Provence and the Riviera string Aix-en-Provence's market squares, Avignon's Palace of the Popes, the Luberon hill villages of Gordes and Roussillon, the lavender fields of Valensole, and Nice's Promenade des Anglais.
Highlights
Nice
Aix-en-Provence
Avignon
Saint-Tropez
When to Visit
Jun-Jul
Lavender bloom on the Plateau de Valensole and around Sault peaks late June through mid-July, and Avignon Festival three weeks of July fills the Palace of the Popes courtyards.
May-Jun
Cannes Film Festival mid-May draws yacht crowds, sea warming for swimming, and the Luberon hill villages walking comfortable before summer heat.
Aug-Sep
Hot Provençal summer with mistral wind clearing the sky, beaches packed, and Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence in July aside, harvest begins.
Oct-Apr
Mild Mediterranean winter at 13°C, Nice Carnival in late February-early March, and the Luberon villages accessible without summer parking pressure.
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