Our driving tour in the South of France was hosted by Atout France. The opinions expressed are strictly our own based on our experience.
One way to enjoy the culture, scenery, and cuisine in the South of France is to take a driving tour to the towns that most appeal to you. We did a driving tour for a week with stops in the Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions. Some stops took only part of a day, while others needed a full day or two to explore. Here are our suggestions for 5 excellent destinations to visit on a driving tour in the South of France.
Narbonne
Narbonne is easily accessible by train, whether you come from Paris or, as we did, Barcelona, Spain. Once you arrive at the train station, you’ll be greeted with a charming city that’s buzzing with activity. We’d recommend spending the day exploring downtown.
Les Halles is a bustling marketplace of stalls filled with a variety of treats, including pastries, candies, prepared foods, wine, cheese, gourmet products, and more. It’s open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re there on Thursday or Sunday, there’s also a huge outdoor market with clothing, accessories, toys, and handmade items as well.
In Narbonne, France, you could spend the night downtown or splurge and head to the gorgeous L’Ile Du Gua Suites. Spacious and comfy accommodations on the grounds of UNESCO World Heritage Site Le Canal de la Robine boast charming gardens, a duck pond, and outstanding cuisine at La Brasserie du Moulin. Breakfast at the hotel is great, so we enjoyed it, then hit the road in the morning.
Marseille
The large port town of Marseille is the second most populous city in France (after Paris). We spent a couple of days exploring this major hub. Although it sounds touristy, a ride on the Petite Train gives a great overview of the city. Tickets are 8 euros or less, and there’s a choice of two routes. Route 1 goes through Old Marseille and picturesque Le Panier, the oldest neighborhood in Marseille, full of shops, art, and restaurants. Route 2 takes a longer journey from the Old Port to the highest hilltop and the impressive Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica. We took Route 2 for an amazing view of the entire city. When you return from the train ride, there’s a large stairway across the street that leads directly to Le Panier, where we shopped, looked at street art, and had a bite to eat.
At the whimsical and modern Now Hotel, our oceanside room had a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean from our balcony. They have tons of amenities, including a pool, spa, restaurant, and cocktail bars. The breakfast buffet is huge. We wandered around to see fun art pieces like a tall red giraffe, pink plastic flamingos, pop art paintings, and a playful neon tunnel.
The Old Port (Vieux Port) area has a lot of shops, some are kitchy tourist spots, but others are classic Marseille. Check out boutiques selling authentic Savon de Marseille, traditional soap blocks with a 600-year history. Ultra-modern MuCEM presents the diversity of Mediterranean culture through art, photography, and artifacts. It’s a reinvented section on the waterfront connected to Fort Saint Jean, built by Louis XIV. A ticket for admission will get you into both.
Marseille is a seafood lover’s dream and the birthplace of bouillabaisse. Locals love The Miramar for this famous dish.
Aix-En-Provence
It’s hard to think of Provence without imagining lavender. Aix-en-Provence is an elegant town closely associated with lavender products. We stopped in Aix for a brief visit on our way to Arles. We saw beautiful buildings with trendy shops, lots of cafes, and, of course, lavender products.
While shopping is certainly a favorite pastime here, Aix also boasts lots of art on the streets and in museums. It was a favorite of Paul Cézanne, whose studio is now a museum, Atelier Cézanne. Le Musée Granet holds major works by Rembrandt, van Dyck, Cézanne, Giacometti, Degas, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and others.
Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, the town square, and Le Cours Mirabeau, a scenic boulevard lined with trees, cafes, and shops, are both worth strolling through. Le Chatelard 1802 will help you get your lavender fix before you head out of town.
Arles
Arles, with its ancient ruins and picturesque scenery, offers inspiration to artists and travelers alike. We stayed at the utterly charming Le Calendal hotel, perfectly situated near the amphitheater, restaurants, and shops. The breakfast buffet is great, and there’s a lovely non-smoking garden to enjoy. They also sell gourmet goodies to take on your daily excursions.
Various locations display the paintings they inspired. Museums worth visiting include the Musée Réattu and the Foundation Vincent Van Gogh.
Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has ancient ruins such as the Arles Amphitheater, Roman theater, and the Alyscamps. You walk near the Roman and Romanesque monuments, or choose from several passes and tours for further exploration.
A highlight of our visit was Camargue National Regional Park, a nature preserve and bird park about a 20-minute drive from the town. As we drove toward the park, we saw some of the few remaining wild white horses of Camargue. Ardent birders, we loved the Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau where we saw many bird species, including flocks of flamingos. The park is open year-round and costs 7 euros. We walked several trails and recommend comfortable shoes for the slightly rustic terrain.
We drove a few miles further to the charming seaside resort town of Les Saints-Maries de la Mer. It’s quite busy when the weather’s good, so rather than fight the crowds, we headed back to town for a special dinner at L’Arlatan, an ornate, eclectic Mediterranean restaurant inside a boutique hotel. For something more subdued, we loved the fresh local fare at Restaurant Esperluete. For the last glimpse of a starry night, enjoy a drink at one of the numerous cafes to choose from.
Les Baux-De-Provence
From the large port city of Marseille, we drove to the tiny ancient town of Les Baux-de-Provence. It’s a lovely change of pace; we covered it in half a day. The main reason we stopped here was for the Carrières de Lumières exhibit, an immersive multimedia display of artwork projected onto every surface of a stone quarry.
This remarkable experience alone is worth a stop in Les Baux. The shows change from time to time, but no matter what is playing, avoid the long wait by advanced ordering your tickets online. Our recommendation is to arrive by 9 a.m. to get a parking spot in the free lot. It fills up fast, and other parking options are challenging. You can go to see the exhibit first, then visit the town or vice-versa. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket or sweater as it can get cool inside.
We strolled the town’s narrow cobblestone streets and saw a unique Museum of Santons with artistic figurines illustrating Christmas and other traditions of the area. Walking to the top of the hill we saw an exquisite view and the Chateau des Baux-de-Provence, the village’s medieval fortress. The winding village streets have specialty shops selling truffle items, cheese and charcuterie, lavender products, oils, soaps, cookies, hats, artwork, and more. There are many little bistros for lunch, but we purchased some delicious salami, cheese, olives, and bread to take with us.
Montpellier
Our final destination was the booming city of Montpellier in the Occitanie region. This is a fast-growing city with lots of youth and energy, yet parts of it feel as though you’re back in Paris. The Place de la Comédie is a large pedestrian square sometimes called l’Oeuf (the Egg) because of its unique oval shape. Montpellier also has a version of the Arc de Triomphe. Although somewhat shorter, it’s familiar enough to provide a sense of tradition contrasted with the newness of the expanding city.
On the more modern side, “The White Tree” is an architecturally unique apartment building that, from a distance, looks like its nickname. Our hotel, The Golden Tulip, is brand new and in an extremely convenient location for traveling by train. It is literally across the street from the station. They have a unique breakfast that includes a tiered tray similar to a tea tray, but offering morning bites, pastry, and a poached egg.
There’s plenty of art here, including unique street art. A street artist known as “BMX” managed to embed a bicycle into the side of a building, making a mischievous social comment on the city’s rapid expansion. The Fabre Museum is a favorite in Europe and has impressive collections of art, sculpture, and ceramics from the Renaissance to modern day. It’s open every day except Mondays.
We visited the food hall and marketplace Halles Du Lez – Le Marché Du Lez packed with stalls selling everything to eat from seafood platters to pizza. Naked sells only fresh cocktails and egg dishes. We sampled their egg foam “cloud,” a unique and popular treat. Outside is a food truck area with live music. The busy market area has music and vendors selling clothing, crafts, and other items. For a delicious meal in a quiet garden setting, try the gourmet bites at Le Petit Jardin bistro.
We enjoyed discovering Montpellier’s hidden gems like the Mikvé, a ritual bath used for purification by the ancient Jewish community. There are some things you can only see with a guide, so check with the tourist office if you’re interested.
Driving in the South of France is a wonderful way to explore this beautiful area. With a little planning, you can enjoy a fun and memorable experience. These are just a taste of what you will discover in this magnificent region of France.
If you’re looking for more to explore in France be sure to read our post on Toulouse.
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