Pretty rural village with fabulous Troglodyte caves
A medieval town with cliff top ruined towers and glorious rolling green hills covered in vineyards in the surrounding area, Cotignac is a delightful place for mooching.
The village is much loved by the British who make up a large proportion of its population. Lcated to the north of the main A8 road that takes you from Nice to Aix, and not far from the wonderful Natural Park of Verdon. And of course, there are the vineyards....
Cotignac has an excellent market on Tuesday mornings and on certain dates, the flea market turns the whole town into a rather fabulous car boot sale.
Read our Provence markets page to find out which market to visit when in Provence. From the vibrant array of local produce to the delightful scent of freshly baked delicacies, visiting a Provencal market is an absolute must for anyone exploring the charms of Provence.
The Long Night of Museums is an annual event where museums across Europe remain open late into the night, and Provence is no exception.
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang...well, several in fact, fireworks always feature heavily.
Exceptional locations around France, including Provence, will be open to visit on the Journées du Patrimoine - a European wide event inspired by by France’s Journées Portes Ouvertes which started in 1984.
The third Thursday in November is when this year's Beaujolais hits the shelves and is cause for celebration across France.
A most impressive cliff sits behind one side of the town - a waterfall used to flow over them on to where the village now lies. The river was diverted around the 10th century which allowed then present village to be created. This waterfall formed all sorts of holes and crevices in the rock face and is filled with troglodyte caves that have been used for shelter for many a century.
Two Saracen towers and a fortress were built around the 12th century to aid the sighting of invading barbarians. The fortress no longer exists but the towers remain, rather ruined but still rather dramatic. It is said that there are escape tunnels from the towers into the rock below. The caves within the rock face were used to hide the population and their animals during a period of invasions in the Middle Ages. More caves have been created over time thanks to the rock being used to expand the village. The lower caves have been used to house the poor and for flour mills. Thanks to its geology, Cotignac was one of the first villages in the area to be powered by electricity thanks to a hydroelectric plant built in 1897.
The town hall takes pride of place in the Place de la Mairie, opposite this building is a bell tower with its distinctive wrought iron campanile. On Grand Rue just around the corner there are three cariatides high on one of the town houses. These are statues that were built on to houses to act like supporting columns. They date back to the 17th century when they were perceived as a sign of the home-owners great wealth.
The Romanesque church was built back in the 13th century and modified in the 17th century. Behind the church is an open-air theatre, Le Théâtre du Rocher that is used for concerts in the summer and is home to Les Toiles de Sud cultural festival, also in the summer.
Cours Gambetta is the main area for cafes and restaurants, with its fountains and plane trees offering shade in the summer. This is where you'll find the market held on Tuesday mornings - in summer there is a smaller additional market on Friday mornings. Wash basins can be found at the end of Cours Gambetta and they date back to the 19th century. As in many other Provencal villages, there are fountains aplenty - 17 in total in Cotignac to tick off as you wander the lanes. All the water from the fountains is safe to drink, so no need to buy the bottled stuff here.
The town boasts a wonderful selection of architecture, ranging from the 12th to 18th centuries. On Place Xavier Marin there is an art gallery Maison Méditerranéenne de l’Estampe, dedicated to print-making and etching. It's closed in January and February.
To the west of Cotignac is the Monastère Saint-Joseph, where, legend has it, a shepherd who was dying of thirst saw a man raise an enormous rock to unveil a natural water spring, thereby saving the shepherd's life. A chapel, then a church and convent was built on the site in the 17th century. It was abandoned in 1793 but in 1977, Benedictine monks moved in and restored the building.
Cezannes studio was created in Aix-en-Provence in 1902 and this is where he worked until he died in 1906.
At the beginning of World War II, France interned all Austrian and German nationals who were living in France at the time, and Les Milles was the prison for the south eastern region.
A small gallery with a good collection of contemporary and modern art.
An old quarry, the Carrieres de Bibemus lies on the western slopes of Montagne St Victoire and is a place that inspired Paul Cezanne through out his life.
The Muséum d'Aix was founded in 1838 by Henri Coquand, geologist ; it is one of the oldest in Provence.
Located not far from Aix centre, this museum and shop explains a little about the history of how this unusual sweet is made.
This elegant restaurant is a must-visit for any lovers of modern cuisine and cooking methods. They embrace local produce and evolve their dishes according to the seasons.
Located inside the luxury Chateau de la Gaude, this Michelin-starred restaurant serves the elaborate cuisine of chef Matthieu Dupuis-Baumal.
A quiet atmosphere, beautiful grounds and wonderful flavours can be found at Villa Gallici Restaurant. Part of the 5 star Villa Gallici hotel you can indulge in lunch or dinner at this top quality restaurant.
Open daily, the Clos du Comptoir offers a sophisticated atmosphere for lunch and dinner in the same setting.
