THE PERFECT ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTH OF FRANCE:WHAT TO SEE IN THE PROVENCE-ALPES- CÔTE D’AZUR REGION by: Laura Sironi

Cheers Sippin Gypsy Team Gin! This post comes to you while enjoying my Gin and Lavender Lemonade inspired by this beautifully written blog by my travel friend Laura Sironi of Explore Like a Girl.  Thank you Laura! Cheers!

​Have you ever been to the Provence-Alpes- Côte d’Azur region in France? Well, if you
have you know how beautiful it is and there's always a reason to go back, but if you
haven't, be sure to plan your trip for next summer and you won't be disappointed!
In July last year I took a week long road trip with my mom through this wonderful part of
France and one of my dreams finally became true. I’ve been obsessed with lavender and
sunflower fields probably my whole life and I finally got to see them in all their beauty.

LAVENDER AND SUNFLOWER FIELDS FOR DAYS
They say the lavender fields are at their best between the end of June and the first two
weeks of July, so I recommend visiting during that time. It was a little after the middle of
July when I got there and some bushes had already been harvested, but we could still find
fields full of lavender while driving around the countryside, especially in the areas of Salt,
Banon and Simiane-la- Rotonde. But the most popular place where you can find gorgeous
lavender fields is right outside Valensole.
In Manosque, next to the freeway exit and a few minutes away from our bed&breakfast, we
were surprised to see the most beautiful sunflower field ever and of course I had to stop to take
pictures!

​ROUSSILLON: THE “GRAND CANYON OF FRANCE”
One of our next stops was the village of Roussillon: surrounded by one of the biggest ochre deposits
in the world and known as the “Grand Canyon of France”, it's a must see in Provence. Here
everything is a shade of red and I felt like in a fairytale!

​AVIGNON IS FOR ART LOVERS
After a quick stop in Gordes and at the close Senanque Abbey, you can't miss Avignon, a lively city
full of history and art. I ended up there during the Festival d'Avignon that takes place every year in
July, the oldest extant festival in France and one of the world’s greatest. You can see artists all over
the city and there are hundreds of shows every day. The city is famous for the Palais des Papes, that
stands out in one of the main squares and is one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic
buildings in Europe.

​THE FRENCH RIVIERA: A MIX OF RELAX AND FUN
Finally, if you're looking to get some relax time and you love the sea (who doesn't right?), head to
Port Grimaud. This little town on the very famous French Riviera is just what I needed after almost
a week on the road. I was able to chill at the beach and at the pool at the beautiful Villa les
Mésanges, where we rented a room for a couple of nights.
The Côte d’Azur landscapes are breathtaking and, even if I had been there a few times
before, it being so close to Italy where I am from, you just never get tired of it.
Port Grimaud is known as the “Venice of France”, with canals flowing among the cutest
colorful Provençal-style buildings. The village is full of restaurants, ice cream places and
little shops and you can easily explore it by foot or by boat. It’s a real gem you can’t miss if
you’re planning on visiting the French Riviera! And if you're in for some fun, the glamorous
Saint Tropez is 15 minutes away by car.
It's here that I was able to witness the most beautiful violet sunset I’ve ever seen!

​RECOMMENDATIONS

 Go visit Simiane-la- Rotonde. It's probably the cutest village of all the ones we
visited, even if they're all so pretty it's hard to pick a favorite. The view from the
terrace of one of its only two restaurants is so beautiful it looks like a painting!
 If you're looking for a place to stay in Manosque, I recommend the Chambres
d';hôtes  "Un Jardin en Ville". It's a few minutes away from the town center and it is
just everything you can dream of: lovely, quiet, with a super cute backyard and a
delicious breakfast! Plus the host Francette and her husband are wonderful and
very helpful!

To see more of my friend Laura Sironi's amazing travels, please visit her website Explore Like a Girl
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