Provence & Verdon: lavender, cliffs and canyons

Orange impresses with its exceptionally preserved Roman heritage. Here you'll discover the Théâtre Antique d'Orange, an imposing 1st-century theatre with a stage wall 103 metres long and 37 metres high. On the north side of the city stands the Arc de Triomphe, a Roman gateway. Nearby, in Vaison-la-Romaine, you can walk across the Pont Romain to archaeological excavations and a medieval upper town. The vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône surround the city, offering a peaceful Provençal view.

Avignon is a city on the Rhône enclosed by 4.3 kilometers of fourteenth-century city walls with 39 towers. The Palais des Papes is the largest Gothic palace in the world and served as the seat of the popes in the fourteenth century. The twelfth-century Pont Saint-Bénézet crosses the river with four remaining arches. From the Rocher des Doms, you can overlook the city and the vineyards of Provence.

Roman monuments and the art of Vincent van Gogh define the streetscape in Arles. In the centre stands the Arènes d'Arles, a first-century amphitheatre where gladiatorial contests took place. Nearby are the Théâtre Antique and the Alyscamps, a Roman necropolis with rows of sarcophagi. Those who wander through the narrow streets will recognise the places where the painter worked in the nineteenth century. The atmosphere is lively on market days when the scent of herbs hangs between the monuments.

The Camargue is a 100,000-hectare delta region where the Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Pink flamingos, white horses, and black bulls live in the marshes and salt pans around the Étang de Vaccarès. The coastal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer houses a ninth-century fortified church with a roof that offers views over the coastline. You can explore the Parc Naturel Régional on foot or by bike along the paths by the waterways.

Aix-en-Provence is the former capital of Provence and is known for the Cours Mirabeau, an avenue with 17th-century mansions. The Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur showcases architecture from the 5th to the 18th century, and the Atelier de Cézanne preserves the painter's workplace. The 1011-meter-high limestone massif Montagne Sainte-Victoire is located near the city; in the markets, you can buy lavender and artisanal soaps.

Gordes is a Provençal hilltop village in the Luberon known for its stacked stone houses and the 16th-century castle that dominates the center. In the nearby valley lies the 12th-century Abbaye de Sénanque, a Cistercian abbey surrounded by lavender fields. The Village de Bories showcases 18th-century dry-stone huts, and on the Sentier des Ocres in Roussillon, you can hike along red and orange ochre quarries.

A turquoise river flows through the Gorges du Verdon at the bottom of a deep limestone gorge. From Point Sublime, you look down on the confluence of the Verdon and the Jabron rivers between steep walls. The Sentier Martel winds along the rugged rock faces deep in the gorge. On Lac de Sainte-Croix, kayaks glide over the clear water along the limestone banks. The atmosphere is lively along the banks, where the sun brightly illuminates the white rocks.

The Massif de l'Estérel colors the coastline with its volcanic red porphyry rock. You can hike to the 492-meter-high Pic de l'Ours and enjoy panoramic views over the bay of Cannes. The watchtower at Cap du Dramont shows the coast from a different perspective. Along the picturesque Corniche d'Or, there are parking areas leading to small coves, such as the Calanque de Maubois. The red rocks and azure water create a constantly picturesque view along the coast.

Antibes embraces you with its 16th-century ramparts and Port Vauban, an impressive marina on the Mediterranean Sea. Inside the Château Grimaldi, you'll discover the Musée Picasso, where the artist created a series of works in 1946. From the star-shaped Fort Carré, you can enjoy panoramic views of the coastline. On the Cap d'Antibes, you follow a charming coastal path along rocky coves. The lively harbour and the tranquil paths offer a varied experience along the azure coast.