The Collection Lambert , housed across a pair of magnificent 18 century mansions in the centre of Avignon, features an exceptional collection of modern art from the second half of the 20th century, Major works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sol LeWitt, Robert Ryman, Nan Goldin amongst many others. In the summer the museum is open daily. From September to June, the museum is closed Monday and Tuesday.

The Cantini Museum has a panorama of modern art housed in a 17th century mansion. The permanent collection includes works from post-impressionism, fauvism, cubism, various post-cubist trends of the 1920s and 1930s. Surrealism forms a major axis of the collection, due to the historical links with Marseille, which welcomed surrealist artists, writers and anti-fascist activists fleeing Nazism. From July 5, 2024, the collection displayed is being renewed with works taken out of storage. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00 /closed Mondays +33413948330

Located in the Mazarin neighbourhood and housed in a beautifully restored 17th century palace, between a garden and a courtyard, the Centre d’art Caumont hosts many exceptional exhibitions including: Botero, a dialogue with Picasso; and the much praised Nicholas de Stael in Provence. Currently there is an exhibition on Marc Chagall and his evolving visual world focussing on work from the last year’s of his career.

Nîmes was known to the Romans as “Nemausus”, and it is one of the most impressive ancient sites in Europe. Technically located in Languedoc-Roussillon, with historic and strong ties to Provence given its position on the Via Domitia which crosses the Rhone. It became a Roman colony sometime before c. 28 BCE. The Roman architectural remains including the so-called Maison Carrée (Square House), an admirably preserved first century BCE Corinthian temple, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa. The amphitheater of Nîmes, known as les Arènes was build around 70 CE to hold 24,000 spectators. It still draws large crowds during its two annual bullfights The Musée de la Romanite (Museum of Roman Civilisation), is highly recommended for its extensive, well preserved and intelligently presented collection including exquisite mosaics. The upper level houses a fine contemporary brasserie La Table du 2, with close-up views of the Arenes.

Originally a medieval fortress, Chateau de la Barben was sold to the Fortin family by roi René in 1474. Transformed in the 17th century, to add a magnificent stone stairway and facade, in addition to the gardens which are a remarkable example of the classic style of the period. Guided visits are available with knowledgeable guides on most afternoons and it is possible to stay overnight in one of the 6 rooms or suites.

A little further afield in the Var, near Aix-en-Provence, sits Le Chateau de la Verdiere. the furthest point from La Raffine of the route des chateaux itinerary.

A property of the Castellane family and one of the most important fortresses of Medieval Provence from 1087, in the 17th century the chateau becomes the property of the Forbin family as part of a marriage dowry. The Fortins decide to transform the residence into the largest chateau in Provence. With prestigious decors, beautiful terrassess and richly furnished room, the chateau is an example of refined living in the 17th/18th century.

Since that illustrious period the chateau was pillaged by villagers at the beginning of the French Revolution, and became more dilapidated over the centuries with its furnishings sold off to the antique dealers of Aix-en-Provence. Finally complete renovation was undertaken in 2003 to restore the magnificent decors.

Private residents inhabit the chateau but open their doors to , guided visits in the late summer months.

While not officially on the Route des Chateaux, it would be a shame not to visit le Château de Lacoste. An unmissable jewel, best known for its most notorious resident, the Divin Marquis de Sade and a short walk away from La Raffine. It was owned by the fashion designer Pierre Cardin until his recent death and it is home to the festival de Lacoste which he created. The festival is on in July most years with concerts and plays in the quarry and the castle theatre. The chateau can be visited from June to September although it is designed for events with few rooms to visits. Throughout the rest of year a visit to the castle esplanade offers panoramic views of the castle the Luberon and the medieval village.

Aix-en-Provence is known as the city of water. When settled in the first century BC, the Romans found natural springs, which provided the population with both hot and cold water. They called the city Acqua Sextaie and today there is a commercial spa called Thermes Sextius on the site of one of the original thermal baths.

