West Provence

About the Bouches du Rhone Region

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.