Travel is like many other things in life—we get out what we put in. Much of the pleasure of travel is the dreamy anticipation: plotting the route, learning the history and culture, imagining the sights, and stumbling upon new discoveries.

Provence is one of the most beautiful regions of France, stretching from the lower Rhône River in the west to the Italian border in the east, bound by the azure Mediterranean Sea in the south, and is known as the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

The Provence region of France is famous around the world for its postcard-worthy villages, lavender fields, and breathtaking vistas. Each village has its unique personality and a special allure; it’s love at first sight.  

Veronica with ProVans is my driver for a full day in the French countryside where public transportation is limited in the Luberon; she maneuvers the narrow switchback roads, roundabouts, and charming country roads like a pro.  She has a delightful personality and speaks English, Italian, French, German, and Russian. She is well prepared for all international clients. 

We travel east of Avignon approximately 25km to the edge of the Luberon region, where we stop at L’lsle-sur-la-Sorgue. It’s a beautiful drive into the countryside with Mont Ventoux high and proud in the distance. It is a sweet village where the Sorgue river runs through it.

The town of L’lsle-sur-la-Sorgue hearkens back to the 19th century when water wheels were at their peak for milling silk, wool, and paper. Today you can follow the circuit and discover the remaining fifteen mossy-covered waterwheels sprinkled throughout that once industrialized the area. The Sorgue River is fed by the largest natural spring in France, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, and the fifth largest spring in the world. This creates an island in the center of the Sorgue River. Where many enjoy the cold, clear, blue turquoise waters for kayaking and fishing.

Over the past 30 years or so, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has become more widely known all over France as the International Antique Capital. There are two international antique fairs every year, recognized as the third most important market in France.  And the not-to-be-missed floating markets selling their products from flat-bottom boats on the Sorgue River

Veronica and I continue winding our way east through small country roads dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and lavender fields, a perfect Provençal Road trip. We reach the iconic hilltop village of Gordes, the Crown Jewel of the Luberon.  Sitting on the edge of the Vaucluse mountains, facing the Luberon valley. Classified as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, it is one of the most photographed in the Luberon.

There are 22 elderly residents living year-round in the village and carrying on with their daily lives in the upper part of the commune.  They are hardy Gordiens as they park their cars in the middle plateau, 200 meters from the village, even in winter, and climb the ancient, rugged cobblestone steps and pathways. Many of the inhabitants have shops on the ground floor of their homes, and welcome visitors all year round.

It’s just a quick ride southwest to reach Les Baux de Provence between Arles and Saint-Rémy. The village of Les Baux is another classified Most Beautiful Village in France, 30 km south of Avignon. Located in the Alpilles mountains, atop a rocky spur topped with castle ruins looking down into the Rhône delta. *It has been written that after the birth of Jesus, Balthazar, one of the three wise men, is said to have continued his journey following the star of Bethlehem as far as Les Baux-de-Provence.

Inside this artistic village of Les Baux, you will find art galleries, luxury boutiques, beautiful hotels, and the not-to-be-missed Carrières de Lumières. A 3D immersive exhibition, held deep inside the Val d’Enfer valley, a limestone quarry. In 2022, Venice, la Serenissima, and Yves Klein’s infinite Blue were featured. From the tippy top of Les Baux, you can see Arles, the Camargue, and the distant Alpilles. 

Les Baux exudes the true Provençal culture, where the village is only accessible on foot. This is the second most visited monument in the region, with 1.5 million visitors per year, and where aluminum in bauxite ore was discovered in 1821.

We conclude our Perfect Provençal Road trip by driving north, maneuvering several roundabouts and narrow switchback roads to reach Saint Rémy, the Capital of the Alpilles. The town is the birthplace of Nostradamus. It is nestled between Avignon and Arles in a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department on the northern edge of the Alpilles. The Alpilles are characterized by rugged limestone hills, and the Luberon is known for ochre-hued hilltop villages. Together they form the heartland of Provence.

Saint Rémy has become a vibrant artists’ community with galleries and antique shops, and this is where you will find a commemorative plaque to Nostradamus. He was born here, and the facade of his home remains. He is still famous today as the man who foresaw the future. 

Saint Rémy is a chic little town with fashionable shops, cafes, and a terrific food scene. But more well known for Vincent van Gogh, who was a patient for one year at the Saint-Paul Asylum; after that curious accident with his ear.  In that one year, Van Gogh painted his most famous pieces from memory looking out his window: Starry Night and the Irises, and 100+ more paintings, from outside in the gardens and the village.

There are close to 160 classified Most Beautiful Villages in France scattered over the region. Just waiting for you to amble through the winding cobblestone streets and discover hidden treasures that will simply take your breath away

*Continue your journey by subscribing to www.scribblesandsmiles.net as I set sail on the Rhône and Saône Rivers on a Uniworld European River Cruise. Where the Rhône River is notable for being the only major European river that flows directly into the Mediterranean Sea. Rhone River Map from Lyon to Avignon 

Temperature 102°

July 26- July 31, 2022 Solo Travel 

July 31 - August 7, 2022  Uniworld European River Cruise

€ 1.00 = $1.00 USD

Getting Around Provence

 Getting Around the Alpilles

 Transportation notes Luberon, Alpilles etc. 

   *L’Isle sur la Sorgue is the only Luberon town that can be accessed by train or bus.

From along the breathtaking Dalmatian Coast and traveling through war-torn countries in Central Europe, we have experienced the incredible natural beauty, glittering azure water, majestic beaches, and soaring mountains as we reach storied Lake Bled.

We arrive at magical Lake Bled and its fairy tale world in Slovenia. Lake Bled is ranked among the most beautiful places in Slovenia and the most photogenic lake on the planet.  Bled is Slovenia’s most popular alpine resort, luring honeymooners, backpackers, hikers, mountaineers, and outdoorsmen during all four seasons.

Today we are docked in Libourne, France, a quaint fortified harbor town at the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle Rivers, just east of Bordeaux, and a few minutes' drive south-east to reach Saint Émilion and Pomerol.

The most practical piece of advice I can give you for visiting Saint-Émilion is to wear sturdy walking shoes. You will thank me later, as you navigate up and down those captivating winding lanes, all inlaid with centuries-old shiny and slick ballast-cobblestones, beckoning you forward to explore this remarkably rich village.

Let me introduce you to Blaye, France, a petite but mighty hamlet, sitting at the southern tip of the Gironde estuary, formed by the confluences of the nearby Dordogne and Garonne rivers.  Blaye is a historical and powerful commune from medieval times, where the Citadel of Blaye and its military fortifications sit majestically over the waters of Western Europe’s largest estuary.