you permission to cease in all places.”
On this weblog, I’ll stroll you thru the highway journey itinerary we love most at TripUSAFrance: two unhurried weeks from Good to Barcelona, weaving via the Riviera, the guts of Provence, the wilds of the Camargue, the medieval Languedoc, and a ultimate flourish throughout the Spanish border into Catalonia. Allons-y!
The Which means of “Le Midi”
You’ll typically hear the French confer with the south as Le Midi, which interprets actually as “noon” or “midday.” The title evokes the solar at its highest level — a becoming picture for a area outlined by gentle, heat, and a slower, sunnier rhythm of life. Le Midi stretches loosely from the French Riviera within the east, throughout Provence and the Languedoc, all the best way all the way down to the foothills of the Pyrenees.
It’s right here that daylight spills throughout olive groves and vineyards, medieval hilltop villages watch over rolling lavender fields, and winding coastal roads result in coves of impossibly blue water. Whether or not you crave haute delicacies or a easy picnic of baguette and goat cheese, designer boutiques or a Provençal market bursting with shade, Roman ruins or lengthy seaside swims — the South of France has all of it.
When to Go
In our expertise, Might, June, and September are probably the most magical months. The climate is heat however by no means punishing, the colleges are nonetheless in session so that you’ll have the villages principally to your self, and the sunshine is the type of gentle gold that drew Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Matisse right here within the first place. April and October are beautiful too, if you happen to don’t thoughts cooler mornings and the occasional Mediterranean bathe.
July and August? We gently recommend you keep away from them if you happen to can. Northern Europeans flood south on summer season vacation, costs rise, parking turns into a real sport, and the warmth within the inland villages could be intense. If these are the one months that give you the results you want, merely e-book every part sooner than you assume vital — and embrace the lengthy, lazy lunch as a survival technique. Carry a hat, take it sluggish, and keep in mind the French knowledge: on ne se presse pas — we don’t rush.
Don’t wish to drive?
Take our South of France small-group tour!
Why Start in Good?
Good is great place to start out your highway journey in Le Midi. The Côte d’Azur Airport sits simply 7 km (about 4.3 miles) from town heart, with direct flights from throughout Europe and seasonal connections from North America. Tram Line 2 will whisk you downtown in 20 to half-hour for underneath €2, and the foremost automobile rental companies are all positioned proper on the airport.
Our suggestion: spend your first two or three days exploring Good on foot, permitting your physique to regulate to French time, then choose up your rental automobile once you’re prepared to move west. There’s no cause to navigate Riviera visitors with jet lag when the regional trains and buses can do the give you the results you want.
The Route at a Look
Distance: Roughly 1,000 km / 620 miles
Length: 14 days / 13 nights (and simply stretched to 21) + a pre-road journey keep in and round Good
Begin: Good, France
Finish: Barcelona, Spain
| Day | Cease | Nights | Why You’re Stopping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-road journey keep | Arrive in Good (pre-road journey, no automobile but) | 2–3 | Riviera basecamp; day journeys to Monaco, Èze, Antibes, Cannes |
| 1-2 | Riviera Hilltop Villages, then Cassis | 2 | Limestone calanques and turquoise swims |
| 3 | Aix-en-Provence | 1 | Cézanne’s elegant hometown |
| 4-6 | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence | 3 | The guts of Provence; Luberon villages |
| 7 | Nîmes or Arles | 1 | Roman ruins nonetheless in use |
| 8-10 | Montpellier | 3 | Bohemian base for the Camargue & Aveyron |
| 11 | Carcassonne | 1 | A medieval citadel come to life |
| 12 | Collioure + Figueres | 1 | Final French port + Dalí surrealism |
| 13-14 | Barcelona | 2 | Gaudí, tapas, and a slower exhale |
Beginning in Good and the French Riviera
Good is the unofficial capital of the Côte d’Azur, and its outdated city — Vieux Good — is a labyrinth of ochre buildings, slender lanes, and small squares stuffed with the chatter of locals over an apéritif. Spend your mornings wandering the Cours Saleya market, the place flower sellers show peonies and ranunculus beside distributors with sun-warmed tomatoes and tapenades. Attempt a slice of socca (a skinny chickpea-flour pancake, a neighborhood Niçoise specialty) at Chez Pipo. Stroll the Promenade des Anglais at golden hour, and climb Fortress Hill (Colline du Château) for a panorama of terracotta rooftops tumbling towards the ocean.
As a result of Good is so nicely linked by practice, the encompassing gems are all inside simple attain with out your automobile:
Monaco — The glamorous principality of the Grimaldi household. Watch the altering of the guard on the Prince’s Palace and wander the unique gardens. A brief and scenic practice trip alongside the coast.
Villefranche-sur-Mer — In our opinion, one of many prettiest fishing ports on all the Riviera. Pastel homes tumbling all the way down to an ideal crescent bay. Simply ten minutes from Good by practice.
Èze — A medieval village clinging to a cliff some 400 meters above the ocean. Carry comfy sneakers; the climb is steep however the views are unforgettable.
