Travel notes: My fave pretty villages in Provence
In a statement that will surprise precisely nobody… one of the biggest draws of Provence is undoubtedly its incredibly picturesque villages, as I found out for myself following a trip there in September 2022.
However, if you've been (or are researching a visit) to Provence yourself, you'll know that attempting to plan a road trip in this area is actually pretty overwhelming! I personally had no idea that Provence is a really large region, covering a diverse landscape - from Arles in the west, to parts of the Alps in the north, to well past Nice in the south east.
I quickly realised that the relatively small Luberon valley is the part of Provence that has become popularised, and images of the villages there are what most people probably think of when they imagine Provence.
While it's true that many of the prettiest villages in Provence are based in the Luberon valley, there's lots more to this region, and I adored a couple of beautiful villages much further south and east towards the Italy coastline just as much.
So I've split this post into those two regions, to help you plan your stay!
Prettiest villages in the Luberon Valley
Gordes
No doubt you'll have seen images of this gorgeous 'perched' village all over your Instagram/Pinterest before. It's one of the most popular villages to visit in Provence, and for good reason.
Gordes holds a renowned market which attracts both locals and tourists alike and, as you approach the village, there's a purpose-built viewpoint area where you can park for free for 10 mins, to snap some photos of the incredibly beautiful panorama of this hilltop village (v handy).
It's also one of the larger villages in Provence, with a handful of cafes and restaurants and a couple of hotels (including the uber-luxury La Bastide de Gordes).
Gordes definitely deserves its title as one of the prettiest villages in Provence, but – much like Positano in the Amalfi coast, in my opinion – it's somewhat become a victim of its own success; these tiny villages just weren't designed for the huge volumes of tourists that they now attract, so you should definitely be prepared for crowds (especially if you visit on market day, like I did).
By the way, if you do go to Gordes, make sure to stop off at the abbey in Senanque for the incredible lavender fields – our trip was out of lavender season so I didn't make a stop, personally. Next time!
Lourmarin
While the main attractions of Gordes are the view of the village as you approach and the market, Lourmarin offers something different – namely, lots of charming art galleries, shops and eateries.
It's also one of the larger pretty villages in Provence, with a good selection of cafes and restaurants and several boutique hotels (including Le Moulin, a Beaumier hotel which I was v tempted to stay at).
Lourmarin is a flat – rather than 'perched' – village, so perhaps not one for those seeking incredible views, but its golden, cobbled streets are absolutely gorgeous nonetheless. Lourmarin was one of the loveliest villages we visited and much quieter than nearby Gordes. Definitely worth a stop on your trip!
Roussillon
Resplendent, russet-toned Roussillon (sorry, couldn’t help myself…) is visually one of the most unique places I’ve ever been.
It gets its incredible hue from the ochre deposits in the land, and you can still walk the trail around the ochre mines - where you get an incredible view.
Besides this, I won’t pretend there’s a huge amount to actually do in Roussillon - it’s absolutely teeny. But the architecture really is something to marvel at. I couldn’t get over the cohesion of the village, with every rosy, sun-baked building bathed in some shade of red and pink and contrasted with the shock of turquoise shutters.
It’s difficult to capture this place and do it justice, so seeing really is believing!
Prettiest villages along the Cote d'Azure
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Okay admittedly, I’m not sure SJCF (as I started referring to it, for short) is actually a ‘village’… It’s more of a very small fishing/seaside town. But don’t let that description fool you into thinking it’s in any way sleepy (or grotty).
It’s not only stunning, but also pretty bouji too! Upmarket shops, beach clubs (not mad party ones, just somewhere nice to spend your day!) and great eateries are aplenty, as well as heaps of authentic bakeries and cafes. I would highly recommend Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for a bit of luxe on your trip!
It was a total contrast to low-key, earthy feel of the Luberon valley, and we loved slowing down for a bit here.
Èze
Located just further along the coast from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, charming Èze is like a real-life movie set – I couldn't quite believe just how perfectly preserved it is. Literally like stepping back in time!
Perched (very) high on a cliff and comprised of a twisting warren of medieval streets and buildings, this small but perfectly formed village has incredible views over the French Riviera. The exotic garden, in particular, is well worth a visit for some of the best vistas.
There’s a handful of restaurants and shops but the highlight here is the architecture itself, really, and the phenomenal views.
Anything else I should know?
These villages are all quite remote (bar Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, which is connected by buses and trains) so you definitely need a car to get around.
Surprisingly, we always managed to find a parking spot, despite it being high season still. Car parks were VERY busy though.
Most of these villages are quite small and you don't need a full day to enjoy them. My suggested timings are…
For Gordes, Roussillon and Èze I think a few hours to a half day would suffice.
You can while away a lot of time in Lourmarin, browsing the shops and eating/drinking, so give yourself a half day at least.
You can easily spend a few days in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, exploring the various beaches (and beach clubs).
I’ve seen some blogs which say you can fit three of the Luberon valley villages into a day… While this would probably be physically doable, you'd be knackered, especially in summer heat! I would suggest you take the opportunity to slow down and enjoy a slice of the Provencal life, instead, by enjoying these beautiful villages at your leisure.
My best advice for your Provence road trip is to do your research on what Provence villages you'd like to visit (hopefully this blog helps!) so you can get a feel for the geography. You can then plot your route, assess timings, and figure out where your base accommodation will be. It definitely takes some planning!
I picked one base in the Luberon valley (the absolutely wonderful Capenlongue in Bonnieux) to give us a few days to explore that region, then another base down on the coast (a fab little AirBnB in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) to explore the Cote d'Azure. Before this segment of the trip, we had picked up a car in Marseille (which is where we flew into and spent a few days chilling on the beach), before driving onwards to Aix, then the Luberon Valley, then down to Nice and the rest of the riviera. If my full itinerary would be helpful, let me know!