Provence
France
- Countryside
- Scenes from Van Gogh
- Country life
- Whole lotta rosé
The south-west area of Provence is a land of light and colour, where the languid river Rhône winds its way through fruit orchards and fields of lavender before melting into the watery maze of the Camargue.
The wild dunes and marshes of the Med coast are the domain of cowboys, white horses and neon-pink flamingos. Inland, Arles, and its laidback neighbour Nîmes in Languedoc-Rousillon, are a beguiling blend of Roman amphitheatres, Provençal cuisine, café culture and sun-dappled boulevards. From the dramatic clifftop village of Les Baux, set among the olive groves, vines and craggy uplands of the Alpilles, you can look out across a land of Van Gogh, sunflowers and starry, starry nights.
Pictured: L'Hôtel Particulier
Boutique hotels in Provence
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Provence. There are more Smith hotels nearby in Languedoc-Roussillon.
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Provence has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Provence.
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Provence; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Use a taxi rank or have your hotel order a cab. Prices are cheaper than on the Côte d’Azur, but there may be a charge for luggage.
- Tipping culture
- A 15 per cent service charge is included in French restaurant and café bills by law; it’s usual to round up the bill or leave a few euros, as well.
- Siesta and Fiesta
- Businesses are normally open 09h–12h, and 14h–18h. Banks close at 16h30. Restaurants get busy after 21h and are often closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Packing tips
- Take cobble-friendly sandals rather than stilettos, and pack binoculars and mosquito repellent for the Camargue.
- Recommended reads
- The Yellow House: Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles by Martin Gayford; Caesar's Vast Ghost: Aspects of Provence by Lawrence Durrell.
- Cuisine
- Provence’s cuisine du soleil is bursting with sun-ripened fruit and vegetables. Local specialities include bouillabaisse and red-wine stews known as daubes. There are excellent tapas in Spanish-influenced Nîmes. Seek out the refreshing rosé wines of Provence.
- Currency
- Euro (€).
- Dialing codes
- Country code for France: 33. Provence: (0)4.
- Do go/don't go
- Spring and autumn are perfect: the weather is warm and there are fewer crowds. May is a riot of flowers, and September sees the grape harvest.