Surroundings

Découvrez l’art de vivre provençal en séjournant dans un mas authentique en explorant ses alentours pittoresques.

Le Lubéron

Lubéron is a region with breathtaking scenery. Its villages nestled on the mountainside, its castles, or even its ochre cliffs all fuel the desire to get more acquainted with this area. Enjoy exploring its paths on foot or cycle during sunny days. So, it is possible to plan a full itinerary to cover in few days. For a pleasant stay in the heart of its idyllic nature, the best is the Luberon’s rental accommodation.

The Luberon is home to around fifty villages, which are either perched or nestled against the Luberon and Monts de Vaucluse massifs. All are surrounded by landscapes of olive groves, vineyards, Mediterranean forests or orchards. Each viewpoint is unique and offers a panorama of the most famous massifs in the South of France: Mont Ventoux, Dentelles de Montmirail, Alpilles and in the distance, Sainte Victoire. Its vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see, and it is a real pleasure to walk or cycle through the vines. Walkers often come across a castle at the turn of a path and will discover the best vintages of the wines of the Rhône Valley.

Each of the villages, all nestled within the territory of the Luberon Regional Nature Park, has preserved in its own way its historic core and characteristic architecture... Bourgeois houses in the village centers or Mas and Bastides in the countryside alternate with cobbled alleys and flowered gardens, evocative ruins and perched churches, canals and old wells, mullioned windows and ancient gateways.

Two villages in our region are classified asThe Most Beautiful Villages of France: Gordes and Lourmarin. The village of Oppède le Vieux is recognized as a "Remarkable Heritage Site."

Discovering Provençal gastronomy is also a highly interesting theme for travel. Following an itinerary to taste local specialties is a true pleasure. During a hike, stepping into a farm to refresh and order the local bread is a classic ritual for visitors. It is also the moment for them to sample the flavors of truffles. A simple omelette then becomes a feast. Lamb dishes are also among the specialties of the region.

Taking a trip to the Luberon to discover its history is also possible by visiting its monuments and museums. Let yourself be told the story, from the Roman people to the popes in Avignon, passing through the Jewish quarters of Cavaillon and the eventful history of the Vaudois in the Luberon, the Plague Wall...

The Mirabeau Bridge is a monument that holds an important place in the region. It served as a backdrop for the films Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, directed by Claude Berri. The current bridge was built in 1987 and spans the Durance River, but you can still admire the remains of the suspended bridge and its pier.

The village and the enclosure of bories, which seem to be located in the middle of nowhere, are worth visiting during a journey in the Luberon. It is interesting to see these stone huts that served as seasonal dwellings for shepherds and their animals. The village has not been inhabited for a long time after its residents moved to the city.

Garrigue is part of Lubéron’s classic scenery. Discovering this region can’t be fully achieved without passing through its brushwood in the middle of nowhere. The nature lovers will love admiring the region’s plants and animals which are in the milieu.

Le Lubéron compte aussi des cours d’eau et des points d’eau nombreux. Etang de la Bonde, Lac de Cadenet, bassin de Cucuron, plan d’eau d’Apt, les lacs à Beaumont de Pertuis

La Camargue

 La Camargue secrète et poétique. Etangs et marais salants bordés de roseaux, d’oiseaux, d’écume de mer. Arles sera la porte vers la Camargue. Etape inévitable, Arles et ses alentours vous berceront de folklore provençal et de vie romaine. Puis les incontournables Saintes Maries de la Mer, Aigues Mortes, Le Grau du Roi, Port Camargue, les Salins de Giraud, le Sambuc. Roots, bohème ou luxe La Camargue vous offre un dépaysement garanti et des émotions surprenantes. Petits marchés locaux, domaines viticoles, boutiques, ballades à cheval en 4X4, manades, spectacles de toros, musées, restaurants….

