Greetings! I’m going to be staying in Aix for four nights in May and renting a car to visit villages in the Luberon. After that, I have four more days and am trying to decide where to go/what to do. I’m considering heading east to the Côte d’Azur, or going even further into Italy. I have minor mobility issues, so visiting big cities where lots of walking is required isnt’t necessarily what I’m looking for (I know Aix is big, but I’m just using it as a base). I’m interested in visiting smaller towns and charming villages and seeing beautiful scenery during my drive. I don’t drink, so wineries aren’t of interest to me. Any recommendations for an itinerary for four days? I’m flying out of Marseilles so I don’t want to stray too far from there.
All input is appreciated!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10975 posts
Here are some sites if you head west: Uzès, Pont du Gard, the Camargue, Aiguës-Morts, Nîmes, Montpellier (parc in the Polygone parking and take the tourist train to avoid walking), La Grande Motte, Sète, Narbonne, Carcassonne. I wouldn’t go all the way to Italie if you are flying out of Marseille.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks, Elizabeth! Much appreciated. As far as villages in the Luberon go, which ones would you prioritize?
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10975 posts
I'm sorry DD but I'm not a Luberon specialist. I was able to give you info west of the Rhone, but I don't know the Luberon well. I haven't stayed there for several years and now visit from where I live only for the day.
You should edit your post to put the question about the Luberon in your post so the many others who vacation in the Luberon can help you. It's beautiful country.
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
759 posts
Some suggestions -- my area of expertise is the Cote d'Azur but have been to western Provence many times.
In the Luberon: Gordes and Roussillon are the two most popular villages. But Bonnieux, Menerbes and Lacoste are also nice, as are some more off the beaten path villages like Joucas, Goult or Saignon. It is a given when staying in Aix that you'll hit Lourmarin. Way to the wast you have Isle sur la Sorgues, a town known for antiques (and a very crowded market). Just a caution in many of these historic villages there may be a lot of pedestrian only zones with rather cobbled streets and paths. Some of these towns like Lacoste can be very hilly (though you can drive all the way up to the Chateau -- aka Marquis de Sade's Chateau aka Pierre Cardin's Chateau).
From Aix, St. Remy, les Baux and Arles are pretty reachable. The ring road around Aix can be very busy at rush hour, so plan you travel accordingly.
If you go to around Avignon you can see places like Nimes, the Pont du Gard, Uzes and other places. You can even head to less popular places like Orange (popular with the Dutch) and Vaison-la-Romaine.
From the Luberron, Moustiers Ste-Marie makes for a great place to explore the Gorge du Verdon, the largest canyon in Europe.
You could also head to Cassis, along the water, if you wanted to get some seaside views and take a boat tour of the Calanques. Note certain car access is restricted on certain day to certain areas, and the road to Ciotat. There are also the lesser known seaside towns like Bandol (known for its wine) or Sanary-sur-Mer (popular among the French) . Further east , past Toulon, I like Hyeres, the Porqueroles and the drive to St. Tropez.
Posted by
58 posts
We stayed in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for two weeks a few years ago. It's a gem in and of itself; we spent a lot of time just enjoying the markets, cafes, restaurants, shops, etc. Pretty much every Provence city and town mentioned in previous posts are easy day trips with a rental car. We got ours at the Avignon train station. Driving in this part of France is very easy!
Posted by
49 posts
I would definitely recommend the French Riviera. It is the bluest sea I have ever seen and the towns are so beautiful. I loved Nice and the surrounding towns.