The Ventoux, Verdon and Préalpes d’Azur Natural Regional Parks

In the Pays du Ventoux, it’s difficult not to go past the unavoidable Giant of Provence. The unique, imposing silhouette of Mont Ventoux is an eyecatcher. Whether you do the climb on foot, by bike or by bus to Mont Serein, your reward will be the breathtaking view over the Ventoux Natural Regional Park. Mountain bike trails wind through forests and lunar landscapes for those who love thrills. To the west of the giant, the jagged rocks of the Dentelles de Montmirail offer a very different style of mineral decor where hikers, climbers and wine lovers can cross paths in the villages of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes-de-Venise. The hilltop villages such as La Roque-Alric, Venasque and Le Barroux in the Ventoux Natural Regional Park are like balconies hanging over the landscapes of the Ventoux. Nearer the Pays de Sault, many hikes invite you to explore the surrounding area. Head for the Castelleras viewpoint and its panoramic view opposite the Rocher de Cire, above the Gorges de la Nesque. The Pays de Sault is also the land of lavender, the Resistance fighting and a rich farmland (lamb, cheeses, small spelt, Mont-Ventoux pork…). Make up your stay with landscapes, history and tastings!

Access train station: Carpentras

The Verdon Natural Regional Park offers a wide diversity of walks and remarkable hikes. One of the most famous in the park, the Blanc-Martel trail, winds through the bottom of the Gorges, dotted with spectacular viewpoints, while the GR®4, GR®406, GR®99 and GR®49 cross the Park in several places. The Lakes ofSainte-Croix and Esparron form large stretches of turquoise water and are good for swimming, kayaking, and even windsurfing. Around La Palud-sur-Verdon, the cliffs attract climbers, and the waterfalls of La Lance and Sillans are refreshing for hikers and the curious. In another style, the Valensole plateau unfolds its fields of lavender, almond trees and golden wheat. And for heritage, don’t miss Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, listed among the most beautiful villages in France and which is located in the UNESCO-listed Géoparc de Haute-Provence. The village is home to the superb chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir, nestled against the rock, and the Musée de la Faïence, which tells the story of the historic link between Moustiers and this age-old savoir-faire. And lastly, a bit further south, in Gréoux-les-Bains, you can see the Château des Templiers, a witness to other times filled with mysterious stories…

Access train station: Manosque-Gréoux-les-Bains

At the gateway to the Mediterranean, the Verdon and the Mercantour, the Préalpes d’Azur Natural Regional Park embodies the diversity of landscapes which are so characteristic of the Sud. The Maralpine itinerary linking Saint-Auban to Grasse and also Vence, goes through a mosaic of wild settings and “hanging” villages, and you can regularly find pretty chapels and Romanesque churches. Another itinerary to explore, the Grand Parcours des Baous, links nine villages and their surrounding countryside. From cultivated fields to forests of holm oak, dry-stone bories and wide open views over the hills, the itinerary is an immersion in nature which is both wild and fashioned by agropastoralism. Last of all, three emblematic hilltop villages are well worth visiting: Grasse, for the history of flowers and the savoir-faire of perfume, Vence, for its peaceful and picturesque atmosphere which has inspired so many artists, and Tourrettes-sur-Loup, for its reputation as the capital of violets.

Access train station: Grasse