The region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is made up of six départements in south-eastern France. Casually known as “PACA”, the region is bordered by Italy to the East and the Mediterranean Sea to the South. We have published a number of articles on Provence that will help you explore this fantastic sunny destination.
A brief description of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
![Map of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur © TUBS - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0 de] from Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Provence-Alpes-Côte-dAzur-©-TUBS-licence-CC-BY-SA-3.0-de-from-Wikimedia-Commons.png?resize=500%2C479&ssl=1)
Map of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur © TUBS – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0 de] from Wikimedia Commons
For foreign visitors, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is probably one of the most renowned regions of France (along with Paris, the Loire and Périgord). This sun drenched land stretches from the foothills of the Alps to the mouth of the Rhône and the Mediterranean to the South.
The region is a tourist hotspot. With 10.1 million over-night stays recorded in 2017, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is the first touristic region in France after Paris.
This is made easier thanks to an excellent transport infrastructure (the Provence region has a total of 2,500 km of motorway).
The A8 Motorway near Menton – Stock Photos from Michael R Evans – Shutterstock
The TGV (French high-speed train) links Paris to Marseille in 3hrs only.
The administrative region is made up of 6 départements :
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence [07] – head city: Digne-les-Bains
- Hautes-Alpes [05] – head city: Gap
- Alpes-Maritimes [06] – head city: Nice
- Bouches-du-Rhône [13] – head city: Marseille
- Var [83] – head city: Toulon
- Vaucluse [84] – head city: Avignon
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is one of France’s most populated region (pop. 5 007 977 in 2015).
The Provençal heritage
What comes to mind when we think about Provence? The typical lavender fields, olive groves and orchards, the colourful façades of picturesque villages, great town markets…
The abbey of Sénanque near Gordes © French Moments
A rich heritage ranges from Roman in Arles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Vaison-la-Romaine to Romanesque in the Abbeys of Sénanque and Silvacane.
However, some of France’s most thriving cities can be found in Provence: Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon or Nîmes (now in Occitania), without forgetting the always surprising Marseille, now the third biggest city of France.
The Provençal gastronomy
Provencal gastronomy has become world famous and popular with a wide array of delicious dishes and desserts:
- bouillabaisse (a fish stew)
Bouillabaisse – Stock Photos from Michael R Evans – Shutterstock
- pissaladière (a sort of Provençal pizza with anchovies)
Pissaladière – Stock Photos from AS Food studio – Shutterstock
- wine
Fancy a glass of Provençal rosé ? – Stock Photos from barmalini – Shutterstock
- herbs
Provençal herbs – Stock Photos from Maria Medvedeva – Shutterstock
- olives
Olives in Provence – Stock Photos from Sylvie Lebchek – Shutterstock
- calissons from Aix-en-Provence
Calissons from Aix-en-Provence © French Moments
- candied fruits from Apt
Glazed and candied fruits from Apt – Stock Photos from Maria Medvedeva – Shutterstock
- lemon tart from Menton
Lemon tart – Stock Photos from margouillat photo – Shutterstock
- nougat from Montélimar
French Nougat – Stock Photos from Hayati Kayhan – Shutterstock
Beautiful landscapes of Provence
The Provence countryside is stunning. Some of my favourite destinations are:
- the Luberon
The ochre cliffs at Roussillon © French Moments
- the Alpilles
Eygalières and the Alpilles © French Moments
- the Camargue
The wild horses of Camargue – Stock Photos from GUDKOV ANDREY – Shutterstock
- the Calanques of Cassis
Calanque of Port-Miou © Olivier Risnes
Montagne Sainte-Victoire © Olivier Risnes
Not convinced yet about the riches of Provence? Check out this video 🙂
A brief description of Côte d’Azur
![Menton © Vinbaron - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://i2.wp.com/frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Menton-©-Vinbaron-licence-CC-BY-SA-3.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons1.jpg)
Menton © Vinbaron – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
The Côte d’Azur, also known as the “French Riviera”, has such wonderful scenery that it has attracted millions of visitors over the years.
Between Toulon and Menton, the Mediterranean coast is home to some of the most prestigious spa and resort towns in Europe: Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Menton…
Peillon – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
This part of Provence is definitely influenced by its neighbour Italy. Lavender fields, chestnut and olive trees, sun-bathed vineyards and nestled villages constantly remind the visitor that he is still in Provence.
Nice is often considered as the “Queen of the Riviera”. The former city of the House of Savoy became French in 1860 with most of the territory that is now called the Maritime Alps département.
The Seafront in Nice – Stock Photos from Sergii Zinko – Shutterstock
With more than 500,000 inhabitants, Nice stretches along the shores of the dazzling Baie des Anges and boats a picture-perfect old town with Italian influence.
