After having a crazy first day, running around, trying to recreate “A Good Year”, we have decided to slow down for the rest of our trip, but still experience as much as possible.

Next on our list was Pont du Gard. Even though not technically in Provence, but in the Occitanie region, it was something we simply could not miss.
Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that was built to carry water across the Gardon River to the city of Nîmes. It is nearly 50 meters (160 feet) high, and it’s the tallest and best-preserved Roman aqueduct bridge still in existence and it has survived for over 2,000 years.
Pont du Gard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France’s most iconic landmarks—part history, part masterpiece, if you get a chance, be sure to see it. We felt so humbled standing under it; it left a deep and lasting impression.

On our way back, we visited L’Isle sur la Sorge. It is called the Venice of Provence, and it was breathtaking. The Sorgue River that springs from the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, one of Europe’s largest natural springs (just a few kilometers away), passes through the town.
It once powered the town’s old mills, and today it’s the reason cafés, antique markets, and flowers line nearly every bridge and canal.
It was one of the most memorable stops for us; we sat at the cafés, walked along the river, and touched some mossy wheels, yes. 🙂

Aix-en-Provence was also one of those that stayed with us. 🙂 A truly beautiful city. It’s the home of painter Paul Cézanne, and you can feel that artistic spirit everywhere, especially on the elegant Cours Mirabeau. It is a grand, tree-lined boulevard that runs through the heart of Aix-en-Provence. And Fontaine de la Rotonde, it is magnificent. It sits proudly at the end of the Cours Mirabeau, built in 1860, and is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The massive circular fountain (hence Rotonde) is topped with three statues representing Justice, Agriculture, and Fine Arts, symbolizing the spirit of Aix itself. It’s not just a fountain — it’s the elegant heart of the city, where every road, market, and café conversation seems to begin. We began and ended our tour near that fountain, toping it with some sooo yummy desserts we ate in the shade of beautiful platan trees overlooking the fountain. I would go back tomorrow if I could.

If you like going uphill, I strongly recommend Oppède. This is a beautiful village in the Luberon hills, and you can climb the winding lanes to the old church for wonderful panoramic views. But the extra experience for me was the botanical garden at the foot of the village, we wondered there for a while, took way too many pictures. 🙂

You will definitely notice Roussillon. This village sits atop the Ochre Cliffs and is built from the ochre earth beneath it, glowing in shades of red and orange. It is another one of the “Plus Beaux Villages”, so it is more than worth the visit.

It is not only about the villages or the cities, it is about the entire region. We have passed so many lavender fields, we have made so many stops along the way, to admire the lavender, the vines, the orchards, the hills, and the valleys.
Provence is beautiful, calming, it is food for your soul and rest for your mind. Go and see Provence, you will not forget it. You will feel it.

‘Look at those vines,’ he said. ‘Nature is wearing her prettiest clothes.’

– Peter Mayle, A Year in Provence