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Welcome to Provence - Official site for the Bouches-du-Rhone region of France. |
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Aix-en-Provence, France www.aixenprovencetourism.com Office of Tourism of Aix-en-Provence. Provides information on the walking tour, In the Steps of Cezanne under appropriately enough - Cezanne. There are a number of other guided walking tours. Each one focuses on a different aspect of the city. The lecturer/guide is registered with The Office of Historical Monuments. For more information check under - Tours. In addition the site covers events, leisure, museums, restaurants, hotels......and has an English version. For information about the Atelier Paul-Cezanne go to www.atelier-cerzanne.com. The site has an English version. www.fondationvasarely.fr Fondation Vasarely. The site has an English version. Accommodations: Hotel Le Manio, 8 rue d’Entrecasteaux Tele: 33 (0) 442 26 27 20. Near the Place des Tanneurs in Old Aix. Simple, but comfortable rooms. For more information including photo and room rates click on the link to their web site. Restaurants: Le Bistro Latin, 18 rue de la Couronne Tele:33 (0) 442 38 33 88. Inexpensive to moderately priced. Cuisine: Provencal. Cozy bistro with great food. Reservations advisable. Trattoria Chez Antoine Cote Cour, 19 rue Mirabeau Tele: 33 (0) 442 93 12 51 Cuisine: Mediterranean. Moderately priced. Elegant setting. Friendly staff. Reservations advisable. |
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Arles, France www.ville-arles.fr Arles - Carmargue Tourist Office Official Site. The website has an English version. The Vincent Van Gogh Foundation hosts exhibitions by artists who were inspired by Van Gogh. Click on the link for a listing of current and future exhibitions. The web site has an English version. The Musée Réattu (near the Thernes de Constantin) has an interesting collection of drawing by Picasso who donated them to the museum in the 1970s in gratitude for the wonderful times he had in Arles. The building itself is of particular interest and dates from the 15the century and was once a Knights of Malta priory. The Musée de l'Arles Antique is lcoated outside the city center in a modern building that makes an interesting contrast to the collection inside. There are models of the city during the Roman times, which help you to imagine the grandeur of the city. For more information click on the link. The website has an English version. The beautiful cloister of St-Trophime is best viewed midday. Definitely worth a visit. One of the most lovely cloisters in southern France. Opening times are the same as Les Arènes. The church of St-Trophime is also worth a look especially the portal. The Arles visitor’s pass gives you access to museums and monuments for one price. The pass is available at the Office of Tourism on the Boulevard des Lices (cattycorner from the Jardin d’Ete). I like to park off the Blvd. des Lices either in the parking lot or the parking garage, each located respectively on either side of tourist office. The center part of town has small narrow streets, which are great for walking, but not so great for driving. Also the location of the parking facilities makes a great starting point for exploring all the major attractions. I found this out using the Michelin Green Guide Provence. |
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Carmargue, France www.parc-camargue.fr. Good site for information on the Carmargue regional park except its only in French. |
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Cassis Is a picture perfect postcard village on Mediterranean not far from Marseille. You might say it is that quintessential village with its windy little streets that lead down to the harbor and beautiful beach that sits below dramatic cliffs. The Office of Tourism hosts a website at http://www.ot-cassis.com/index_us.php (there is an English version)
Due to its popularity Cassis can get crowded in the summer. I went in the Fall – early October. People were swimming. It was warm and sunny. I found it pleasant and had a good time. I prefer to avoid a lot people and congestion. Les Calanques are fjords, an inlet cut into the limestone cliffs that are simply breathtaking. Between Marseille and Cassis there are number of them. Some have private beaches are only accessible by boat. One of the most beautiful is about an hour and half walk from Cassis it is Calanque D’En Vau. The best way to view Les Calanques is from the sea. Excursion boats leave from the harbor at Cassis. You can see anywhere from 3 calanques to 8 calanques depending on how much time you have. If you would like more information go to http://www.calanques-cassis.com/ or go stop by the kiosk at the east end of the harbor for tickets or information. Another great way is to go kayaking. You can rent a one from Provence Kayak Mer, their website is http://www.provencekayakmer.fr/ Throughout France there are Grande Randonnees (hiking trails). The GR98 runs between Cassis and Marseille. It is a difficult hike (17.4 miles) and takes about 12 hours. The Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre publishes a series of hiking guides called TopoGuides. They are in French, but if you are planning a hike they are probably the best resource. The one that covers the GR98 is called Les Calanques…a pied De Marseille a Cassis - ISBN 978-2-7514-0192-3. Restaurants: Nino, 1 Quai Barthelemy, Tele: 04 42 01 74 32. Moderately priced. Fresh seafood. Perfect location right on the harbor.
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Les Baux-de-Provence Is filled with galleries and restaurants along with incredible views of the surronding countryside. The ruined Chateau should not be missed. There isn’t much left of the chateau, but the audio guide that is included in the price of admission helps you to imagine how large and magestic this chateau must have been at one time. You also learn a lot of fascinating information about the town and the area from the audio guide. The church of St-Vincent has some beautful stainglass by Max Ingrand and the interior is quite lovely and should also not be missed. The Tourist Office has an online site in English. You will find information on the village, chateau and restaurant/hotel listings. If you are driving into Les Baux-de-Provence from the direction of Arles you will pass by the through the village of pretty village of Fontvielle. For more information click on the link. The site has an English version. |
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Marseille, France www.marseille-tourisme.com Tourist Office and Convention Bureau of Marseille. This excellent and information website has an English version. Check out the 1 or 2 day City Pass, which gives you access to 14 museums and use of the public transportation for one price. You can also search the site for what’s going on as far as opera, theatre along with information on cabaret, jazz clubs, piano bars and so on. Two of my personal favorite attractions in Marseille are the Vieille-Charite and the Musee Brobet-Labadie. The latter has a fine collection of furniture and paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries housed in a typical townhouse of wealthy merchant family from the 19th century. You not only get to look at some beautiful pieces of furniture, decorative items and paintings, but you also get to see how a typical wealthy family from the 18th, 19th centuries lived. There is a bus (take the 82) that stops on the Quai de Rive Neuve that will take you up to Notre-dame-de-la-Garde. The Ballet National de Marseille performs in the Opera Muncipal. For information on the season click on the link. The web site has an English version. Accommodations: I like to stay around the Vieux Port not only because it’s quite lovely and picturesque, but the location is an ideal home base for exploring the city. You just park your car in one of a number of parking garages located around the port and begin your adventure. The Hotel Alize, 35 quai des Belges. The rooms are nice and tidy, rather on the small side, but the views of the port quite nice. Be sure to ask for a room facing the port. Moderately priced with a central location. I also like this hotel because the Place du General de Gaulle parking garage is conveniently located two blocks away. Restaurants/Place to go for a drink: Le Miramar 18 quai de Rive-Neuve Tele: 04 91 33 35 38. Located right on the Vieux port. Expensive. Specialty: bouillabaisse. Le Café Parisien,1 place Sadi-Carnot Tele: 04 91 90 05 77 is located in Le Panier. A fun and lively place to go for a drink. Originally opened in 1903, the decor is rather retro because a few years ago the place was renovated, which brought it up to date while preserving the classic elements. Some nights there is live music. Definitely a pleasant way to spend a few hours relaxing in the eveing espcially sitting at an outdoor table on a warm, pleasant summer night.
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