MOUSTIERS-SAINTE-MARIE - Alpes de Hautes Provence - 04 (1h20 from Aix-en-Provence)
When you go for a beautiful day at the Gorges du Verdon, you must stop by Moustiers-Sainte Marie. This small village is nestled at the base of a cliff, near the gorges. The streets are cobblestone, the houses are made of stone, there's a lovely waterfall dividing the village in two, and a magnificent medieval church... It's a beautiful sight! If you have time, you can have a meal at one of its restaurants that serve traditional Provencal cuisine, we recommend - if your budget allows - "La Ferme Sainte Cecile". They offer a set menu in the evening for 38 euros which is well worth it!
After taking a look at the shop windows displaying the famous Moustiers tableware, we head to Lake Saint Croix, rent a pedal boat for two hours, and head towards the gorges! Turquoise waters, waterfalls, sun, rosé... Paradise on earth!
How to get there - From Marseille-Aix, take the A51 towards Manosque - Take exit 18 towards Valensole/Manosque - Take the small roads passing through the villages of Gréoux les bains - Allemagne-en-Provence - Riez.
BARJOLS- Var - 83 - (45 minutes from Aix-en-Provence / 1 hour from Marseille)
The charming village of Barjols is typical of Provence, nestled on a hill at the foot of Sainte-Victoire, it is known for its 38 fountains and washhouses !
Barjols is home to "Le Vallon des Carmes", a magnificent natural site, accessible from the top of the village. It is actually a series of pools and waterfalls that ultimately form a paradisiacal swimming spot.
If you love folk festivals, you should know that since the year 1350, on the Sunday closest to January 17th, the village celebrates the feast of Saint Marcel, their patron saint. Costumes, drummers, bravado, procession, dance, and the dance of the tripettes are all part of the program!
How to get there - From Aix-Marseille, take the A8 towards Toulon/Nice/Aix-Fenouillères - Take exit 34-Saint-Maximin towards Saint-Maximin/Saint-Maximin-la-SainteBaume/Tourves/Barjols.
LOURMARIN - Vaucluse 84 - (40 minutes from Aix-en-Provence / 1 hour from Marseille)
Another beautiful village nestled in the fields of Provence! Lourmarin is officially recognized as "one of the most beautiful villages in France"! There is plenty to visit here: The Belfry, the Romanesque church of St. Andrew, the Château Villa Medici de Provence, and beautiful bast..16th and 18th centuries were present on the outskirts of the village.
But Lourmarin is not just old stones, the village is truly alive, with very pleasant café terraces in summer, good restaurants, galleries, and numerous activities. And it's the village that Laurent Garnier chose to host his Yeah Festival! Also worth noting is that Albert Camus lived and wrote in Lourmarin... Classy!
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LA ROQUE D'ANTHÉRON - Bouches du Rhône 13 - (20 minutes from Aix-en-Provence)
Situated on the banks of the Durance River, La Roque d'Antheron is also at the doorstep of the Luberon Natural Park. It is a large village with many old buildings and majestic monuments such as the beautiful Cistercian Abbey of Silvacane from the 12th century, the Château de Florans from the 16th and 17th centuries, and the Romanesque Chapel of Sainte-Anne de Goiron built in the 11th century!
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FONTAINE DE VAUCLUSE - Vaucluse 84 (1h05 from Marseille / 35 minutes from Avignon)
A very beautiful little village located between Cavaillon and Carpentras. Its name, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, refers to the source of the most beautiful river in Vaucluse, the Sorgue. It is actually the most important resurgence in Europe. The "fountain" is located at the foot of a magnificent cliff, a sublime natural site that has attracted and inspired many personalities from Frédéric Mistral to Commandant Cousteau, and including Petrarch, Boccaccio, and Chateaubriand. From the village, you can follow the riverbank, a very pleasant stroll on a path that leads to the famous fountain. But the village itself is also very beautiful, with small restaurants offering traditional Provençal cuisine, shops, many small museums, and terraces by the water.
How to get there - Take the A7 towards Avignon/Lyon. Exit 25 Cavaillon. Then follow D99/Cavaillon/L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue/Apt to join D99, take D24 towards Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.