34 Best things to see & do in Provence

Provence offers a feast for art lovers, with several excellent museums. Two of the world’s greatest painters – Cezanne and Van Gogh – painted many of their masterpieces here. Follow in their footsteps, see the actual locations, and where and how they lived.

Our summary of the typical foods, ingredients and flavours, cooking styles, dining scene and best foodie experiences in Provence.

The Luberon massif, with its lush landscapes, quaint villages and lavender fields (in season) is like a film set. It’s quintessential Provence at its most picturesque – best appreciated by car or the 236km circular bike route.

The asylum where Van Gogh spent 1888-89 is a masterpiece of Provencal Romanesque, and today specializes, appropriately, in art therapy. His room and reproductions of the paintings he made there are on display, along with temporary exhibitions.

The best-preserved Roman city in Provence, near Saint-Remy, amid landscapes painted by Van Gogh.

Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps through the landscapes around Saint-Remy-de-Provence, where he painted some of his best-known works.

In the stunning setting of Les Baux, learn all about Provence’s greeny-golden nectar on these free tastings of these award-winning oils. Open all year-round, but short walks through the olive groves and visits to the mill are also offered from June to September.

An organic farm in the Luberon run by a French-American couple that offers the chance to experience a traditional French wine harvest, including a tour of the farm, lessons in cultivation, and the chance to stomp on the grapes. Weekdays only.

Organic farm in the Luberon run by a French-American couple who offer summer and winter truffle hunts, and the chance to stomp on grapes the old-fashioned way during the harvest.

An atmospheric, ruined 10th century castle teetering atop the craggy Alpilles mountains, rich in Provence feudal history and panoramic landscape views.