Nature / Park Sights in Provence

Originally from the high mountains of North Africa,these particular cedar trees were introduced in to France as an ornamental tree and as a method of reforestation.

Come and see bison, deer, horses, boars and hawks roaming on 700 hectares of land, just one hour from the French Riviera

The Gardon Gorge is a nature reserve that runs between Nimes and Uzes for 20km. The Gardon river has been forging its way through the limestone rocks to create a deep canyon that is home to a wide array of wildlife and vegetation.

The perfect setting for a Sunday walk or a family bike ride is just a short ferry trip away from the city centre of Avignon on the Ile de la Barthelasse.

The French Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Verdon, the Gorges du Verdon, by whatever name this natural phenomenon is referred to it will remain to the beholder as one of the most spectacular sites in Europe.

The Luberon park covers the area from Cavallion in the west to Manosque in the east.

The Méaouge canyon is classed as a biological reserve thanks to its diverse flora and fauna, some of which come from as far away as north Africa and Iberia.

A seam of red, yellow & orange rocks runs through a small part of the Luberon, from Roussillon to Rustrel.

The gorges de la Nesque is an impressive and wild canyon of around 12 kilometres in length, scoured out by the river at its bottom.

This large natural area envelops 16 small towns and villages between the Luberon and the Camargue, not far from Arles.

This pyramidal peak features in over 60 of Paul Cezannes paintings. The light and the colours are a dream for artists, and non-artists can also enjoy the scenery via the lattice of walking trails that cross the mountain slopes.

This unique natural area was designated as a 'Geoparc', the first of its kind, by UNESCO in 2000 and has since become the model for the development of Geoparks across the world.

The highest point in Provence at 1,912m, Mont Ventoux is most famous as the killer-climb stage in the Tour de France. It's a mecca for cyclists and hikers, with three routes available for cyclists and a number of trails for walkers.

The narrow and beautiful Gorges du Loup cuts north-south through the hills at the foot of Gourdon, 12 km from Grasse.

This river gorge runs for around 30 kilometres from the small village of Saint Leger, heading west along the borders of the Vaucluse and Drome regions.

La Plaine des Maures is the first natural park in the Var department, to the north west of Saint Tropez. It is renowned for it's umbrella pines and cork oak trees, and is rich in fauna and flora.