Nothing says romance like a honeymoon in the south of France or a romantic getaway.
This truly enchanting part of the world is the perfect backdrop for relaxing dining at extraordinary restaurants, exploring perfect towns and vibrant cities with surprises at every turn, and enjoying the best flavors and aromas offered by the country that practically invented romance. .
The most remarkable aspect of a honeymoon in the South of France is that it provides a romantic getaway with two very different feelings:
1) The hinterland of Provence feasts the eye with pastoral sights that inspired great artists such as Paul Gauguin, Paul Cezanne, and Vincent van Gogh.
The vineyards covered even with rows of plump grapes form a mosaic with endless fields of radiant sunflowers or fragrant lavender. Nestled everywhere are picturesque medieval towns that stretch over the region’s slopes, their cobblestone paths twisting and turning between towering stone buildings that still serve as homes and shops today.
2) On the contrary, the surrounding coast, the legendary Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera, is a luxurious tourist area. This world-famous park has attracted visitors for decades, inviting them to splash in the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea, relax on its white pebble beaches, and savor local wines or latte in its unconventional bars while admiring views of the I already. full ports
Tips for planning a honeymoon in the South of France
Thanks to the main international airports in Nice and Marseille, as well as the convenient train service from Paris, it is easy to plan a honeymoon in the south of France. Trains also travel throughout the region, although some remote towns can only be reached by car.
While the region’s Mediterranean climate makes it quite mild throughout the year, the best time to plan a honeymoon in the south of France is between May and October. Provence’s famous lavender fields are in bloom from late June to July, while sunflowers turn the landscape golden in August. September is harvest season in the vineyards.
Although visitors may find that English is not spoken as widely as in Paris, most waiters and other service people know enough language to communicate with visitors, making a honeymoon in the south of France be relatively stress-free even for those who don’t speak French.
Almost all cities have their own tourist information office offering maps, brochures and personalized advice.
While many American hotel chains have branches in larger cities, both Provence and the Côte d’Azur are full of charming inns and small hotels, some hundreds of years old but updated with modern bathrooms. Their friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere make them the perfect getaway for a honeymoon in the south of France.
Nice, Cannes, St-Tropez, Cap-Ferrat and Cap d’Antibes… for decades, the picturesque coastal towns of the Mediterranean have drawn the rich, famous and beautiful to the French Riviera.
However, the area’s golden sun, crystal clear turquoise waters and pastel-colored bistros and hotels also make the Côte d’Azur the perfect place for a romantic getaway in the south of France.
Nice: Start your getaway to the South of France here
The sophisticated city of Nice is the ideal starting point for an excursion to the south of France. Its international airport is just a short taxi ride from the Promenade des Anglais, the frequently photographed beachside walkway that gently curves along the shoreline.
South of the wide boardwalk are white pebble beaches dotted with blue umbrellas, perfect for sunbathing or taking a dip in the salty Mediterranean.
To the north is a vibrant city filled with luxurious hotels like the glamorous, century-old Hotel Negresco, lush flowers and palm trees, and quaint little parks and squares with fountains, gardens, and ponds.
Explore Nice and admire the ornate buildings with their red tile roofs and bright facades in warm shades of yellow and orange. Explore the small shops full of Provence floral fabrics, sunny yellows and bright blues that capture the colors of the neighboring landscape.
Another “must” of a honeymoon in the south of France is to stay in a cafe or bistro on the sidewalk, inspecting life on the street. Or stroll through the market in Old Nice, rummaging through displays of antiques and abundant local produce like figs, olives, raspberries, and melons. Add a fresh baguette from a bakery, some goat or sheep cheese, a bottle of local wine, and you’re done! You have a romantic snack for two.
Cassis: a distinctive getaway for two
The intimate resort town of Cassis is just a short drive from Marseille. This picturesque town offers a truly romantic backdrop for a getaway to the south of France. Colorful cafes and restaurants line the harbor, creating a relaxed place to watch the boats or enjoy the sunset.
A small beach is conveniently located next to the port, making a dip in the Mediterranean another key ingredient in the romance of southern France.
