As the second most visited area in France, the sun-kissed southeast region is full of beauty from glaciers to mountain peaks to the vineyards of the Beaujolais.
This area includes the French Riviera with its sophisticated and vibrant towns where you might spot celebrities vacationing. For less glitz, the Provence region is full of lavender fields in full bloom for an explosive array of colours and flavours to experience.
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A visit to the southeast of France offers the chance to explore exciting hill towns, discover its Roman ruins and creations of famous artists, and then take in dramatic scenery.
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, a week … or longer, here are eight great places to visit in the southeast of France to experience the best the region has to offer as recommended by fellow travel bloggers.
COTIGNAC
Cotignac is a pretty medieval village in the heart of Provence, nestled below imposing 80m cliffs and two 12th century towers.
Located only 38km from the famous Gorge du Verdon, Cotignac is the perfect base from which to explore pretty Provencal villages and vineyards in the surrounding area.
MUST DO IN COTIGNAC:
- Explore the Village: Wander the pretty tree-lined Cours Gambetta where the locals sit and watch the world go by at one of the many cafés, restaurants and bars lining the street. Get lost down winding cobblestoned streets in the old quarter while you admire the 16th-century sandstone buildings. Discover decorative doorways, countless fountains and artisan food stores. Don’t miss the treats on offer at Lou Gourmandises Patisserie.
- Visit the Market: Held every Tuesday morning during Summer the market offers an array of food, jewellery and home goods to tempt you – from foodie delights such as cheese, meats and wine to artisan-made shoes, clothes and pottery, it is difficult to leave empty-handed.
- Explore the Caves: Tucked behind the village, the 400m long cliff face is home to Troglodyte grottos that have been carved by nature and humans over thousands of years. There are even homes built into the cliff face! The path to the caves winds steeply up behind the village Town Hall where you will need to pay a 2 Euro entry fee. Once you have explored the caves enjoy the views across the town from up high.
Recommended by Rachel from Adventure and Sunshine
Read Reviews for these Sights: Troglodyte Grottos
NICE
Nice is a huge tourist destination in France and is known for its scenic beauty and Mediterranean climate.
The seaside promenade Promenade des Anglais is particularly photogenic and the beautiful lighting of the city has inspired many great painters, including most notable: Matisse.
It’s one of the most heavily visited cities in France with over 4 million tourists a year. If you are an art aficionado, Nice is a destination that can’t be missed. Of course, there is also the glamour of the Riviera and the killer food to be enjoyed! There is so much to do in Nice but here are some of my favourite picks!
MUST DO IN NICE:
- Nice Cathedral: The inside of this cathedral is designed with a particularly opulent baroque design from the 17th century. If you were just walking by, you might not even know that this is a significant monument as the exterior is so unassuming. Inside there are ten gorgeous, lavishly designed chapels to admire.
- Monastère de Cimiez: This monastery features some of the oldest gardens of Côte d’Azur, dating back to 1546. With its 14th and 15th century gothic design, it’s truly a sight to see. The gardens are the main tourist attraction which also features killer views of the city.
- Cap-Ferrat: The Cap-Ferrat features dazzling mansions built in the turn of the century. Open to tourists is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, filled with priceless antiques inside. The coastal trail leading to Cap-Ferrat showcases stunning views of the Riviera and the Massif de l’Esterel.
Recommended by Kaila of Nom List
Read Reviews for these Sights: Nice Cathedral | Monastère de Cimiez | Cap-Ferrat
ARLES
The town of Arles is a mandatory stop on any trip to the Provence Region. Arles, apart from being a charming town to spend a few days at for its great atmosphere and cuisine, is most famous for two things.
One is the Roman heritage since this lovely town on the Rhone River was an important port city of the Gaul Province of the Roman Empire.
