South of France vacations

Vacations in the south of France mean different things to different people.

Coastal vacations in the south of France

Some people think first of the coast of France when planning their visit. And for good reason – the coast and beaches in the south of France offer a wide range of possibilities!

For some the perfect visit will include a week surfing in the fine waves of the Atlantic Coast around Biarritz, the capital of surfing in Europe. Others will prefer the Mediterranean coast – the French Riviera offers some of the finest scenery to be found, and more or less guaranteed sunshine during the summer months. This section of the coast can be very crowded in high season, and you need to pay to use many of the beaches.

Then there is the Languedoc coast south of Perpignan – much less crowded than the Cote d’Azur further east, the beaches are family friendly, sandy, and also less crowded. The region is also popular with those seeking naturist beaches.

Another option for the sea-loving adventurous is scuba diving off the calanques – a very beautiful craggy section of coastline just south-east of Marseille.

Inland vacations in the south of France

Not all of us are sea lovers and sun worshippers! There is a great deal to see and enjoy inland as well.

The mountains include the southern Alps and the French Pyrénées, and both have special appeal in the summer when the snow has receded and the hikers arrive to explore the valleys and mountain passes.

The Dordogne region of south-west France is also a very popular vacation destination. Beautiful countryside, medieval villages and ancient castles all along the course of the Dordogne and Vézere Rivers, as well as the Lascaux Caves and other traces of prehistoric habitation, all make the region a fascinating and lovely one to visit.

Between the Dordogne and the Pyrénées there are the quiet landscapes and bastide towns of the Lot-et-Garonne and Gascony regions – peaceful fields of sunflowers, sleepy old towns dating back hundreds of years and quiet roads make this region perfect for those seeking a vacation for rest and relaxation.

Moving east, passed the cathar castles of Languedoc, on to the Lot region around Cahors and Rocamadour, all very attractive, the Provence region is reached. There is little point singing the praises of the Provence region, because so many have done so before me – most famously Peter Mayle!

The perched villages of the Luberon region, the wild Camargue region, the Pope’s Palace at Avignon and Van Gogh’s Arles give way to the coastal region along the Cote d’Azur – Nice, Monte Carlo, St Tropez, Antibes – and then on to Italy and the Alps.

Where to choose?

There are numerous destinations worthy of a vacation in the region, and you will not be able
to see more than a tiny part of what the region has to offer during a visit. So don’t try! The south of France guide aims to help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Rather than try and visit too many places, simply focus on one and make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy just sitting around relaxing, listening to the grasshoppers, watching the birds, and soaking up the atmosphere.

Buying fresh warm bread from the boulangerie and eating a hunk with some cheese from the local market is just as much pleasure as seeing another medieval village! Remember to sample the local wine at the same time to really enjoy your visit to France in style!