Videos of Provence — 16 of Our Favourites

This impressive 'hidden' spring comes to light at Fontaine de Vaucluse where it forms a large emerald green pool - divers have measured it's depth to be 308 metres. Only when you see the white water rapids taking water away do you realise that it is not just a pool, but a fully fledged river with it's source underground. In the rainy spring & autumn seasons, it can gush up to 200 cubic metres of water per second. It is the largest natural spring in France (5th in the world).

The river has a fantastic green colour, very striking with the sun shinning down, and the blue sky above. The village of Fontaine de Vaucluse is found after the rapids where the river calms itself and it winds around watermills and dams before continuing downstream. An old paper mill (open to the public) is the only remaining indication that the village was a hotbed for paper making in the 17th & 18th century.

Just opposite the mill on the other side of the mill are the ruins of the 14th century Castle of the Bishops of Cavaillon. The walk from the village to the souce of the river (La Fontaine) will take you around 20 minutes. There is a bike rental store in the village if you prefer.

In the village itself, you'll find a 11th century church (Notre-Dame et Saint Véran) and the remains of a Roman canal running alongside the left bank of the river. There are a number of gift shops and artisans workshops in the village - glass, wood work, pottery, jewellery, paintings and sculpture are all practised here.

A number of restaurants and cafes line the river, and the village is fairly touristy and very popular so try to come out of season if you can. If you are driving, note that there is only pay-parking in the villlage.

There are several museums in Fontaine de Vaucluse, from a crystal museum to a geological museum.

Many lovely hikes start or pass through Fontaine de Vaucluse, including three Grand Randonnee trails. The GR6 will take you towards Gordes and the Luberon, or south to Bouches du Rhone. The GR91 takes you north towards Vaison la Romaine and eventually on to Grenoble, and GR97 is part of the Tour of the Luberon.

The views of the valley, all the way to the Mediterranean, are outstanding - you can see Nice and Theole on a good day.

Visitors to Aix en Provence can enjoy the ornate gardens of the pavillion Vendome, the Thermal spas of Sextius, the chateau de la barben, the cathedral st sauveur as well as galleries and museums shops, bars and restaurants.

One of the main reasons Aix has such a strong connection with the art world is that it was here that Paul Cezanne, one of the most influential artists of the 19th Centuary was born. Cezanne spent most of his life in Provence and although only a few of his works are on display here art fans and hikers can enjoy the nearby countryside that inspired so much of his work.

If you prefer to walk around shops rather hills then Aix is perfect with some of the best shopping in in the South of France with designer boutiques, interior stores and antique shops aplenty.

If all the art, culture, hiking and shopping leaves you thirsty Aix has the remedy with hundreds of cafes, restaurants and bars where you can sit out and enjoy the passing bustle of this charming city with a glass of chilled rose.

Aix is a beautiful city and it's charm and quality remains after night fall when the cafes and restaurants fill up again with the night owls who come to enjoy the great restaurants and bars on offer.

Aix is one of our favourite cities in Provence. It has it all; art and culture, style and class. Busy and more vibrant than many of the small towns in Provence but with a charming and relaxed atmosphere.

Lormarin lies in the heart of Provence about 40km north of Aix and 70 km south east of Avignon. The town itself is pretty and worth exploring and when the summer heat takes it's toll there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can stop for refreshment. Make sure you visit the Place des Delice which has some of the best ice cream in Provence.

Local produce, delicatessen foods shops antique stores, and art galleries are here too and the whole area is lush, green and pretty.

The main draw of Lourmarin, aside from great ice cream, is the castle which perches on a small hill just outside the town. It's worth the walk up to the castle just to wander round the gardens.

Lourmarin is a beautiful village with winding lanes, good places to eat and an impressive castle. The whole Provence package in one little town.

Although the town is small the area is world famous due to the wine which is produced here and the castle which was built in the 14th Century when the Papacy was moved to Avignon.

Today Les Baux, and it's castle in particular, is a popular tourist attraction and in July and August it is very busy. If you can visit outside those months then it is well worth the trip as up in the castle there are medieval battle re-enactments, archery and falconry. Check the Calendar of Events to see what's on and when and come visit one of the best Castles in France.

The history of the village goes back to Roman times and there are medieval remnants to see as you wander the streets.

A walk around the town is a joy in itself, filled as it is with ancient churches, a bell tower, and a ruined keep. The Keep St Michel was abandoned in the 17th century and has become a classic ruined castle. There are a number of fountains dotted around the village where the women used to meet and do their washing.

