Historical Marseilles – Museums, churches and iconic sights

Marseilles is the oldest city in France and, founded by Greek sailors in 600 B.C. is one of the most interesting places in the South of France to visit: an ancient, magical city that straddles old and modern worlds with ease. It is the perfect example of the traditional charm the South of France exerts.

Marseille boasts a dramatic skyline: crumbling stone buildings plummet down into the churning sea below, it’s a gritty vista that fits in with Marseille’s down to earth charm. The city is divided into quartiers: basically internal villages with a more provincial character than the main port. [Read more...]

Traditional Truffles from France

If you’re keen to do some traditional shopping whilst visiting the South of France, look no further than the markets. Most towns have a weekly traditional market selling fresh produce such as fruit, meat and cheeses. Away from the fresh produce markets, there are also various speciality markets. The most expensive and sought after produce of these markets is the locally produced black truffles. [Read more...]

Notre-Dame la Garde

Situated in Marseille, Notre-Dame la Garde is a basilica that sits atop the signal hill of La Garde. It is known by the locals as La Bonne Mere (the Good Mother) and is a major local landmark.

Building of the landmark took five years to complete and required 170,000 tons of material, including 23 shiploads of marble and porphyry from Italy.  It was originally built on the site of a 13th century chapel and shared space on the hill with a 16th-century fortification.

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Cycle Provence

If you’re a keen cyclist, why not explore Provence on top of a saddle. With several routes on offer in this area, cyclists of all fitness, age and experience will find something suitable and enjoyable. This region is so culturally diverse that within a 20-mile radius, you can cycle through several villages, all different from one another. [Read more...]

Stay in a traditional French Gite

Gîte holidays in southern France are a fantastic way to experience the culture, views and lifestyle of traditional France. Gîtes today vary from being luxury holiday cottages to very basic apartments however the term ‘gîte’ originally meant quite simply a form of shelter. [Read more...]

5 reasons to head for the South of France

The south of France has a warm climate, beautiful views and surroundings and is easily accessible by train, plane, bus and boat. It is well connected to other cosmopolitan cities such as Rome and Paris and is increasingly becoming a dream destination for many tourists. Here are the five main reasons why: [Read more...]

Back to nature in Cap d’Agde

Luckily, France as a country has a laid-back attitude towards naturism as it is home to one of the world’s best naturism and naturist villages. Cap d’Agde is a self-contained, enclosed village where anybody who appreciates this type of lifestyle is welcome to enjoy their holiday as a naturist. [Read more...]

Triumphal Arch of Orange

The Triumphal Arch stands at the entrance to the city of Orange, Provence. The arch commemorates the first conflict between the Romans and the Celts in France and is the oldest surviving arch of its design. It is thought to be a model that was later copied for arches built in Rome including Septimius Severus and the Arch of Constantine.

There is debate about when the arch was built, but research accepts the inscription as evidence favouring a date during the reign of Augustus. Historians believe it was built in 49BC by Julius Caesar and was later redecorated by Tiberius in 25 AD. There is an inscription dedicated to Tiberius in 27 AD which implies this fact is true. [Read more...]