Summer activities

Summer activities in Provence

The Provence - Côte d'Azur region is the most famous and popular tourist region in France. The nature here is beautiful: the Mediterranean Sea with its sand or pebble beaches and the stunning world-famous Calanques. If you go further inland, you’ll find hills covered in vineyards, olive groves and lavender fields. Scattered throughout the landscape are beautiful authentic villages through which you can stroll. Scattered along the coast, you’ll find famous seaside resorts such as La Ciotat, Cassis, St. Tropez and Cannes. Marseille, the capital of the region and the naval city of Toulon are also worth a visit. Take beautiful walks, long bike rides, exciting boat trips and visit amusement parks. There are many possibilities to practice water sports along the coast.

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Tourist spots on the coast

There are plenty of cozy seaside resorts scattered along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In the western part of Provence lies Marseille, the oldest city in France. East from Marseille you’ll find cozy villages such as Cassis, La Ciotat, Bandol and Sanary-sur-Mer. The cozy boulevards and the harbors with colorful boats are very popular among tourists and locals. Toulon and Hyères and beautiful islands off the coast of Provence are located in the southernmost part of this region. Further east, towards the bay of St. Tropez, you’ll find Le Lavandou and Bormes-les-Mimosas. On the bay of St. Tropez are St. Tropez, Port Grimaud and Ste. Maxime. The coastal towns are flooded with tourists during the summer. The cities of Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes and Nice are in the East of the region.

You can find more touristy places on our tourist tips page.

Saint Tropez

The legendary town of Saint Tropez is known to anyone who visits Provence. The harbor is full of luxury yachts and loads of expensive cars that drive along the Boulevard. You’ll see loads of exclusive villas. The old part of Saint Tropez has narrow streets, charming squares, small beaches, and Provencal markets. Many artists make and sell their paintings or other works of art here. In the old town and shopping passage "Passage Riva" you will find luxury items and designer brands. There are various must-see monuments such as the Citadel and various museums. The Musée de l'Annonciade houses artworks by Matisse and Picasso. Be sure to try a "Tarte Tropézienne", a cake that became famous thanks to Brigitte Bardot. More information...

Luxury yachts, expensive cars
Shopping in the old town
Art galleries
Monuments and museums
Festivities
Tarte Tropézienne
Various beaches
Boat Tours

Wine

Provence is one of the oldest wine regions in France. The hills, different types of soil and the shining sun are ideal conditions for wine grapes to grow in. Red wine, white wine and rosé are all produced in the region. There are many wineries in the area that can be visited.

Lavender

From mid-June to the end of August, lavender fields are in full bloom and have a beautiful purple color. Lavender is used in perfume, bath oil, scented candles but it is also used as a medicinal herb. Provence organizes all kinds of lavender markets and lavender festivals during the summer.

Olives

The olive is inextricably linked to French cuisine. Olives are used in tapenades, salads and in combination with meat or fish. The olive itself is eaten and its oil is extracted from the pit and flesh. There are more than 100 different types of olives in France.

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Tourist places inland

In the French department Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, north of Fréjus and Cannes and on the Route de Napoléon, lies the old fortified town of Castellane. This town is located near the Gorges du Verdon and the Lac de Castillon. A little further west lies the "village under the gold star". This star, located above the town of Moustiers, ended up at this spot in a legendary way. The village is typically Provençal, it has a lavender scent, picturesque squares and alleys, terraces under trees and houses with terracotta roofs. Saint Paul de Vence is another beautiful village in Provence. Every year, this picturesque village attracts more than 2.5 million visitors.

Beautiful nature reserves in Provence

The nature in Provence - Côte d'Azur is very beautiful. Two specific areas are very popular and highly visited in this region during the holidays: the Calanques and the Gorges du Verdon.

Calanques

The famous Calanques, also called the Mediterranean fjords, are located between Marseille and Cassis, and stretch over a length of 20 km. The bays go far into land and the rock walls are steep. From the peaks you have beautiful views and along the Calanques you can take beautiful walks. At the bottom of the cliffs, you’ll find small beaches perfect for sunbathing and swimming. The water is so blue and clear that you can even see the bottom.
More information...

Gorges du Verdon

The most famous gorge in Europe is the Gorges du Verdon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Provence. It is also one of the largest gorges and has a length of 25 km with rock walls with heights of up to 700m. The most impressive section of the gorge is located between Moustiers St. Marie and Castellane at the part where the water cuts through the plateau Grand Plan de Canjuers. At this point the gorge only has a width of six meters. Mountaineers and rafters from all over the world visit the Gorges du Verdon to practice their favorite sport.
More information...

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Sports activities

Are you sporty and do you like to stay active during the holidays? There are many different sports you can practice whilst vacating in Provence such as:

hiking, cycling, playing golf
horse riding, quad biking
rafting, canoeing
skydiving, bungee jumping
mountain climbing, exploring caves

Amusement parks in Provence - Côte d'Azur

Aqualand

Kiddy park

Marineland

Antibesland

Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is located on the Mediterranean Sea and only has land borders with France. After the Vatican, it is the smallest country in the world. In the oldest part of Monaco there is the Princely Palace of Monaco, the Cathedral of Monaco and the Musée Océanographique. Another famous neighborhood in Monaco is Monte Carlo, known due to the Monte Carlo Casino. Be sure to take a walk through the marina, where you will find yachts that have cost millions. More information...

Grasse

Grasse is seen as the world capital of perfume. Most of France's perfume is made in Grasse. The main attractions in Grasse are the perfume factories. There are three large perfume factories that you can visit: Galimard, Moulinard and Fragonard. You can take a beautiful tour though the area surrounding Grasse. During this tour you will learn everything about the production of flowers for the perfume industry. More information...

Water sports on the Mediterranean Sea

Snorkelling

Parasailing

Jet skiing

Boat trips

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