Les Alpilles

Its culture, traditions, a little bit of history, not to mention the monuments and the geographic situation that make the Riviera a mythical place, one must discover this part of France. In order to better enjoy your stay in the French Riviera, it is advisable to first find a rental cottage near the hilltop villages. Many think of just meeting some mere villages-museums who witnessed the passage of history in this region. However, there are much more and the authenticity of some villages will amaze some. Among the most visited villages, one should not miss Correns, an exclusively organic village. Gassin, a village that exudes serenity, even if it is located only a few steps from Saint Trop’; Callas and the silence that reigns in its alleys or Tourtour also known as “the village in the sky”.

But other villages even more incredible in Nice, are worthy to be discovered such as, Eze, Peille and Peillon, l’Escarène, so many villages which seem to spill directly into the ocean. The decision to hide up in the mountains to escape from different invasions is what history did to these smart villages.

During visits, the different culinary specialities will make the greediest salivate. Besides, lodging in a mountainous provincial cottage in Côte d’Azur enables to taste typical meals of the region such as, anchovies, braised beef, anchoiade, ewes milk, estocaficada, stuff from Nice and many other tasty recipes.

In addition to the historical and gastronomic discovery, several monuments are worth visiting on the French Riviera during the holidays. Visiting these historical monuments is profiting from a historical discovery, another way of enriching oneself culturally This is easy especially as the visiting of all monuments is free for children under the age of 18, and for all citizens from the countries in the European Union and aged under 26 years old.

Among the most interesting monuments, we have the Auguste trophee in Turbi. Raised in the first century before Jesus Christ, to celebrate the victory of the Roman Emperor Auguste, who conquered the people of the Alps,this building overhang all the French Riviera of Estérel to the Italian coast. Visitors have the opportunity to admire engravings, models, castings and also a breathtaking view. Saorge Monastery, Franciscans’s former convents founded in 1633. The reformed church has a Baroque style and managed to keep its design since the XVII century. The decoration is one of the marvellous things one can admire: frescos, sundials, stations of the cross’ painted on canvas of the Maritime Alps. Everything to return some centuries before in one trip.

The cloister of Fréjus Cathedral is an authentic baptistery of the 5th century. Attached to the Cathedral, it forms with the former episcopal palace and the medieval buildings, a set which decorates Jules Caesar’s former city founded 49 century before Jesus Christ.. Covered with lumber coffered painted with imaginary bestiaries, the galleries of the cloister give a unique representation in this region. The Abbey of the Thoronet, wonderfully situated in a wooded environment, is known for its “wild stone”. This is the ideal place to admire one of the most exceptional Cistercian architecture. Built at the end of the XII century, this monument is part of the”three Provençal sisters” with the abbeys of Silvacane and Sénanque.

 

Porquerolles island is one of the must visit place on the Côte d’Azur. It is the largest of the three islands of Hyères, and it is particularly loved for its beautiful beaches accessible by boat or jet-ski. Examples of beaches include, the Courtade or Notre-Dame beaches respectively. In addition , Porquerolles island is also the mark of all tourists who love visiting the town on a bicycle.

Lying in a circus of greenery, the commune of Rayol-Canadel opens to the sea and the Islands in the South, and is surrounded by the Maures chain’s massif in the North. The place is perfect to flutter about while lovers of beautiful sandy beaches will find a real paradise. Coves and bays are also waiting for visitors for unforgettable souvenir pictures.

Going to the Côte d’Azur without passing through the most famous seaside resort of the area would be a mere trip. A true suitable place nestled in the hills and well sheltered from the mistral can be only a place where is good to live. Bandol also has all its charm in the ancient villas tailgating small coves.

The French Riviera is the favourite place for lovers of perfect tan on beautiful beaches, and also those who easily marvel when looking at a very beautiful sunset over the coast. It is equally a perfect destination to discover the Varois hinterland where originality is required be it in the environment, hospitality, accommodation or catering. This makes it easy to improvise as a tourist in this territory for a weekend or a longer stay. To know more about this region where it is never hot enough for holidaymakers eager for discovery and adventure, a rental cottage is necessary.

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