What to do in Provence : 5 sports activities in Provence
Canoeing and kayaking
The clear waters of the Sorgue river will delight canoeing enthusiasts.
Starting from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, you can canoe down the river to L'Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue, where a shuttle will be waiting to take you back to your starting point.
This 8-kilometre circuit is accessible to all (provided you can swim). A welcome escape from the summer heat. The water is always quite cold!
Book a canoeing experience
Treetop walking
This activity is perfect for families. Plus, it provides excellent shade in case of hot weather. Just outside Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the Accrobranche Park welcomes you for a somewhat
vertiginous yet fun and safe experience. From the treetops or lower down on courses adapted to young children, embrace the magnificent natural setting and the thrill of heights. And for those who prefer to sit and watch, there are wooden tables where you can unpack a picnic or have a coffee.
Passerelles des cimes
Horse riding
How about discovering the landscapes of Camargue, the Luberon or the Alpilles from a different angle? Provence has many equestrian centres where the instructors will adapt to your level.
Some rides include stopping for a tasting session and discovering local products. Other options include horse-drawn carriages, donkey rides and pony rides for children.
Contact C en Provence if you wish us to organise your excursion.
Cycling around Provence
For many cycling addicts and Tour de France fans, the ascent of the mythical Mont Ventoux has become legendary. Fortunately, cycling can also be low-key and gentle, whatever your fitness level. It remains
one of the best ways to explore the landscapes of Provence.
One of the best options for an easy and memorable outing is the véloroute du Calavon. With no cars or hills, this cycle path will take you across the Luberon Regional Nature Park at your own pace. The 37-kilometre tarmac track built on the former railway line starts in Cavaillon and ends in Saint-Martin-de-Castillon. But you can join it in Robion, Coustellet, Les Beaumettes, Goult, and cycle through the valley. Overlooking the route, the perched
villages of Ménerbes, Lacoste, Roussillon, and Bonnieux will blow you away. The landscape is exceptional.
C en Provence can help you with your bike rental needs, electric, mountain bike or other.
Hiking
What better way to discover the villages and landscapes of Provence than to walk along the many hiking trails in the Luberon, the Alpilles and the Sorgues region?
The Oppedette or Régalon gorges, the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Alpilles ridge, the Luberon hills. It is impossible to list all the possibilities for a great escape.
Remember to check access to the forest massifs during the summer. It is regulated according to the risk of fire.
There are several options for finding the best hiking trails in Provence:
● The tourist offices are the first resource to browse.
Luberon
Alpilles
Isle Sur la Sorgue
● Some excellent apps will help you plan your tour and you can take the map with you
on your mobile phone (try Visorando, for example).
● But the best way to do it is to hire a guide to take you to the best sites. As you come across a mill, a stone-built hut, a panoramic view, a perched village, Roman remains,let your guide tell you the stories of these unique attractions.
C en Provence can put you in touch with the best hiking guides in Provence.
What to do in Provence: 5 entertaining outings
A hot-air balloon flight
There is magic in the air as the basket rises silently and the landscapes sparkle in the early morning sun. Provence from the sky takes on another dimension. Roussillon, Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux... The aerial view of these perched villages will leave a lasting impression on you, as will that of the vineyards, the meadows, the lavender fields, the ochre of Roussillon and the forests of the Luberon.
Afraid of heights? From the ground, the sight of the coloured hot-air balloons contrasting with the blue sky is just as worthwhile.
A road trip in a vintage Citroën 2 CV
Hop in for a fun and old-fashioned ride in a timeless icon, the famous 2CV (pronounced “deux-chevaux”). Open the roof and drive off the beaten track along the Luberon or the Alpilles roads. You have the option of getting behind the wheel yourself or choosing to be driven by a guide, who will tell you the best stories about Provence. Different and wonderfully entertaining.
Stargazing
On the Plateau d'Albion, near Apt, stands the Sirene Astronomical Observatory. It is open to the public upon reservation. Scan the sky to spot constellations, planets, artificial satellites, the Milky Way... A humbling experience for everyone.
Make sure you bring warm clothes: even in summer, the temperatures are cool. And avoid nights with a full moon, as the sky's brightness can compromise your observation.
A tasting of local wine and olive oil
Provence was one of the first French regions to cultivate vines, under the influence of Mediterranean civilisations. Many wine estates welcome visitors. You can taste the estate's vintages, explore the cellar, cycle through the vineyards, and attend cooking classes with food and wine pairings... The region's winegrowers are happy to share their passion in various ways (some of these activities must be booked).
