If you also love France and want to enjoy its wonders in just a few days, we propose an itinerary exploring Southern France in seven days. A true discovery of the French territory in the southern part of the transalpine country. Alternatively, you can choose an itinerary in Roman Southern France.
Ready to immerse yourself in the colors and scents of these areas? Here is the program to enjoy the most beautiful destinations.
Southern France Itinerary
The first town, Nice, has been a very well-known summer vacation spot since centuries ago, when nobility from around the world chose this area to spend their holiday periods. The town still retains a regal and princely appearance and also offers a wide variety of attractions for both young and old. You can choose between visiting one of the famous museums hosted by the city or strolling along the Promenade des Anglais, rich with stretches of crystalline sand. Nice abounds with venues serving royal meals and typical local dishes. Heading inland, you reach the town of St. Paul de Vence: a village rich in medieval history, known as the place where both Signac and Modigliani found inspiration for their masterpieces. Going back towards the coast, you arrive at Antibes: a port town always filled with rows upon rows of moored boats and home to a very rich museum, the Musée Picasso. Afterwards, you can reach the hill where Grasse is located, the world capital of perfumes since the 1600s.
After a quick stop at the Fragonard and Molinard perfume museums, we say goodbye to the town of Grasse with its endless fields of mimosa and lavender and, after about 80 km, arrive at Saint Tropez, passing through Cannes. Saint Tropez, despite its fame, has remained a fishing village, once rich with fishing boats, now reduced due to the advent of luxurious yachts.
About 200 km by highway from Saint Tropez lies the characteristic town of Avignon. Upon arrival, it is advisable to park in the space reserved for the city center and walk up to Place du Palais. In the square, from which the name itself is derived, stands the Palace of the Popes, the building where the papacy was relocated from 1309 to 1377. Visiting the Palace of the Popes requires at least a couple of hours. Avignon’s center boasts massive 14th-century walls and hosts cathedrals and historic buildings definitely worth visiting.
36 km from Avignon is the town of Arles. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosting a marvelous Roman amphitheater, almost perfectly preserved through time. Afterwards, after a few kilometers, you reach the town of Camargue. It presents itself strikingly with marshes, sandy expanses, salt flats, and the presence of animals such as flamingos, white horses, and bulls, all coexisting in perfect ecological balance. The area hosting all of this is truly vast: it covers 820 square kilometers.
About two hours from Camargue lies Sète, a port town less known to tourists but ideal for a stop in one of the local small restaurants. After enjoying a good meal, you can head towards Béziers and admire the Cathedral. About 90 km away is Carcassonne, a city surrounded by Gallo-Roman walls and well-restored bastions. Ideally, you would visit the medieval village and dine in one of the restaurants overlooking the Basilica of St. Nazaire.
Defined by some as the most important town in Southern France, Toulouse hosts one of the largest aerospace industries. About 90 km from Carcassonne, Toulouse boasts the magnificent Place du Capitole, known especially for the wide variety of restaurants ready to seduce you with their typically regional culinary specialties.
We head north and reach Albi. The town should be visited in the very early hours of the day; otherwise, it is better to “take refuge” in the city’s museums to escape the hottest hours. Crossing the Cahors bridge and the green lung of Périgord, you reach Rocamadour. The town offers unique sensations of its kind: besides venerating a Black Madonna from the 13th century, it is entirely built on a cliff, forcing tourists to walk with their heads up. Only this way will it be possible to admire homes, basilicas, and chapels that seem to blend with the surrounding rock.
All that’s left is to choose where to stay and set off on an exciting journey to discover the beauties of Southern France.