The other is the connection to Van Gogh, who lived in this town and was deeply inspired by it. Amongst other works, he painted the Café Terrace at Night, while he was staying here. The Old Town of Arles was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
MUST DO IN ARLES:
- The Arles Amphitheater: This is the most impressive architectural landmark in Arles. It was built in 90 AD, and in its glory days, around 20,000 people attended gladiator fights here. This Roman Coliseum is still used nowadays to host concerts and theatrical performances.
- The Roman Theater: Julius Caesar built this antique theatre at the end of the 1st century and the theatre had a capacity of 10,000 people. Unfortunately not so much (only 2 columns) is left from the original stage, since it deteriorated almost completely during the Middle Ages.
- Follow the Steps of Van Gogh: As we told previously, Van Gogh painted several pictures here. You can check out Forum Square where the yellow café called Café La Nuit is still open. This is where Van Gogh painted the “Café Terrace at Night”. By the way, you can also visit the mental hospital, where Van Gogh stayed for some time and painted there.
Recommended by Gábor of Surfing the Planet
Read Reviews for these Sights: Arles Amphitheatre | Roman Theatre | Espace Van Gogh
GRASSE
Grasse is located in the Alpes-Maritimes area of southeast France, just north of Cannes and Nice.
The town is best known for being the centre of the fragrance and perfume industry worldwide. The history of this industry dates back to the Middle Ages with the use of perfume on leather gloves and continues today.
A number of major perfume brands have their fragrances made here and many food and chemical companies also develop scents and flavours here.
MUST DO IN GRASSE:
- International Museum of Perfume: Not surprisingly, the main reason that tourists visit is to learn about the perfume industry. The best place to do that is the International Museum of Perfume but you can also tour a working perfume factory here as a few are open to the public for tours. In addition to learning about the perfume industry, you can also create your own cologne or perfume at a workshop here. This was something that I really enjoyed doing during our visit to Grasse.
- Old Town: In addition to the perfume industry, Grasse has an Old Town that is worth exploring with buildings dating back to the medieval period. So a wander around the old part of the town is a must and there are some nice views over the countryside from around the cathedral. One of the highlights of the Old Town is the Cathedral Notre-Dame-du-Puy which has some wonderful paintings inside.
- The Museums: There are also other museums in Grasse, including an art and history museum and a 17th-century mansion house museum with frescoes by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. If you are thinking about visiting, see our guide to visiting Grasse France.
Recommended by Jessica of Independent Travel Cats
Read Reviews for these Sights: International Museum of Perfume
AIX-EN-PROVENCE
The cultural heart of Provence, Aix (as it’s simply known) is the perfect place to spend time on a holiday to the region. Brimming with festive farmers’ markets, the old town is a lively place to be on any day of the week. And the golden tones of the town’s facades add to its sunny disposition.
Aix manages to harmoniously marry old-world charm with a modern vibe, and you’ll find galleries and antique shops alongside hip eateries and fashion boutiques. Be sure to wander the curved maze of streets in the old town to find its secrets – hidden gardens and even churches can be found lurking in unsuspecting places!
MUST DO IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE:
- Musée Granet: With over 12,000 works on display, including neoclassical sculptures, French paintings from throughout history, and classics from Paul Cézanne and Picasso, Musee Granet is a must-do for any art-loving visitor to Aix.
- Aix Festival: Every year in summer, the city of Aix comes to life with music spilling out of every open space in the city. Open-air concerts take place in Cours Mirabeau and various other venues throughout the city. This classical music festival is one not to be missed on your Provence Itinerary.
- Vendôme Pavilion Gardens: These classic gardens on the edge of the old city are an iconic sight in Aix-en-Provence. The 17th Century Pavilion has been turned into an exhibition space, and the gardens surrounding it are the ideal place to catch your breath between sightseeing around the city.
Recommended by Nadine of Le Long Weekend
Read Reviews for these Sights: Musée Granet | Vendôme Pavilion Gardens
VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
Villefranche-sur-Mer forms a part of the French Riviera and lies just a stone’s throw away from Nice. It’s actually considered a suburb of Nice metropolitan area. You can ride a scooter to get there, take a bus, train, or simply walk. Walking would take about an hour. Villefrance-sur-Mer is an ideal day trip from Nice.
