r/ProvenceFrance

I'll be travelling to Marseille for work and staying in Aix-en-Provence for 3 weeks.

Will have evenings and weekends free. What are the must do things to see and do?

I will have a car but not afraid to walk or bus/train.

I have discovered that french haute cuisine is not for me. I disliked 60-70% of dishes from highly rated gastronomic restaurants. My cheif complaint was the mystifying lack of seasoning. EVERYTHING was underseasoned. Presentation was incredible but you would put the food in your mouth and it was BLAND. Not enough salt, not enough anything. The food relied completely on texture.

The best meal I've had in Provence was a €23 lunch at the Bistrot Francis in Bonnieux. Evey bite was incredible from start to finish. They had a fig dish with goat cheese and bacon, bruschetta on a baguette, and an incredible onion tart. For the main course we had a beautiful pork dish with potatoes and peppers. And everything was seasoned to perfection.

TLDR: Michelien Star French chefs think they are too good for salt apparently.

There is a guy tyring to scam tourists selling sesame covered nuts for €80/kg at the Roussillion market. I wasn't really paying attention to the price, the guys weighs about 500G and gives me a ticket for €40. I looked at him asking is he serious? I laughed at him and walked away. A moment later another vendor walked up to me and said that guys prices are ridiculous. She seemed embarrassed by it. I appreciated because I was honestly a bit shocked that something like that is happening openly in a French market. It's something I would expect in third world country. Anyway, I enjoyed the market and bought a bunch of stuff. Tourist prices, yes, but not scam level.

Whoever runs the market should kick these guys out.

I’m staying at a retreat for four nights in Marseille in early October. I booked my airline tickets from the US twelve days before the retreat begins to give myself a much needed vacation. (My only experience with France is 4 days in Paris) I’m a fit 64 year old woman who loves exploring, seeing classical and modern art, people watching, quaint villages, antiquity and learning about cultures different from my own! Initially, it seemed Marseille has SO much to offer I imagined staying put there for those 12 days, but then began reading about places like Arles, Avignon, and St. Remy. How might you recommend spending my 12 days? Should I stay in Arles for four nights and the rest in Marseille, for example? Or…? I prefer not renting a car. I also think no more than two cities suits me best since the retreat will constitute another hotel I’ll be staying at and would like to avoid checking in and out of too many places. I prefer soaking in the vibes of a place, rather than checking tourist attractions off my list. Thanks kindly for your opinions and suggestions!

I'm 30 year old (male) heading to the south of France on Tuesday and I have a car booked when I get there. I am just looking for places that are recommended for a few days. I only have my first three nights booked in Aix and my last three nights booked in Nice. I've been a bit slack and need to get the other places booked. I was thinking of Nimes or Arles for the next three days after Aix, then onto Saint Raphael or somewhere around the coast. So I'm open to places to stay as a base for three days at a time. I'd like to meet young people also if possible. I'm flying into Marseille and getting my car and driving to Aix en Provence. Thanks.

Hello! can you recommend some rentals for two persons for one week in September around Lourmarin?

I want a traditional stone house/hotel, i want it to be quiet and it needs to have a heated pool. Thank you in advance:)

Hello,

My wife (39), daughter (9), and I (39) are visiting the region and staying in Aix Sept 9-14

Daughter is super energetic and passionate, but also on the autism spectrum, ans she can be prone to emotional outbursts.

I am very embarrassed about things like this but obviously want to support her as she is fine 95% of the time.

Does this group of suggestions of engaging (maybe educational) but <30 min activities we can do to help her while my wife and I simply enjoy the scenery, architecture, food, and wine?

Sorry if this is a silly question, but i want to go to the source

Merci!

Hello, me and my friends are staying at valette-du-var for the next week.

Do you have any recommendations about beaches, restaurants and places to visit between saint Tropez and Marseilles?

I'll be celebrating my birthday in the south and I'm hoping someone can explain the beach clubs to me (specifically St Tropez). I understand the 1st and 2nd seatings for lunch...but if I want to visit these clubs later in the evening, say 8:00 p.m. am I able to just walk in and grab a drink at the bar and stand or is a table/reservation required even to enter?

We’re traveling to Provence the first two weeks of September and need to pack very light. What sort of a jacket should we bring? Also, we may want to go to a nice restaurant or two during our stay. How dressy should we plan for?

Another question for anyone who is there now - how’s the air quality with the fires? I realize they’re not that close by but how’s it going?