Provence’s top sights span the region’s rich and varied history, from Roman arenas, isolated abbeys, and the palace of the medieval popes, to the more recent opulence of the belle époque era and the glamorous resorts beloved of the 20th-century jet set. Sunsoaked beaches, pretty villages nestled among lavender fields and a mountainous hinterland have inspired generations of artists, and continue to enchant every visitor to the area.
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The honey-coloured walls and towers of this medieval palace, the seat of 14th-century pontiffs, dominate the delightful town of Avignon (see Palais des Papes).
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The Verdon river flows through deep limestone gorges into the turquoise Lac de Ste-Croix, creating one of Provence’s, most stunning natural landscapes (see Grand Canyon du Verdon).
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Arles was one of the Roman Empire’s most important cities, and its splendid arena still evokes the age of Caesar (see Roman Arles).
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Cosmopolitan Aix is packed with fascinating museums and historic buildings. Nearby Mont Ste-Victoire inspired one of the greatest Provençal painters, Paul Cézanne (see Aix-en-Provence).
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Nice is a lively and sophisticated city, but its Old Town retains a quieter, authentic character (see Vieux Nice).
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Pretty and chic St-Tropez, with its yacht-filled harbour and gorgeous beaches, is the place to see and be seen on the Provençal coast (see St-Tropez).
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Vast lagoons inhabited by wading flamingoes, and plains where native black bulls roam, are just part of the unique, protected landscape that is the Camargue (see The Camargue).
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A treasury of archaeological finds has been unearthed in this small town, once one of Provence’s most important Roman sites (see Vaison-la-Romaine).
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The great Cistercian abbey is a wonderful example of Romanesque religious architecture (see Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque).
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Walk in the footsteps of princes, courtesans and film stars at the Riviera’s most dazzling example of 19th-century grandeur (see Casino de Monte Carlo).
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Transhumance CelebrationsThousands of sheep flock through Saint-Rémy every year on Whit Monday during this spectacular pageant, harking back to the days of the Provençal shepherds. Read more
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La Nuit des MuséesMuseums in Paris and throughout France open for free for one night in spring, offering a chance to whizz round some of the country's finest temporary and permanent collections until 1am. Read more
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Water Jousting ChampionshipWet and wild is the only way to describe Saint-Raphaël's Water Jousting Championship, which takes place every summer at the Old Port. Read more
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Cannes Film FestivalCannes is the biggest and most famous film festival in the world. Read more
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