Nice is a perfect starting point for further visits towards Cannes, the Esterel mountains, Monaco, Menton and the perched villages of Nice’s hinterland: Peille, Peillon, Èze, Sainte-Agnès, Lucéram…
Eze by Jimi Magic (Public Domain)
Our pages on PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE-D\’AZUR
Place d’Albertas, Aix-en-Provence
Almost facing the Natural History Museum of Aix-en-Provence lies the elegant Place d’Albertas, certainly one…
Èze, French Riviera
The perched village of Èze commands stunning views of mountains falling sheer to the Mediterranean.…
Aix-en-Provence Old Town
The Aix-en-Provence old town is enchanting: shady squares, elegant town-houses, lively open-air markets, … everything contributes…
Peille, French Riviera
Peille is a perched village set atop a narrow rocky spur overlooking the Peillon Valley…
Learn about the traditions of Christmas in Provence
Christmas in Provence starts with the Sainte Barbe celebrations on the 4th December and culminate on Christmas…
Rocher de Monaco (Rock of Monaco)
The oldest part of the Principality of Monaco is Le Rocher, a rocky promontory between…
Peillon, French Riviera
Situated in the hinterland of Nice, picturesque Peillon is one of the most beautiful perched…
The best sites to see around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Last August we were in Provence, in the area around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence for a couple of days.…
Provençal Tomatoes and Aubergines / Tomates et aubergines farcies à la Provençale
Provençal Tomaotes and Aubergines are a delicious vegetarian dish which is often cooked in Provence where…
Colorado of Rustrel
The unexpected Colorado of Rustrel ranks among Provence’s most beautiful attractions. Situated on one of…
Pistou – Provençal pesto
Pistou (Provençal pesto) is typically Provençal and is a sauce made with basil, garlic, olive…
Discover the village of Roussillon in the Luberon
Roussillon lies in the northern part of the Luberon, between the petit Luberon and the…
Calanques of Cassis, Provence
The Calanques of Cassis are a unique geological formation in Provence, usually comprised of limestone…
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
As the Corniche roads from Nice descend towards Menton, it approaches the Mediterranean resort of…
Discover the Provençal village of Gordes in the Luberon
The village of Gordes is perched on a rock at 635 metres high, on the…
Lemon Tart – Tarte au citron
A classic lemon tart has a wonderful balance of lemons and a crispy sweet base.…
Explore the little town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
The little town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence lies in a beautiful countryside against the backdrop of the Alpilles…
Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, Aix-en-Provence
Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, Aix-en-Provence is arguably one of Provence’s most famous squares with…
Prince’s Palace of Monaco
Situated on a rocky promontory, the Prince’s Palace of Monaco (Palais Princier) is the official residence…
Lacoste, Provence
Opposite the village of Bonnieux, Lacoste is set on one of the Luberon’s most impressive…
Principality of Monaco
Enjoying over 300 days of sunshine a year, the most glamorous destination on the Mediterranean…
Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The din of cicadas, the southern French accent, a glass of Pastis at a table outside…
Great Mountain Passes in the French Alps
The great mountain passes in the French Alps played a great part in the mountain…
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Monte-Carlo (sometimes called Monte-Carle in French) is arguably the most famous district of the Principality…
Calissons from Aix-en-Provence
Calissons are a Provencal sweet treat composed of a light paste of crystallised melon and…
Chocolate Mendiants
As little Christmas delicacies, chocolate mendiants are part of the Provençal tradition and the thirteen desserts.…
Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence
Paris has its Champs-Élysées, Nice its Promenade des Anglais, Marseille its Canebière and Aix its…
Discover the French Alps from Thonon to Nice
Walking underneath dramatic glaciers and snow-capped peaks, strolling in the picture perfect old towns and…
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Now included in the Greater Nice, the dazzling little town of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera…
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
The seaside resort of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat lies in a beautiful peninsula on the French Riviera between…
Aix-en-Provence Cathedral
A sacred place for thousands of years, the Aix-en-Provence cathedral has become a religious landmark in…
Pissaladière (French onion pizza)
Pissaladière is a sort of like a cheese-less pizza .. this is a typical lunchtime…
La Madrague: the story of the song
“La Madrague” is a famous French song recorded by Brigitte Bardot in 1963. On the…
Nice Carnival
The Nice Carnival is one of the largest events organised on the French Riviera, attracting…
What to see in the Provençal village of Ménerbes
The old village of Ménerbes is situated on a mountainous spur 230 metres above sea…
Menton Lemon Festival
The most Italianate and the warmest town on the French Riviera has become famous for…
Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Provence
An iconic natural landmark in Provence, similar to Mont Ventoux and Sainte-Baume, Montagne Sainte-Victoire, a…
Les Baux-de-Provence: a beautiful village!
The site of Les Baux-de-Provence is situated 15 km from Arles and 25 km from…
Menton’s Parks and Gardens
The resort town of Menton on the Mediterranean Sea boasts most interesting parks and gardens…
Aix-en-Provence History
A brief account of the history of Aix-en-Provence. Romans origins in Aix The Aixois (the area…
7 Villages to Visit on your Dream Holiday in the Luberon
Provence immediately conjures up images of lavender filled fields, beautiful farm houses and manoirs with…
The most beautiful sites in the Luberon, Provence
The Luberon is a protected mountainous mass in the département of Vaucluse, in the south…
Aioli
Aioli is a sauce based on garlic, egg yolk and olive oil is widespread from Catalonia…
Sainte-Agnès, French Riviera
Perched on the flank of a mountain high above the town of Menton and the…
Discover Menton, French Riviera
The beauties of nature, the magnificence of the sun, the intoxication of the ever-changing sea……
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Provence
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a charming village lying on the bank of the Sorgue River. Fontaine was…
Facts and Figures about Monaco
The Principality of Monaco is full of interesting facts and figures. Here are a few…
The Trophy of Augustus (le Trophée des Alpes) in La Turbie
The monumental commemorative structure known as the “Trophée des Alpes” (or Trophy of Augustus) stands…
Pastis from Provence
Pastis is almost like a religion in Provence where the best pastis is found. “Il…
Discover the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is made up of six départements in south-eastern France. Casually known…
Discover Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the French Riviera
Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a Mediterranean resort situated between Nice and Monaco overlooking the beautiful Baie des…
The cultural highlights of Provence
The Provence, part of the PACA region, one of the richest in France, is the…
Explore the Alpilles mountain range in Provence
If you are looking for a postcard image of Provence, that of authentic Provençal atmosphere,…
Corniche Roads of the French Riviera
The Corniche Roads of the French Riviera consist of three routes following the mountainous stretch…
Visit the Official Website of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourist Board for more practical info.
