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Military and religious architecture are scattered throughout this quiet mountain town: a 15th-century gate, a medieval church and a ruined citadel are the main points of interest.

The enigmatic Rotonde, a Roman relic whose purpose is still a puzzle, crowns the village to which it lends its name, a picturesque cluster of old houses and churches protected by a ramshackle medieval fort.

At the northern gateway to Provence, Sisteron’s minuscule vaulted streets and unexpected staircases climb the vast sentinel rock overlooking the River Durance. It’s a harsh setting for a village with a strong past. Up top, the 14th-century citadel was all but impregnable and now affords unbeatable views over the rugged landscape (see Citadelle de Sisteron).

Colourful arcaded houses and a Baroque church are features of this pretty mountain village near the Italian border. Badly damaged in World War II, it has been lovingly restored.

Overlooked by Les Alpilles, a thickly wooded, miniature sierra of limestone hills, St-Rémy is a perfect exploring base. Mansions built during the 15th and 16th centuries grace its historic centre. One of them was the original home of the de Sade family, ancestors of the notorious Marquis, and now houses a small museum of Roman artifacts, which were found at Glanum, about 30 minutes’ walk from the town centre. Here, the site of one of the oldest Greek-Roman settlements in Provence is landmarked by a magnificent triumphal arch and mausoleum, known collectively as Les Antiques (see Les Antiques de Glanum).

At 671 m (2,200 ft) St-Agnès is the highest of the coastal villages perchés . There is fine walking nearby, in the Gorbio valley.

This little village bustles in summer. Built where the Verdon and Isolde rivers flow into the manmade Lac de Castillon, it is a popular watersports centre, with dinghies, windsurfers and canoes for hire.

This hill village has been settled since the Roman era and has medieval walls and watch towers. Nearby are the grottoes of St-Cézaire, an underground wonderland.

A smaller version of Ste-Marguerite, St-Honorat has been run by monks almost continually since the 5th century. The 11th-century fortified monastery is a must-see.

St-Paul was a farming community living quietly within its medieval surroundings and 16th-century walls until the 1920s. Then it was discovered by the Côte d’Azur artistic community (Picasso, Matisse, Léger) and has been fashionable ever since, with good reason. Both artists and tourists find the tiny streets, ramparts and church remains utterly charming (see St-Paul-de-Vence).