Often known as “PACA” to those in France, the area more commonly known as “Provence” still holds its place amongst many as the most glamorous and luxurious area of France.
It really has always been this way! It certainly is the most expensive place to buy property in France, outside of Paris, although there are still affordable areas to find a bolt hole at reasonable cost. The very phrase “the south of France” seems to invoke a sense of affluence and relaxation.
The region borders the Mediterranean Sea
PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur) actually consists of 6 departments: Alpes-de-Haute Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du Rhone, Hautes-Alpes, Var and Vaucluse. To the east of the region you reach the Italian border, the south borders the Mediterranean Sea and Monaco, the north is home to Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and in the west, you’ll find the large region of Occitanie.
The region is one of the most popular in France with tourists visiting from all over the world. Indeed, the economy depends greatly on tourism and the area prospers greatly from the huge influx of visitors, especially in summer.
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Cities not to be missed
Marseille and Nice are the largest cities in the region. Cannes, although smaller, has a certain cachet about it, hosting as it does the annual Cannes Film Festival and the largest gathering of entertainment and TV executives for their annual get together named “Mipcom” each October.
Other notable cities worth visiting are Arles, home to Vincent Van Gogh and Toulon, a huge military harbour on the coast and capital of the department of the Var. Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful ancient university town and Avignon on the Rhone in the Vaucluse department is lovely.
Sisteron, a commune in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Smaller towns and villages
As well as the larger and better known cities, the smaller ones are well worth a visit and many are just as breathtaking in their own right.
Cassis is a picturesque fishing village with its pretty pastel coloured houses and small bistros set around the harbour. You will need to be quite fit to climb up to les Baux de Provence, an amazing village perched high up and consisting of little cobbled streets, seemingly unchanged from medieval times. Saint-Remy-de-Provence is a small bastide town filled with delightful little boutique shops and cafes, also beloved of Vincent Van Gogh who lived here for a year. Lourmarin is easier to get to, lying on a plain and not on a hilltop! It is often considered to be one of the most picturesque villages in the Var department of Provence. Gordes, in the Vaucluse department, is a beautiful hillside village in a stunning setting with a vibrant “city centre” and a fortress lying at its outer edge. There is also a working monastery, the Abbaye de Senanque where monks continue to live and produce their own honey and liqueurs.
The Mediterranean coast
The coastal towns of Nice, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Sainte-Maxime, Frejus and Saint-Tropez make up the Cote d’Azur (the French Riviera). With a long history attracting wealthy and famous Europeans for both summer and winter breaks, the coast remains to this day a mixture of sophistication, allure, beauty and charm. With miles of soft sandy beaches, plenty of fine restaurants either on or near the beaches and a vibrant nightlife, this part of the Mediterranean coast really does have a charm all of its own. It is not just for the rich and famous however; there are still some superb little spots in the smaller villages along the coast where you can get a decent meal without paying an absolute fortune.
Things to do in Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur
This is an area of stunning landscapes, fine vineyards, ancient hilltop villages, lavender and sunflower fields, mountains and olive groves. With plenty to do from hiking, cycling, swimming, exploring to wine tasting and eating fine foods, you could spend weeks here and never become bored! The whole area is extremely well maintained and each prefecture takes great care to look after their domain. Everywhere you look, there are beautiful flowers, plants and trees.
The rich history is preserved in its architecture, churches, chateaux and museums. Wine lovers will love visiting the numerous wine producers, many of whom are small independent vine growers with wines which can rival the more expensive produce on offer from larger wine domains.
The Verdon Gorge, in Provence
Getting there
The main airports are Marseilles, Provence and Nice, both with regular flights to and from various airports in the UK. The train is also a great way to travel down here. Hope on Eurostar from St. Pancras and change at Paris or Brussels to make your journey down south. However, Provence is such an inviting area that the use of a car once there is a good idea, whether you drive all the way down or rent one when you arrive. There are so many wonderful sights to see and places to go, particularly if you are looking to buy property.
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Property prices in Provence-Alpes Cote d’Azur
The sky really is the limit when it comes to property prices in Provence. At the other end of the scale however, take a look at the department of Vaucluse, which is the cheapest one in which to buy property. It is still possible to pick up a small apartment here for under €150,000, less if you are prepared to do some work. The good news is that any investment in property in this region is likely to pay dividends since the French property market remains strong and you will always be able to rent your property out when you are not using it. Provence has year round appeal with a mild climate in the winter and hot sunny summers.
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