A highlight are the picturesque coves, secret entrances that are most easily reached by boats that leave Cassis harbor every half hour. Get off to enjoy one of the small private beaches with its turquoise waters, white beaches and spectacular cliffs.
Cassis is just one of the many charming seaside towns that line the southern coast of France. Famous spots like Cannes and St. Tropez, as well as lesser-known hideaways like Villefranche-sur-Mer and nearby Beaulieu-sur-Mer, boast beautiful beaches that are perfect for daytime sun worship and romantic walks in the night.
Small hotels, often decorated in warm tones of yellow and rust, create the feeling that the two of you are truly the only people in the world.
Monaco: a sophisticated stop on your romantic getaway to the south of France
The last destination on the Côte d’Azur is Monaco. This small, bustling and cosmopolitan country, which hosts the famous Grand Prix car race every May, also has sophisticated restaurants, clubs and, of course, the famous casinos of Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco.
The famous Monte Carlo Casino, housed in a luxurious 18th century building, has long been a favorite of Beautiful People.
Other casinos offer a more Vegas-style experience. Touring the palace that Princess Grace and Prince Rainier once called home is another experience not to be missed.
Few things are as romantic as enjoying new experiences together, and that includes discovering new sights. Holidays in the south of France can be made even more memorable through visits to historical places and cultural sites.
Medieval wonders in the south of France
Plan to stop at the medieval towns that dot the Provence countryside. These charming villages, with centuries-old stone buildings crammed along curved cobblestone paths, remain lively centers for residents and merchants, making them fun to explore hand in hand.
Many are small, like the picturesque town of Eze, a short drive from Nice. Winding through the narrow streets takes you to the Exotic Garden, where 360 degrees of breathtaking views await.
Les Baux also seems to have emerged from the pages of a storybook. At the top of a hill, visitors can pass through the remains of a medieval castle and watch a film about Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne, who so magnificently captured the surrounding countryside on canvas.
Vaison la Romaine offers another opportunity to go back in time to the Middle Ages, weaving along cobbled paths to discover small public squares and perfect fountains. Meanwhile, the austere stone buildings of monasteries like Thoronet Abbey demonstrate the simple lifestyle of medieval monks.
Perhaps the best known medieval walled city is Avignon. During the 14th century, Avignon was home to seven popes, and the massive stone Palace of the Popes still stands. This impressive structure aside, Avignon is a lively city packed with shops, cafes and a colorful indoor market, Les Halles, with a delicious selection of cheeses, breads, fish and fresh produce.
A look at France’s Roman past
A vacation in the south of France tempts couples to go even further back in time. More than 2,000 years ago, the Romans ruled this region, and the ruins of their incredibly advanced civilization are still on display.
Nimes is home to a tremendous arena built around 100 AD and used for shows.
Vaison la Romaine contains the remains of what were two luxurious residences during Roman times, as well as the ruins of a theater. The city also has a fascinating museum of antiquities. Orange also has the remains of a Roman theater, along with an imposing archway.
The Pont du Gard, a gigantic aqueduct built by the Romans, originally stretched 30 miles. Today, its enormous size and somewhat quirky museum, one that focuses on the history of water and plumbing, make it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
Art in the South of France
Many fine artists found inspiration in the beauty of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. The region is home to three art museums, each honoring a genius who created some of his most impressive work in the area.
In addition to a harbor full of luxurious yachts, the coastal city of Antibes is home to the Picasso Museum. Picasso lived in the building, a castle, the Chateau Grimaldi, in 1946. Today the museum houses his work along with exhibitions by other prominent artists. The blue waters of the Mediterranean serve as a stunning backdrop for Picasso’s outdoor sculptures.
The Chagall Museum in Nice contains an impressive collection of paintings by the artist. The Matisse Museum, also in Nice, contains the famous Fauve paintings and sculptures. Next door is a Franciscan monastery with picturesque gardens that offer a perfect setting for a romantic picnic for two, as well as unparalleled views of the city.
Matisse’s art is also celebrated in the white-walled Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, which he designed to thank the Dominican sister who served as his nurse. Its distinctive style is seen in the stained glass windows of the building.