Antibes — House to the Picasso Museum (housed within the painter’s former studio on the Château Grimaldi), an enthralling ramparts stroll, and the cafes of the outdated city.
Cannes — Sure, the well-known movie pageant city. Even with no crimson carpet, the Croisette and outdated port make for a pleasant afternoon.
Grasse — The fragrance capital of the world. Tour a parfumerie reminiscent of Fragonard or Galimard, and also you’ll by no means take a look at a bottle of fragrance the identical manner once more.
Day 1-2: Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Haut-de-Cagnes, then Cassis (2 nights)
Time to gather your rental automobile and head west — however slowly, please! Your first cease ought to be Saint-Paul-de-Vence, probably the most beloved hilltop villages of the Côte d’Azur. Cobblestone lanes, stone archways draped in bougainvillea, artwork galleries tucked into historical homes, and the world-class Fondation Maeght simply outdoors city. Marc Chagall is buried right here, within the village cemetery overlooking the valley.
Just under, Haut-de-Cagnes is a quieter various — the higher medieval village of Cagnes-sur-Mer — the place Auguste Renoir spent his ultimate years. His home and backyard, now a museum, are a transferring glimpse into the painter’s final artistic chapter.
Skip Marseille on this journey (it deserves a journey of its personal) and drive straight to Cassis, a small port city tucked between dramatic white cliffs and the legendary calanques — slender limestone fjords whose turquoise waters rival these of the Caribbean. You’ll arrive on the finish of the day, simply in time for a leisurely stroll of the city and a recent seafood dinner at a harborside desk with a glass of the native Cassis white wine, one in all Provence’s best-kept secrets and techniques.. The following day, take a ship tour from the harbor, or, if you happen to’re feeling energetic, hike a piece of the calanques.
Day 3: Aix-en-Provence (1 night time)
An hour inland brings you to Aix-en-Provence, the elegant hometown of Paul Cézanne and, in some ways, probably the most refined metropolis in Provence. Stroll the Cours Mirabeau beneath its cover of airplane bushes, settle in on the historic Les Deux Garçons (a favourite of Cézanne and Émile Zola themselves), and lose your self within the outdated city’s tangle of fountains, squares, and Saturday markets. Hôtel Aquabella is a beautiful central selection, with the added pleasure of a thermal spa on-site — the proper option to soothe road-weary legs.
Days 4-6: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (3 nights, and it’s possible you’ll want for extra)
If wherever captures the soul of Provence, it’s Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. That is Van Gogh nation — the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the place he painted The Starry Night time, sits on the fringe of the village. The city itself is sufficiently small to stroll in a day, but wealthy sufficient to maintain you exploring for days. Airplane-tree-shaded squares, wonderful eating places, antiques outlets, and one of many best Wednesday markets in all of Provence.
From Saint-Rémy, the riches of central Provence are all inside an hour:
Châteauneuf-du-Pape — For lovers of wine, this village is crucial. Tasting rooms abound, and the encompassing vineyards produce among the most celebrated reds in France.
Eygalières Market (Friday mornings) — Smaller and extra genuine than the bigger market cities. Arrive early for the most effective produce and probably the most charming native environment.
Gordes and Roussillon — Two of probably the most lovely villages in France. Gordes is the postcard picture of a Provençal stone village; Roussillon glows in shades of ochre crimson and orange, constructed into former pigment quarries.
Lourmarin — On the southern facet of the Luberon. Albert Camus is buried right here within the native cemetery. The Friday market is likely one of the loveliest within the area.
Avignon — The Palais des Papes, the place seven popes as soon as reigned within the 14th century, is likely one of the most spectacular Gothic palaces in Europe. Don’t miss the well-known half-bridge (le pont d’Avignon) immortalized within the youngsters’s track.
Day 7: Arles and Nîmes, the French Rome (1 night time)
Arles is price no less than a protracted cease in your manner west. The Roman amphitheater, constructed within the 1st century AD, nonetheless hosts concert events and bullfights to today. You may stand on the very corners Van Gogh painted, together with the well-known yellow café of Café Terrace at Night time. From Arles, proceed to Nîmes, affectionately known as “the French Rome” for its astonishingly well-preserved Roman monuments. The Enviornment and the Maison Carrée are each practically 2,000 years outdated and stay among the many best examples of Roman structure wherever outdoors of Italy.
Days 8-10: Montpellier and the Languedoc (3 nights)
Montpellier surprises lots of our vacationers. Youthful, extra bohemian, and extra inexpensive than its Provençal neighbors, this thousand-year-old college city has a vibrant café tradition, a superbly preserved outdated quarter (Écusson), and an exquisite place from which to discover among the most underrated corners of southern France.
Day journeys from Montpellier:
- Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert — Formally one in all Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Stunning Villages of France), this medieval abbey village is tucked dramatically right into a gorge of the Languedoc countryside.
