Provence has it all, beauty, excitement and charm. In the south of France and bordering Italy, it offers stunning scenery with the French Alps to the north, the Mediterranean coast to the south and a multitude of hill top medieval villages in between.
The warm, sunny climate of Provence, reaching 35C in the summer and having mild winters, makes it a very inviting all year round destination. Along the Cote d’Azur and in the country side of Provence there is a large choice of holiday rentals available for rent, either directly from the owners or via their agents to suit all budgets.
From your villa rental you can explore Provence and taste some excellent Provencal cuisine such as; the famous fish soup bouillabaisse, salad Nicoise, anchoyade, truffles, and ratatouille.
With the abundance of tourist attractions, beautiful beaches and sporting activities, Provence is a great place to rent a holiday villa or apartment. Find your dream vacation rental in France on Rent Property Direct and explore this beautiful region.
Attractions
Soak up the atmosphere whilst sitting in one of the many cafes in the fashionable resorts and towns like St Tropez, Juan-les-Pins, Cap d’Antibes, and Monte Carlo. Or go star spotting during the famous Cannes Film festival. There is a vibrant nightlife all along the Cote d’Azur, not just in the night clubs but also at the night markets, fairgrounds and firework displays.
Visit the world renowned perfume factories and their fields of jasmine and lavender in Grasse behind Cannes. Travel through the vast wetlands of Camargue, home of the pink flamingos and herds of wild horses.
Activities
All the usual water sports are available such as; sailing, pleasure cruising, swimming, jet skiing, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and canoeing. There are many beautifully maintained golf courses to play on, in particular around the Valbonne & Mougins area behind Antibes and Cannes. It’s possible to rent a villa or apartment either overlooking a golf course or within walking distance, so you can play as much golf as you wish. Aix Marseille Golf Club, Cannes-Mougins Golf Club, Biot Golf Club, Grasse Golf and Country Club, Sainte-Maxime Golf Club and Taulane Golf Club are just some of the golf courses in the region worth visiting.
If you prefer horse riding, take a trail through the vineyards and olive groves to really appreciate the local countryside.
Festivals
Enjoy some of the open air festivals, such as the Nice Jazz Festival in May, The International Music Festival in Aix-en-Provence during July and August, Citrus Festival at Menton in February, Nights at the Citadel (dance, music and theatre) in Sisteron from July to August and the Provencal festival in Avignon early July.
Historical sites
Evidence of the region’s Roman past is abundant in many of the towns and cities. There are many interesting historical sites, The Abbaye du Thornet (near Lorgues, Var), 14th Century Papal Palace, the famous bridge in Avignon and the Chateau de Gourdon (Nice), to name but a few.
Cities and towns
Nice – It is well known for it’s fine examples of Genoese and other Italian baroque architecture. Walk or roller blade along the long Promenade des Anglais, enjoy the sea view or stroll through the winding streets around the old port and Flower market. There are many interesting museums to visit, especially the Matisse Museum. Rent a holiday apartment and enjoy the city. If you are staying in Nice during February, don’t miss the spectacular carnival with its parades, dancers and fireworks.
Aix-en-Provence – A bustling student city with lots of energy and life.
Antibes – Beautiful old town and port, with a lively market and some great holiday accommodation.
Cannes – Cannes has a large marina, many beach-front restaurants and great shops. Rent a villa in the surrounding hills to have a stunning view of the bay.
Marseille – Large commercial port with an interesting old town area. For some cultural entertainment visit the opera house near the old port. Marseille boasts the oldest olive tree in Provence at 1,800 years old, located in the neighbourhood of Plan-de-Cuques. Find your vacation rental from a wide choice in or around Marseille and feel at home in the south of France.
Other towns worth visiting for shopping, restaurants, bars, and holiday rentals in the south of France are Menton, Toulon, Bandol, Le Lavandou, Cavalaire, St. Maxime, St. Raphael, Frejus, Napoule, Juan-les-Pins, Vence, Mougins, Valbonne, Grasse, Fayence, Draguignan, Lorgues, Le Thoronet, Cotignac, Sisteron, Gap, Digne, St Remy de Provence, Salon, St. Tropez, Avignon, Arles, Orange, Hyeres, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Lorgues, Carces, St-Remy-de-Provence, Martigues, Le Lavendou, Grasse and Le Luc.
Travel
Nice and Marseille are the main airports with many of the discount airlines flying to them. Taking the Eurostar to Paris, you can catch the high speed train (TGV) to Marseille.
For great value holiday accommodation in France, search through the large selection of holiday rentals on Rent Property Direct and enjoy an unforgettable holiday in France.