While there is no actual Van Gogh museum in southern France, the haunted artist covered hundreds of canvases in Arles, where the gardens he painted were recreated and easels were set up around the picturesque medieval town to show where he stood while doing Some of his best known works.
Van Gogh also lived in St. Remy-de-Provence, known for its two Renaissance castles. The St. Remy Presence Vincent Van Gogh Art Center contains documents from his life, as well as a film about the great but tormented artist.
Distinctive regional museums
Other cities also have museums that provide a glimpse into local culture. In Grasse, the perfume center of the world, visitors can learn how perfume is made at Fragonard Parfumeur, while a museum dedicated to lavender, Musée de Lavande in St-Remese, contains ancient tools used to create perfumes and a garden botanical.
Isle sur la Sorge has a small museum of old toys and dolls. There is even a shoe museum, Musée International de la Chaussure in Romans, which covers the artistic and practical aspects of footwear throughout history.
A trip to Provence and the Côte d’Azur in southern France provides an unrivaled opportunity to indulge the senses, as France has mastered the arts of fine fragrance, fine wine, and of course good food.
Since this region is the perfume capital of the world, every trip to the south of France should include a stop in Grasse, home to two perfume factories. Parfumerie Fragonard offers tours that demonstrate the magical process by which flowers are turned into perfume, soaps and other scented products.
The building also houses a museum with old labels and other related items. Parfumerie Molinard also explains the techniques used in perfume production and includes a collection of rare perfume bottles.
Intoxicating sights and aromas
Even without stopping at an actual perfume factory, visitors can enjoy the fragrant lavender fields that stretch as far as the eye can see from the last week of June through July.
The sights that surround visitors at every turn are also a highlight of a trip to the south of France. Driving on a country road is like taking a step back into the 19th century. Farms and vineyards line the road, dotted with picturesque stone farms.
The Camargue, nicknamed the Everglades of France, is a marshy area that unleashes white horses that flock around ponds and streams by the dozen, bulls used in local bullfights, and flocks of colorful flamingos. The Gorges du Verdon, meanwhile, is considered the Grand Canyon of France, offering views of dramatic cliffs and blue-green waters.
Food and Wines of the South of France
When it comes to the good life, France is known around the world for its dedication to food. And due to its proximity to Italy, this region has been widely influenced by Italian cuisine. Pasta is a specialty, often served with the basil and pine nut sauce called pistou or pesto. Gelato in a dizzying amount of flavors is available even in small towns.
Olives that grow in abundance make delicious tapenades. The area also produces sweet tomatoes, figs, and honey in a variety of flavors, including lavender-infused honey.
Many cities offer regional specialties, such as Nice’s salade nicoise, a paradise for anchovy lovers. Then there are all the typical foods that the French are famous for, including croissants, brioches, and elaborate cakes that really taste as good as they look.
Every trip to the south of France should also include a visit to a winery. The vineyards are spread across the land, producing some of the best wines in the world, at some of the lowest prices in the world. Chateauneuf du Pape has the highest alcohol content of any French wine, and there is even a town with that name that is full of boutiques selling Chateauneuf du Pape wines made by small individual wineries throughout the region.
Meanwhile, Cassis is known for its own local white wines. The region also produces two popular appetizers: almond-flavored amandine and anise-flavored pastis.
To the market you go
One of the best places to immerse yourself in the scents, tastes, sights and sounds of the region during a honeymoon in southern France is the open air markets.
Many cities keep them on different days of the week, so it’s almost always possible to find one. Starting early in the morning, local cheesemakers, bakers, farmers, and merchants set up shop under colorful awnings, displaying a mind-boggling array of fruits, vegetables, sausages, fish, cheeses, soaps, fabrics, and flowers.
The countryside is not the only place to enjoy extraordinary gastronomic experiences during a trip to the south of France. The French are famous for their passion for food, and almost every restaurant, from casual bistros to the best-known four-star restaurants, reflects the country’s deep respect for food. Or stop at a small grocery store, like the ubiquitous chain of casinos, and browse the shelves for sausages, cheeses, and other unusual local specialties.
Most likely, you will delight your senses with a new texture or flavor, creating one more memorable experience during your trip to the south of France.
Author: Cynthia Blair
