Provence’s best food & drink

Visit the most famous chocolate factory in Provence, just outside Aix in Puyricard, where you can go behind the scenes in their atelier or spend an afternoon at a hands-on chocolate-making workshop.

‘Les Compagnons’, an association of Cotes du Rhone winemakers, hold this harvest festival on a Saturday late in August at the Rocher des Doms in Avignon; there’s a parade, games and plenty of food and wine.

Provence is renowned for high-quality olive oil due to its favourable Mediterranean climate, rich soil, and traditional cultivation methods. The region produces several varieties, including Picholine, Aglandau, and Bouteillan, each offering a surprisingly distinct flavour, ranging from fruity and mild to robust and peppery.

Olive oil tastings in Provence are a great way to try them, whilst also learning about how they are made.  A tasting typically involves guided tours of olive groves and mills, where you’ll hear about olive cultivation, harvesting, and oil production processes. You’ll then get to sample some oils with varying nuances of flavour, aroma, and texture.

The award-winning Moulin Castelas, in the stunning setting of Les Baux, is one great place to go for a tasting. They’re free, and offered all year round. Moulin du Calanquet and Château Virant also often host tastings and tours. Many are offered for free.

If you don’t have time for the full experience, many market stall traders and speciality shops will let you try a few different varieties before you buy.

Each morning, Aix hosts one of Provence’s best markets, overflowing with the freshest fruit, vegetables, herbs, meats, seafood and cheeses from local producers. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, it expands tenfold and includes a massive flower market.

Sunny Provence has been making wine ever since grapes were introduced by the Ancient Greeks, circa 600 BC. Provence grows some of the most prestigious Cotes du Rhone wines, including the reds of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Beaumes-de-Venise, all located north of Avignon (more details below).

Famous for its quaffable roses, there are also notable AOC areas along the coasts (Bandol, with its Mourvedre wines, Cassis with its whites), while Les Baux-en-Provence is known for organic wines.

Truffles in Provence are prized fungi known for their earthy aroma and rich flavour. They grow in the region’s limestone-rich soil and mild climate, often found near oak trees. Used in gourmet cooking, truffles enhance dishes with their unique taste. Provençal traditions celebrate truffles with festivals and markets, reflecting their culinary and cultural importance to the locals.

Truffle hunts are guided trips where trained dogs (or pigs) help locate these hidden treasures. Sign up to enjoy the thrill of the hunt and for the chance to learn about truffle cultivation. It’s an immersive way to experience a true Provençal tradition. The hunts are usually followed by some kind of tasting or cooking class, so you also get the chance to try traditional Provençal cuisine firsthand.

The best places for truffle hunts are the Luberon and Ventoux regions. Las Pastras is an organic farm in the Luberon run by a French-American couple who offer summer and winter truffle hunts, followed by a sampling of fresh truffle hors d’oeuvres, Champagne, and a tasting of their olive and truffle oil. See their tour listing in the ‘Who to go with: organised tours’ section below.

Another way to sample truffles is to attend the truffle market in the village of Richerenches in the heart of truffle country. Held on Saturday mornings in winter (November to March), it brings together buyers, brokers, growers and curious onlookers.

This organic farm in the Luberon run by a French-American couple offers you 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.

This buzzing local market, held every Wednesday, is one of Provence’s most vibrant and authentic – attracting visitors and locals from the wider region. Located in the heart of this charming town, it offers a wide variety of local products, including fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, olive oils, and regional specialities. You’ll also find handcrafted goods, textiles, and pottery.