Welcome to the blog "Visit of Provence"
You are on vacation in Provence for 1 week, and you wonder what you absolutely must see?
My name is Enzo, I'm a photographer in Aix-en-Provence. Through this blog, I will help you discover
authentic Provence, the most beautiful landscapes.
I have been living in Aix-en-Provence for more than 20 years, and i still enjoy this region, as splendid by the beauty of these panoramas as by its cultural wealth turned towards
the sun.
I will give you travel tips to discover at the right time, and also photo tips, because I'm passionate about photos and I love to pass on my passion.
So ! Let's go visit Provence
Lavender and the Valensole "plateau"
For me, Provence evokes me the Sun, the blue sky, the songs of cicada, the smell of the pines warmed by the hot sun of the arid summers, and especially the scents of lavender which I liked to breathe by rubbing the small "ballotin" that my mother made us for our dressers.
Lavender is grown on the Valensole plateau and is visible from mid-June to mid-July.
The plateau of Valensole is located in Provence, you will discover beautiful areas with the Alps in the background.
I invite you, too, to take a tour of the lavender museum to discover how this plant is distilled to make it a pleasant fragrance.
The crest route and the port of Cassis
Cassis, a fishing village, so much loved by the inhabitants of Marseilles and so picturesque. It is pleasant to stroll in autumn, winter or spring, but summer and beautiful sunny Sundays, I recommend this destination as it is popular with Marseille. The road of the ridges will reserve you a discovery much more pleasant and dizzying.
45 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, and 35 minutes from Marseille, Cassis is a destination not to be missed when visiting Provence. You can discover the fishing village and taste the famous bouillabaisse, or aioli, or refresh yourself by eating a good homemade ice cream. In cassis, you will also have the opportunity to discover the coves, Port Miou, The creek En Vau, but I recommend you especially the road ridges which is splendid for its panorama steep on the bay.
The Auffes valley in Marseille
Marseille is a city where it would take more than a week to visit everything, so, to get to the point, I advise you to go see the Auffres valley, and swim in the pool. It is a mythical place since it has kept the atmosphere of a fishing village in the heart of Marseille.
A typical day would be like this:
A café in the "Panier" district in the morning, to feel the Marseille village atmosphere, then we walk through the typical streets to discover the graffiti "work of art" modern that make the
charm of the "Basket" in direction of Mucem, Museum located on the old port.
After a
discovery of ancient civilizations and temporary exhibitions, we go up the old port in the direction of Fort Saint-Jean and continue our walk on the ledge.
After 15 minutes of walking, we finally find ourselves at the
"Vallon des Auffes", and there, the charm takes place. We go down to take a dip in
the natural pool, and we wait for the sunset. We live to the rhythm of Marseille, we feel his heart
beat, we are yet in the center but so far from all this turmoil.
I advise you to go enjoy a bouillabaisse in the renowned restaurant
"Fonfon". You will have to book as this restaurant is appreciated for its catch of the
day. If your budget
allows, you can go to discover the restaurant "the dip net", with a magnificent view of the valley and the sea.
Arles, its rice fair, its photo exhibitions
45 minutes from Aix en Provence, Arles is known for its arenas, for its Rice Fair in September and especially for its photo exhibitions (Rencontre d'Arles in July-August and European Festival of nude photography in May). Arles is rich for its history and for the artists who lived there. You can discover Van Gogh's room and have lunch in the restaurants where he used to stay.
I like to go to discover the photographic encounters of Arles, to walk in the cool alleys of the old city, to discover
the white stones and houses so typical of Provence.
I recommend the "meetings of Arles". It is a photo festival of international renown. You will discover new artists, current topics. Exhibitions start
in early July and end in mid-September.
I was this year at the European festival of nude photography in May, and I found the experience very interesting. I leave a little mystery and I let you
discover it for yourself ...
Discovering the Flamingos
Wonderful ! I loved to walk in the ornithological park of Camargue. I was lucky to be able to do it at dusk. The park organizes once a year, and it allows to be in contact with wildlife, including flamingos that come to rest before flying for the night.
1 hour from Aix or Marseille, 30 minutes from Arles, the ornithological park of the Gau bridge is at the
entrance of Saintes Maries de la Mer. It is a splendid place where you can stroll to discover the fauna, flamingos and other Camargue birds.
After a 1 hour walk in the park, I invite you to discover the city of sinners Saintes Maries of the sea, where you can discover the pilgrimage of gypsies on May 24 and
25.
The castle of Baux-de-Provence and the careers of Lights
Going up north of Arles, about 30 minutes, and 50 minutes from Aix-en-provence, is the fortified village of Les Baux de Provence. It's really nice to walk through the narrow shady streets, to discover a distant time when the peasants took refuge against the invaders.
Below the village are old quarries redeveloped into a projection room where musics and works by the greatest painters are mixed. This year, the exhibition is directed towards the greatest Spanish artists like Pablo Picasso.
The place is majestically enhanced by the projection of the largest paintings on walls of more than 10m high in rooms of more than 50m in length.
The customs trail
At the discovery of the creeks of the blue coast, you will cross the ports of Niolon, Ensues-la-redonne, stopping in the Méjean port, you will discover splendid landscapes, remote coves, and breathtaking views of Marseille, the islands of Friuli, ...
By taking the train to Niolon, you will descend to the calanque Ensues-la-redonne to find the footpath
customs.
This hike lasts about 4 hours, and requires a sufficient physical condition to be able to chain the small dimensions which skirt the seaside. Fortunately, your efforts will be at the height
of the beauty of the landscapes which you will discover.
All different from each other, you will chained panoramas on the creeks of the blue coast and Marseille. Halfway, you can have lunch in the restaurant "the mange-tout"
which is in the port of the cove of "petit-méjean".
You enjoyed this discovery, let me know by leaving me a little message, sharing this experience with others. If this blog was useful to you, if you want other infos, to contact me by MP, I will be happy to answer you. Good discovery and good visit of Provence.
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