Provence has been drawing visitors since long before the word "tourism" existed. Roman generals retired here, medieval popes set up court in Avignon, and painters like Van Gogh and Cezanne came for the light and never wanted to leave.
The landscape shifts constantly: lavender fields and olive groves in the hills, the wild wetlands of the Camargue to the south, dramatic gorges to the northeast, and the Mediterranean coast to the east. Hill towns like Roussillon and Les Beaux de Provence cling to limestone cliffs, their ochre and cream facades glowing in the afternoon sun.
The cities are just as varied. Aix-en-Provence is elegant and artistic, Arles is rich with Roman ruins and Van Gogh connections, and Orange has one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in Europe. Nimes sits at the edge of the Camargue with its own impressive amphitheatre.
Then there is the food. Provencal cooking is built on olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs from the surrounding hillsides. Sit down in a vineyard, taste the local rose, and let a long lunch stretch into the afternoon. There is no better excuse to slow down.