The wonderful Bassin de l'Etang is an enormous man-built stone pond that dates back to the 15th century and was originally used to power flour mills. In the 19th century it became an ornamental pool only, and it now provides the focal point for the market (Tuesday) and indeed the village.

The village is a little thin on shopping, but there are one or two art galleries and a couple of pottery workshops. There is a small museum, the Musee Marc Deydier, which displays items and photographs associated with the history of the village. It's free entry.

There are a number of restaurants around the Bassin de l'Etang. There are a couple of basic hotels in the village or you could try the pretty bed and breakfast of L'Elephant de Vaugines in nearby Vaugines.

The castle at the top of the village was originally built in the eleventh century but became famous in the seventeen hundreds when it was bequeathed to the de Sade family and was inherited by the Marquis de Sade in 1763 who was famous for holding debauched parties there.

Today visitors can walk through the cobbled streets up to the castle and enjoy the art festival in July an views of the valley below.

Farming plays a major role in local life, and vineyards cover much of the land in the area. A number of the vineyards are open to the public - check at the tourist office. Truffles are also big business here. When some of the vines were destroyed by disease in the 19th century, oak trees took their place and are now a source for these black tubers - the countryside around Grignan accounts for 70% of France's truffle production. Another crop you will see whilst touring the area is lavender - rows and rows of this fragrant purple plant thrive in the dry climate.

The Place de l'Horloge is the center-point from where you can participate in the soul of the city. Avignon's Festival in July is one of the most famous cultural manifestations in France, attracting artists and visitors from all over the world.

There's much more to Avignon than the papal palace and the festival artists. True, in Roman times, Avignon (or "Avenio" = town of the strong wind -- indeed the mistral here can be most forceful) was insignificant by comparison to Arles or Marseille. You'll find few Roman ruins in the city. Its rich history stems from the papal legacy and its spoils, such as the Petit Palais, a former palace for cardinals, now a delightful museum of medieval art, or the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Doms.

The town lies about thirty kilometres east of Avignon and today although the silk trade has long since died out the town thrives on another industry; Antiques.

The town is full of antique stores and on Sundays these are joined by market stalls full of treasures. Great fun for browsing and haggling and you needn't feel intimidated as the quality of all items is assured by the French Company of antique collectors who are on hand to offer advice and opinions.

The huge canals and antiques arcades in Isle sur la Sorgue make it a fun place to explore and you may find a hidden treasure to take home as a souvenir.

It's a strategic position that has made Bonnieux a desirable place from the very early ages. There are indications that the area was inhabited as from the Neolithic age. In Roman times, the region of Bonnieux was a most important thoroughfare for the Romans, travelling from Cadiz to Milan. The Pont Julien (see below) is a witness.

In the Middle Ages, Bonnieux became a Papal enclave, through a bizarre chain of events. This meant that the town was a tax-free haven in the centre of the French kingdom. Smuggling was rampant and the town prospered. Only the French revolution was able to put a stop to the special privileges of the townspeople.

Today, you find little evidence of this prosperity, more of a pretty, sleepy village. The main D36 road that cuts through the village passes by bleak and gray houses of an undetermined age. What does take your breath away is the splendid view over the, often wind swept, valleys of the Luberon below, the fertile plains of Cavaillon and beyond - all the way to Mont Ventoux on a clear day.

The Roman Ampitheatre is a must visit. Although it and the near-by theatre are not in as good condition as some of the Roman buildings in Provence they are still used for bull fights and concerts which makes them some of our favoutite ancient buildings in the South of France.

Arles is also a great destination for art lovers, Van Gogh spent two years here and in that time created some of his best known works. although none of his paintings are on display in Arles you can stand at the cafe in the place du forum and on the banks of the Rhone under starlight and see for yourself the inspiration for some of the 20th Century's most iconic paintings.

Although the village is tiny, it's home to just over 1000 people, it does have an impressive castle which was first built in the 10th century and then modified in the 13th, 15th and 19th century's. The castle can be visited in tour groups and inside there are collections of 17th and 18th century furniture and tapestries, there is also a wine museum and vineyard.

Ansouis is tiny but very pretty and, perched as it is on a small hill, commands impressive views of the surrounding countryside. There is a Sunday morning market and during the summer months there are various festivals and fetes.

Here the Celtic-Ligurian, Greek and later, the Roman people, settled down in a strategic valley and built and rebuilt a town that was known as Glanum.

Throughout history, the castle has protected its residents from foreign attacks, plagues, and World War II bombings. The views over the Luberon countryside are stunning, and the village itself is a warren of cobbled streets and ancient houses.