Provence

Provence is rural southern France: green meadows, purple lavender and stone villages on the hills, made for slowing down. The lavender usually blooms from late June to mid-July, and the best-known fields are on the Valensole plateau and around Sénanque Abbey near Gordes.

In the Luberon, beautiful villages follow one another: Gordes above its valley, Roussillon with its red cliffs, and smaller villages with weekly markets. To the east, the Verdon River cuts a deep gorge of turquoise water that ends in the Lac de Sainte-Croix.

The high-speed train from Paris reaches Avignon in about 2 hours 40 minutes, and from there you travel by private car. The best way to see Provence is with a driver who knows the country roads and picks the quiet morning hours before the midday heat.