Between sea and mountains, Provence is blessed with a wealth of picturesque villages where Provencal culture and traditions still reign supreme. Set off on an expedition just a few kilometers by car from the city of Marseille. Marseille Secrète presents its Top 10 of the most beautiful Provencal villages to discover or rediscover.
1. Lourmarin
Located in the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon, this magnificent village of 1,131 inhabitants is renowned for its listed château. Raoul Dautry, Albert Camus and Henri Bosco have all lived in Lourmarin. To find out more about the beautiful village of Lourmarin, click here!
📍1 hour’s drive from Marseille
2. Ansouis
This pretty perched village has been listed as one of “France’s most beautiful villages” since 1999. Narrow streets, santon stores and typical Provencal calades, as well as museums and a castle, await you for a real journey back in time.
📍55 minutes by car from Marseille
3. Roussillon
Nicknamed the Colorado Provençal, the Roussillon region lies at the heart of the world’s largest ochre deposit. A rainbow of orange colors make this a magical place of picturesque staircases and colorful facades.
📍1h20 drive from Marseille
4. Gordes
Still within the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon, Gordes is classified as one of France’s most beautiful villages. Some time ago, it was even named the most beautiful village in the world. A typical Provencal hilltop village, consider visiting its château and the Sénanque abbey, as well as its producers of olive oil, wine and regional produce.
📍1h10 drive from Marseille
5. Les Baux de Provence
Located in the Alpilles mountains, the village of Les Baux de Provence is certainly one of the most beautiful in France. Home to craftsmen’s workshops and small shops, the village is also home to a Santon museum and a superb château. The village’s name comes from the mineral bauxite, which is very present in the region’s soil. Don’t miss the famous Carrières de Lumières , where you can discover an interactive exhibition by Gaudí and Dalí.
📍1 hour’s drive from Marseille
6. Ménerbes
Situated atop a rocky massif surrounded by vineyards, the village of Ménerbes is famous for its wine and truffle production. The Provencal art of living is still very much alive here. Come and see the beautiful 16th- and 17th-century residences, still standing, and the Saint-Hilaire abbey , half-built into the rock.
📍1h10 drive from Marseille
7. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
On the way to the Gorges du Verdon, it’s impossible to miss Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Nestled in the hollow of a cliff, this magnificent village of cobbled streets and stone houses is bisected by a waterfall! And don’t forget to recharge your batteries with a taste of typical Provencal cuisine. Known for its earthenware production, the village boasts a dozen workshops.
📍1h45 drive from Marseille
8. Bargème
This 12th-century medieval village offers panoramic views over the valley from its 1097 m altitude. It’s a great way to step back into the Middle Ages and discover a feudal village. Ramparts, towers, fortified gates… Almost all the vestiges of the past have been preserved!
📍2h10 by car from Marseille
9. Tourtour
Why not take a trip to Tourtour? Situated at an altitude of 635 m, Tourtour fully deserves its nickname of “Provence’s village in the sky”. With its stone houses covered in round tiles, its Place des Ormeaux lined with eight fountains, its vaulted passageways and sun-drenched alleyways, the charm of the place is instantaneous! Built on the passage of spring waters, Tourtour still supplies eight fountains and a working oil mill, with the Saint-Rosaire spring as its main source. The medieval and 17th-century castles reflect the history of the area. From the village, you can admire the landscape stretching from the Middle Var to Mount Sainte-Victoire. A must-see!
📍2 hours by car from Marseille
10. Montbrun-les-Bains
Overlooking lavender fields, Montbrun-les-bains boasts the remains of an ancient medieval castle. This beautiful village is now famous for the benefits of its thermal spring, which dates back to antiquity.
📍2 hours by car from Marseille