Provence

Ah belle Provence! Was there ever a region that captures the delights of France half as well? Its lavender landscapes inspired a generation of post-Impressionist painters; its rustic country cuisine is envied the world over; its history and traditional way of life remain lovingly preserved. Provence is a feast for all the senses: France at its irresistible best.

The idyllic lifestyle of Provence has made it a long-favoured luxury holiday destination among the rich and famous. Lightfoot Travel has a luxurious range of villas and chic countryside retreats to help make your stay in the south of France a perfect as possible.

Mother Nature has lavished Provence with considerable gifts and in some ways; it’s a microcosm of the landscapes of France. It starts in the foothills of the Alps, where huge snow-clad massifs rise in the background, and ends on the picturesque Mediterranean shores of the Côte d’Azur.

Inland lies classic Provençal countryside of lush greens hills, flower-speckled meadows dotted with quaint villages and rolling fields etched in purple and ochre. There are olive groves and beautiful vineyards, forests of pine and cork, and rare wildlife like the pink flamingos that congregate on the delta plains of the Camargue. There’s the spectacular too: in the shape of the huge, yawning Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s greatest canyon, surrounded by placid azure lakes

Provence is a saturated in history, it permeates through the beautiful cities of Arles and Aix, but nowhere more so than the magnificently-preserved medieval walled city of Avignon. If you plan to shop, include a visit to Grasse into your tailor-made itinerary, it’s the home of perfume. Glamorous Nice and Cannes cater for your sophisticated nightlife and Michelin-star dining needs.

And regarding dining, few places in Europe – perhaps only Tuscany – can rival the food of Provence. A combination of sunshine, fertile soils and years of culinary traditional has culminated in an exquisite cuisine, exploding with Mediterranean flavours of olives, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, truffles and fish. Trying the revered fish soup bouillabaisse – infused in saffron and seasoned with Mediterranean seawater – at least once is essential.

When booking a tailor-made luxury holiday with Lightfoot Travel, you’ll receive impartial advice on accommodation and a concierge-style service to help design your perfect escape.