If there is a place in France that you will fall in love with due to its beauty and the number of amazing places that it offers its visitors, it is undoubtedly Provence.
And what better way to discover it than travelling by one Renfe-SNCF in Cooperation high-speed train to Aix-en-Provence – the old capital of this historic region – and tour some of its most charming towns?
Pack your bags (you can carry up to 3 with us) and get ready to fall in love even more with this true paradise!
Gordes
In Gordes you can see the beautiful lavender fields
Located between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, and surrounded by other beautiful towns such as L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes stands out for being perched atop a rock, which gives it an even more imposing look, and for having been the place of residence of several artists in the past, such as Marc Chagall or Serge Poliakoff. Among its main attractions, you can find an 11th century castle at the very top, the Museum of Glass and, of course, the Sénanque Abbey, located just 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) away and the main feature in countless pictures in which it appears surrounded by the typical lavender fields of the region. Without a doubt, a picture-perfect town.
Ansouis
Just like many other towns in Provence, Ansouis is crowned by the old castle, originally built by the Celts, and which can nowadays be visited despite being private property. If you love wine, you cannot miss visiting the Museum of Arts and Crafts of the Wine at Chateau Turcan, one of the most important in France dedicated to viticulture.
Aiguines
If you close your eyes and think of a town in Provence, this is one of the first that should come to mind. The breathtaking vistas of the Lake of Sainte-Croix and the Verdon Regional Natural Park that you can see in this beautiful town will make you keep your camera in hand and make you want to stay in this beautiful place forever. And if you are also a fan of watersports, you will find a myriad of activities thanks to the tens of companies that offer their services in the area.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Enjoy a bucolic landscape
Right next to Aiguines – more specifically, on the other side of the Lake of Sainte-Croix, and located right in the middle of the Verdon Regional Natural Park – we find another town of unmatched beauty in Provence: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Among the reasons for its induction in Les plus beaux villages de France – the association that fosters the knowledge of the heritage of municipalities under 2000 inhabitants in France –, we can find the famous golden star that hangs 135 meters (442’) high, suspended between two mountains that surround the city, right above the Church of Notre Dame de Beauvoir.
Vaison-la-Romaine
A timeless town
Just like many other cities in France, Vaison-la-Romaine was founded during the time of Ancient Rome. This has given this town two points in its favour to become one of our favourites in Provence: the natural beauty of the place, and the rich historic heritage that it maintains from its past; both from the Roman era and the Middle Ages. The old theater, built during the ruling of Emperor Claudius, the Notre Dame Cathedral or the Castle of the Counts of Toulouse are some of the places that you simply must visit.
We have picked these 5 towns, but left out others such as Roussillon, Les Baux-de-Provence and Bonnieux, which we might recommend in some future trip to this wonderful region. Now is the time to pack your bags and book your tickets with the Renfe-SNCF in Cooperation High-Speed Trains to enjoy a few days in Aix-en-Provence, visiting some of these beautiful towns. Next stop, Provence!