Located in a street right off the main food market, La Bota is a small restaurant with about eight tables outside.
Big tasty burgers, great home cooked meals and enticing deserts. This hidden gem is a must for anyone visiting the old town.
This small bar has a nice seating area outside next to one of Aix's many fountains and it catches the sun late into the evening.
The Scat Club plays live music every night, and not just jazz the club plays pop, rock, funk and R'n'B.
The Mistral is Aix-en-Provence's answer to those looking for a trendy night out listening to the latest DJ's.
There are plenty of hiking trails in the area - the tourist office has maps and information. The walk to the waterfall at Sillans de Cascade is particularly recommended (about eight miles round trip).
There are seven local Domaines where you can visit for wine tasting - try the Vignerons de Cotignac Co-operative for local wine and olive oil, or visit the vineyards of Chateau Carpe Diem or Chateau Nestuby, both of whom welcome visitors.
Just to the south of Aix is the town of Gardanne. They open an outdoor swimming pool in the summer, with a 50m pool, baby pool, slides, playgrounds and a relaxation area.
Tour Designer in Provence provide tailor made tours of the best of Provence with day trips and walking tours on offer.
Provence Wine Tours offer a variety of wine tours from private visits, to group tours and even corporate events.
Set CLub is a sports complex which has 13 tennis courts, eight of which are clay courts and five are the faster green set. Lessons and competitions are all part of the club. Non-members are welcome.
The area is split into two areas - one for the 1-5 years age group, and the other for 6-12 year olds.
The Club, established in 1932 has a long and interesting history. Situated on the banks of the river l'Arc over 30 acres, 5 minutes away from the city centre the Club Hippique Aix Marseille offers a full range of facilities.
A really fabulous lake with excellent leisure facilities and watersports.
Explore the beautiful Gorges du Verdon by paddling down the river in canoes or kayaks. A fun activity for everyone to explore the beautiful Gorges du Verdon and paddle on the beautiful blue water.
A team of state qualified guides sharing their enthusiasm for great outdoor activities with you.
The vastness and richness of this protected site offers an extraordinary dimension to sports such as rock-climbing and canyoning.
Cable park on Lake Rabinon (5 hectares) where you can water ski, knee board, and wake board.
Range of water sports and outdoor activities proposed by a professional guiding company.
18th century stone farmhouse on a landscaped park of approximately 1 hectare with panoramic views of the Luberon.
Beautiful holiday villa with swimming pool for rent in the South of France, near the village of Bonnieux in Provence.
Villa rental in the Luberon - La Badassière
The Capitaine is an apartment located on the 2nd floor, its exposure is ideal for holidays in Provence, beautiful atmosphere.
A magnificent "Mas" in Bonnieux to rent in the Luberon, with a large landscaped garden for a dream holiday between Bonnieux and Lacoste.
The Chef d’Escadron is located on the 1st floor. The apartment for rent for holidays is bright and includes a private terrace enjoying a beautiful view of Provence.
Located in one of the most beautiful villages in France, this former oil mill welcomes its guests in an enchanting setting surrounded by lime trees.
Built in 2013 this modern, contemporary five star hotel in Provence combines art work in contemporary spaces, filled with uber stylish furniture and fittings.
Under the light Cézanne once knew, the Villa Gallici Hotel is an 18th century Provençal house and a member of Relais et Châteaux portfolio.
The five star Pigonnet hotel in Aix is an 18th-century mansion surrounded with stunning floral gardens, situated just outside the centre of Aix-en-Provence.
This hotel is a beautiful renovated house located on a quiet street, and walking distance to all the hustle and bustle of Aix.
The 3 star Aquabella hotel is centrally located in Aix en provence, offering easy access to the old town. The Thermes Sextius Spa is integrated into the hotel allowing for relaxing spa treatments.
49 air-conditioned vehicles at your disposal for local transport, airport and rail station transfers, and touristic excursions.
Chabe Transfers are a well known luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the South of France.
All taxi services 24/7 within a 60 mile radius.
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
300 vehicles at your disposal. All taxi services and transfers airports and Railway stations.
Events-Cars offer luxury taxi and transfer services across the South of France. They also cater for special events.
Set on a 2,090 m² plot in the heart of a peaceful hamlet surrounded by nature, this character-filled stone property is a true haven of tranquillity.
Exceptional provençal property in the heart of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez
Find out all about what is happening in Provence and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in this picturesque French region.
See allLatest News & ReviewsProvence has a busy calendar of events all year round featuring art exhibitions, charming markets, cultural festivals and concerts. Spring and autumn are the time to celebrate local produce while during the peak holiday times, in the summer months, you will find world-renowned music and cultural events like the Choregies d'Orange or the Avignon Festival.
See allUpcoming Events