Villefranche is a charming seaside village built on a hill. It’s a popular getaway for people from Nice and around.
MUST DO IN VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER:
- The Town: Get lost in the tiny meandering streets of Villefranche and meet no one but cats. The stony sidewalks wrap around the cute houses and offer great photo ops. You won’t even mind all the steps! After walking for a while, the streets will lead you to a small square with the St. Michael’s Church. Stop in a restaurant and enjoy a quality meal with the view of the sea.
- The Beach: The beach in Villefranche is way nicer than the long one along Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Here it’s mostly pebbles that will massage and caress your feet. Going to the beach in Villefranche is a popular weekend activity for many locals, mostly from Nice.
- The Fortress: Walk up to the fortress Fort du Mont Alban located on a hill above Villefranche. There’s a citadel currently housing the town hall and many options for beautiful views. We got stuck there admiring the views for over an hour! Occasionally, apart from Villefranche and the sea, you can often spot large cruise ships. It’s because the bay of Villefranche is naturally very deep and cruise ships can anchor safely there.
Recommended by Veronika of Travel Geekery
Read Reviews for these Sights: The Beach | Fort du Mont Alban
ANTIBES
The Mediterranean town of Antibes on the Cote d’Azur on the south coast of France is best known for its walled old town with 16th-century ramparts and Fort Carré which overlooks the marina. Around since before Roman times, there are still aspects of Roman buildings visible, but much of the Roman town is buried under the more recent development.
The promenade along the walls of the port offers great views of the Alps and out across the Mediterranean Sea as well as views of the many yachts moored in the marina and if you want to venture further afield the southern peninsula offers forests dotted with grand villas.
MUST DO IN ANTIBES:
- Fort Carré: This star-shaped fort, with four points each shaped like an arrowhead, dates from the 16th-century and is famous for having briefly had Napoleon Bonaparte as a prisoner during the French Revolution. In popular culture, it was used in the James Bond film “Never Say Never Again” as the villain’s stronghold.
- Musée Picasso: Located in the Chateau Grimaldi where Picasso lived for six months in 1946, this was the first museum in the world dedicated to the artist. With works donated by Picasso himself as well as his second wife, the collection now totals over 200 of his works.
- Absinthe Museum: More a bar with a small exhibition than a true museum, it is dedicated to the celebration of the infamous green liqueur known as the green fairy. Located in a Roman basement it serves to dispel some of the myths that surround the drink which has been banned in the past in many countries around the world.
Read Reviews for these Sights: Fort Carré | Musée Picasso | Absinthe Museum
NIMES
Considered by some to be the most Roman city outside Italy, Nimes has plenty of monuments to back up that claim. These include the arena of Nimes a Roman amphitheatre, Roman temples Maison Carrée and Temple of Diana and Tour Magne, an 18m watchtower that formed part of the city wall.
If you can travel further afield, the stunning Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site is worth the trip 30 minutes northeast of the city.
MUST DO IN NIMES:
- Roman Monuments: Visit as many of the impressive Roman Monuments as you can, each is worth seeing in its own right, but the collection is what makes Nimes so special. An organised tour is an option to see them all with someone else doing the organising.
- Les Jardins de la Fontaine: This is the location of the Temple of Diana, but is worth a visit to see the rest of these beautiful gardens too. Created in the 18th-century they were one of the first public parks in Europe and were constructed around the towns water source. They are made up of neoclassical water features, many statues, especially around the Nymphaeum and plenty of trees and Mediterranean plants.
- Castellum Aquae: One of only two places in the world where you can see the termination point of a Roman aqueduct (the other is Pompeii). Water would have travelled tens of kilometres to arrive at this distribution point, where lead pipes would have taken the water onwards to public water sources and homes that could afford to be connected.
Read Reviews for these Sights: Roman Monuments | Jardins de la Fontaine | Castellum Aquae
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