Discover the rich and varied lands of Provence

“It is an urge, in short, to be in Provence. No other region in Europe, not even Tuscany, has so nourished our dreams and sensual demands,” writes travel expert Anthony Peregrine for The Telegraph.

While there is a general accord that Provence is a truly beautiful and unique place to visit, travellers are left with the quandary – whereabouts do they head to in this vast and varied region?

Provence is a province of south-eastern France, extending from the Italian border on the east to the left bank of the Rhone River on the west. To the south, Provence is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.

Western Provence comprises of several main towns – Aix, Avignon, Luberon, Arles, Camargue and Ventoux. It has three main airports at Nimes, Avignon and Marseille.

Central Provence is made up of the Var department and extends from the Rhone to St. Tropez. Central Provence has two main airports, Marseille and Toulon-Hyeres.

The principle places of the eastern and northern regions of Provence are Digne, Alpes-deHaute-Provence and the Verdon Gorges.

Whatever part of Provence you choose to discover and explore, you won’t be disappointed.

For decades this rich and diverse French destination has been a popular playground for people to visit and reside.

The Romans certainly marked their presence on Provence, building theatres and arenas throughout the province. In the 1300s, Popes fled Rome in favour of Avignon, a graceful town that is ringed by incredibly well-preserved stone ramparts that are more than 800 years old.

Boasting an enviable climate of blue skies and sunshine, Provence is a province of light. Its glorious light illuminates the contrasting landscapes of vibrant lavender fields and eerie oak forests, creating the perfect landscape for artists to rest their easels.

In fact artists have been attracted to Provence since prehistoric times. In the Cosquer Cave close to Marseille, paintings of horses, seals, bison and auks that date between 27,000 and 19,000 BC were found.

Many of the world’s most prominent artists have been lured to this enchanting part of France, including Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne. Their love affair with the region inspired them to immortalise their impressions of Provence’s lush landscape onto canvas to be enjoyed by the world for eternity.

From the affluent and ultra-glamourous Mediterranean towns in the south, to the timeless traditional villages in the north, strung together by strong family values, festivities and farming, a lifetime is simply not long enough to discover the whole of Provence.