West Provence
Discover the top destinations in west Provence
The Bouches du Rhone region of Provence probably isn't a place that most visitors to the south of France will recognise. But it contains some of the area's most popular and interesting places.
Aix-en-Provence, Marseilles, Arles and the Carmargue all fall within the boundaries of the Bouches du Rhone. It is filled with important Roman artifacts, wonderful vineyards in the Alpilles and diverse landscapes from beach to wetlands to mountains that have inspired many famous artists. Not as lush as its neighbouring Vaucluse & Var regions, the area is drier and feels more 'Mediterranean'. Away from the coast the countryside features the limestone hills of the Alpilles, where the slopes are covered with olives trees and vineyards. The artist Vincent Van Gogh spent time in both Arles & St Remy de Provence, while Paul Cezanne was born in Aix-en-Provence - many of their most famous works were produced in the countryside surrounding these towns. The two main urban areas are the vibrant univeristy town of Aix-en-Provence and the large port city of Marseille - Marseille airport is the best place to fly into when visiting the area.
Aix-en-Provence
Aix en Provence is considered by many to be the South's cultural and artistic centre, thanks to its ancient university and its inherent connection to the artist Paul Cezanne.
Arles
Arles is the 'third city' in the département of the Bouches-du-Rhône. Compared to its boisterous, historical rival Marseille and its worldly sister Aix-en-Provence, it can be quite sedate, though summer visitors might disagree.
Glanum, near St Remy de Provence
Just 1km south of St. Rémy-de-Provence, you can enter a world more than 2,000 years old. Here the Celtic-Ligurians, Greeks and later, the Romans, settled down in a strategic valley and built and rebuilt a town that was known as Glanum.
La Roque sur Cèze
A peaceful place built on top of a hill by the Cèze river.
Les Baux de Provence
You shouldn't let the lines of parked cars put you off stopping at Les Baux de Provence. This is one of the loveliest hilltop villages you'll come across, and it's worth the fight through the crowds to take a look. Ideally, don't come in midsummer, otherwise you will be sharing every nook and cranny with a thousand other tourists.
Nimes
Even though Nîmes lies just outside the PACA-region, the town is so linked to Provence, in style, in history and in atmosphere, that we think it deserves a place on this website.
Pont St Esprit
Best known for its 12th century bridge with 19 arches, Pont St Esprit sits by the Rhône as it starts its journey through Provence.
Saint Rémy de Provence
Nestled in the hills of Les Alpilles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a stylish town much favoured by the creative Parisien set. Its centre is full of narrow medieval alleyways, with fountains and shady squares and wonderful buildings.
Salon de Provence
Named for being a station on the salt route in Roman times, Salon de Provence is a main town in the Bouches de Rhône region.
Uzes
A delightful historic town, Uzes is blessed with charming medieval streets, beautiful architecture and elegant mansions.
Vacqueyras
Vacqueyras is a village most well known for its wine production. Its small centre retains a lot of charm and you can enjoy a stroll around the narrow streets, soaking up the atmosphere of this sunny, agricultural village.