Another local speciality is olive oil. Head to the olive mills and farms of the Alpilles or the Luberon for a tasting session full of flavour. The oil is extracted from the different varieties of olive grown in Provence, mainly the aglandau, with its surprising notes of artichoke. The tasting workshops are often an opportunity to learn more about the olive harvest, the pruning of the trees, the transformation of the olive into oil, its fruitiness and its cosmetic and dietary virtues.
Contact us if you need us to organise your day in the vineyards or among the olive trees!
A stroll through the antique shops
Notice to lovers of vintage furniture and household goods: L'Isle-Sur-la-Sorgue is the French capital of antique dealers. The Little Venice of Provence has thus become a paradise for bargain hunters. One can
spend hours strolling through the antique shops or on the open-air market along the quays of the Sorgue on Sundays. Each object and furniture piece tells a story and conjures up images of Provence in the past.
Best places to visit in Provence: 5 cultural attractions
The museums of Provence
Provence’s generous museum offer promises excellent discoveries. It is difficult to compile a representative list, so let's mention a few sites that are not to be missed:
● The Centre d'Art Campredon, in L'Isle-Sur-la Sorgue, is popular with modern and contemporary art lovers. campredon centre d'art
● The Lavender Museum, in Coustellet: the audioguide tour is a favourite with children and adults alike. Lavender Museum
● The Musée Granet, in Aix-en-Provence, is worth a visit for its exceptional permanent collection (Picasso, Matisse, Klee...) and the room entirely devoted to Cézanne. The museum collections.
● The Atelier Cézanne, also in Aix-en-Provence, for a moving visit to the Sainte- Victoire painter’s workshop. Visit the Atelier de Cezanne
Historical monuments
● Saint-Paul de Mausole monastery, in the Alpilles, formerly a psychiatric asylum where Vincent Van Gogh spent a year. You can visit his room, as it was when he painted the famous Irises. Saint Paul de Mausole.
● The abbey of Sénanque near Gordes. It is one of the "three Cistercian sisters", along with the Abbaye du Thoronet, in the Var, and the Abbaye de Silvacane, in the Bouches-du-Rhône. When the lavender is in bloom, the site is remarkably photogenic. Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey
● The Palais des Papes, in Avignon. The 14th-century palace saw nine popes succeed each other. It is one of the 10 most visited monuments in France. Palais des Papes
● Castles: the castle of Gordes, the castle of the Marquis de Sade in Lacoste, the castle of Lourmarin and its cultural foundation, the castle of Ansouis, a medieval jewel with French gardens...
Concerts and festivals
Summer in Provence attracts artists from all over the world, with an ever-increasing number of concerts, shows and festivals.
There is something for everyone! Let’s look at a few events not to be missed:
● Yeah Festival - electro and rock - in Lourmarin in June.
● International piano festival in La Roque d'Anthéron in July.
● International Festival of Lyric Art in Aix-en-Provence, in July.
● Festival Art de la scène in Lacoste in August.
● Sunset Concerts in Oppède-le-Vieux at the end of August.
Watch out for the opening of ticket offices, or get in touch with C en Provence to organise your cultural evenings during your stay.
Exhibitions
Cultural events in Provence include exhibitions, notably at the exceptional Carrières des Lumières site in Les Baux-de-Provence. This year’s event will be dedicated to the Dutch masters, from Vermeer to Van Gogh. Carrières des Lumières
The museums of Aix-en-Provence also showcase some unmissable exhibitions. Note in the diary for 2023: the retrospective devoted to the British painter David Hockney is on at the Musée Granet until 28 May 2023.
The Avignon Festival : This world-renowned event attracts the biggest names in the performing arts. They put on shows in the central courtyard of the Palais des Papes and many other beautiful venues hosting the Avignon Festival.
Every year in July, Avignon becomes an open theatre where shows, readings, exhibitions, films and debates take place in sumptuous architectural settings. 80% of the shows are premieres or firsts in France.
Spending an evening at the Avignon Festival requires planning. C en Provence can assist you in booking your tickets.
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There are so many fun and exciting things to do in Provence! Whether you are into sports, cultural outings or epicurean discoveries, activities in the Luberon, the Alpilles or the Pays des Sorgues are an opportunity to share unforgettable moments, with family or friends, in a magnificent setting which attracts visitors from all over the world.
Start to plan your holiday in the south of France with C en Provence : click here
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