- Camargue 4×4 Safari — The Camargue is a wild marshland delta the place you’ll discover pink flamingos, sturdy white horses, and the well-known black bulls. A guided 4×4 tour is one of the simplest ways to immerse your self on this otherworldly panorama.
- Le Grau-du-Roi Catamaran Tour — Spend a half-day underneath sail alongside the Mediterranean coast. Or, take a sundown catamaran tour adopted by a recent seafood dinner. Come earlier within the afternoon to benefit from the sandy seaside and the blue water of Le Grau-du-roi.
- La Couvertoirade and the Roquefort Caves — A full-day tour north into Aveyron to go to a fortified Templar village and style blue cheese within the very caves the place it has been aged for hundreds of years. A protracted drive, sure, however completely price it.
Day 11: Languedoc Coast — Pézenas, Narbonne, and the Canal du Midi
As you proceed west, the panorama gently shifts. The vineyards take over, the structure turns into a contact extra rustic, and the Spanish border feels nearer with each kilometer.
- Oysters at Le Saint-Pierre Tarbouriech — Close to Marseillan, the Tarbouriech household raises among the best oysters in France utilizing a tidal system distinctive to the Étang de Thau lagoon. Order a dozen and a glass of crisp Picpoul de Pinet. You may thank us later.
- Pézenas — The city of Molière, the nice Seventeenth-century playwright. A superbly preserved outdated quarter filled with vintage outlets and artisan ateliers.
- Narbonne — A former Roman port whose lined market, Les Halles, is likely one of the nice culinary experiences of southern France. Plan your lunch round it.
- The Canal du Midi — A Seventeenth-century UNESCO-listed engineering marvel, lined with airplane bushes and dotted with locks. Even a brief stroll or bike trip alongside its banks is pleasant.
Day 12: Carcassonne (1 night time)
Finish the French portion of your journey in storybook trend at Carcassonne, the most important fortified medieval citadel in Europe. With its double ring of partitions and 52 towers, it appears to be like like one thing from a fairy story — but it’s over a thousand years outdated and superbly actual. We strongly suggest staying contained in the partitions of the Cité if you happen to can. As soon as the day-trippers go away in late afternoon, the cobblestones empty and the place feels completely yours.
Days 13-14: Crossing into Spain — Collioure, Figueres, Barcelona
Heading south towards the Spanish border, make one final French cease in Collioure, a jewel of a fishing village on the Côte Vermeille the place Henri Matisse and André Derain invented Fauvism in the summertime of 1905. Even as we speak, a sequence of easels alongside the harbor mark the precise spots from which they painted. Get pleasure from a plate of the well-known Collioure anchovies, a glass of native rosé, and a protracted take a look at that half-moon harbor earlier than crossing the border.
As soon as in Spain, cease in Figueres to go to the Dalí Theatre-Museum, designed by the surrealist himself and constructed atop the ruins of the city’s outdated theater. It’s, with out exaggeration, probably the most extraordinary museums in Europe. From Figueres, it’s roughly 90 minutes to Barcelona, the place you possibly can return your rental automobile and ease into Catalan life: tapas at midnight, Gaudí’s curves and colours, and a rhythm of life that’s by some means each unhurried and electrical.
A Few Sensible Notes
- Rental vehicles: Choose up in Good, drop off in Barcelona. Cross-border drop-off charges do apply however are normally fairly manageable. E book early in excessive season.
- Tolls: French autoroutes are tolled and never low-cost, however they’re quick and excellently maintained. Plan for round €60 to €80 in tolls throughout the complete route.
- Driving in outdated cities: Don’t! All the time park outdoors the village partitions and proceed on foot. Your GPS will typically attempt to ship you down a stairway. Belief your eyes over the display screen.
- Lunch is sacred: Most village eating places serve lunch from 12 to 2 after which shut till dinner. Plan accordingly, or it’s possible you’ll find yourself with a tragic gas-station baguette.
- Markets: Each city has its market day. Ask at your lodge or examine the native tourisme web site. The markets of Provence and the Languedoc are among the most joyful experiences in France.
- Basic Journey Suggestions: Don’t overlook to take a look at our 10 Important Suggestions for a Easy Trip in France.
Conclusion
There isn’t a single “proper” option to drive the South of France. Some vacationers chase the lavender fields; some comply with the rhythm of village markets; some come for the wine, the Roman ruins, or just the sunshine. This itinerary is the one we love as a result of it weaves all of these threads collectively — the Côte d’Azur’s glamour, the soul of Provence, the wild Camargue, the medieval Languedoc, and a ultimate flourish throughout the Spanish border.
At TripUSAFrance, we imagine the true magic of the South of France lies not in any single landmark, however within the sluggish pleasures in between — the unplanned village found round a bend, the dialog with a market vendor, the unhurried glass of rosé in a shaded sq.. When you would like to depart the driving (and the planning, and the language) to us, we might be delighted to welcome you on one in all our small-group excursions of Provence and the Languedoc.
Bon voyage, mes amis — and save room for yet one more rosé.