Throughout the old centre and the chic Quartier Mazarin, there are more than 30 fountains embellished with ornate details from the Renaissance. (An interesting way to see the city is a walking tour of the fountains.) The Fontaine Moussue, on Cours Mirabeau is noteworthy as it is a thermal fountain covered in moss and has been standing there since the Romans.

Famous for being the home of Cézanne, one can take a tour of the sites relating to Cézanne including the Atélier Cézanne where he worked for the last four years of his life. Aix-en-Provence is also blessed with some exceptional galleries including the Musée Granet with a room dedicated to Cézanne and the Centre Caumont which puts on high profile temporary exhibitions in a beautiful restored palace from the 18th century.

Aix also has the best shopping in the region with a variety off fashion boutiques and . The market is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on Cours Mirabeau and there is a flower market on the same days at the Place de l’Hotel-de-ville.

My favorite spot for restoration is beautiful shady garden of Le Pigonnet.

A cultured and creative city, Aix-en-Provence has always attracted artists and intellectuals. Some of the famous creative people that lived here: Ernest Hemingway, Emile Zola, Albert Camus and Nina Simone.

The capitol city of the Vaucluse, Avignon was also an important city. In the 14th century when it was the seat of the Catholics popes. Today it houses two UNESCO world heritage sites, and is an important centre for the performing arts with Europe’s most important drama festival in July.

The vast Gothic Palais des papes is a must see for visitors. A UNESCO world heritage site, it was the residence of seven Popes from 1309 to 1377 and is a testimony to the wealth and power of Christendom during the Middle Ages.

Art lovers will enjoy a number of small but impressive museums, including the Musée de Petit Palais, where the episcopal bishops once lived, now another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to Italian masterpieces ranging from the 13th to the 15th century.

The Musee Calvet, has a varied and rich collection housed in a beautiful 18th century mansion.

The Collection Lambert, features an outstanding permanent collection of modern art by contemporary artists, housed in two city mansions, built side by side - the Caumont House and the Montfaucon House.

For restoration, you can choose from some excellent restaurants offering high French cuisine: Christian Etienne, Fou de Fafa, Hiely Lucullus. I like to follow a morning of art museum with either Vernet 83, a brasserie with a lovely terrace across from Musee Calvet or La Violette, the restaurant next to the Collection Lambert.

The city hosts a wide variety of festivals and events throughout the year, from the popular International Jazz Festival and the Epicurean Festival in summer to a traditional Christmas market in December.

Shoppers must head to the chic and bourgeois quarter of the Rue Joseph Vernet, for designer clothing and luxury goods and at the heart of Avignon, stop at one of the cafés on the Place de l'Horloge and enjoy watching the world go by under the shady plane trees.

Marseille is the second largest city in France, with a history dating back to the ancient Greeks. As European City of Culture in 2013, Marseille was given a facelift which ignited a general gentrification of the urban centre which had become quite seedy. Today the city’s architecture and colourful streets are sparkling. Unique speciality shopping and many points of interest are well worth a visit in addition to the beaches, the old port and Chateau d’If, made famous by Alexandre Dumas.

Chateau Borely, an 18th century chateau in the 8th arroundissement

Musée Cantini, modern art housed in a late 17th century palace in the centre. A who’s-who of 20th century artists: Raoul Dufy, Matisse, Max Ernst, Picasso, Giacometti, 19 rue Grignan +33 (0) 4 91547775

MUCEM, The Museum of European and Mediterranean Culture is the impressive new architectural marvel, on the waterfront next to Fort St Jean. 7 Promenade Robert Laffont, 13002 +33 484 351 313

The shopping around rue Paradis is excellent as independent boutiques mingle with luxury stores, cafes/bars and heritage shops.

For utterly unique shopping experiences:

Maison Empereur, selling the best of French housewares, linens and hardware since 1827 in a multi-storey store on rue des Récollettes

Pere Blaize, herboristerie. Dedicated to la phytotherapie since 1815. Stocked with teas, elixirs and medicinal plants. rue Meolan.

Maison de la Boule in the Panier district, with a lovely courtyard and all the essentials. 4 place des 13 Cantons, 13002 +33 4 88 44 39 44

For restoration, enjoy pastis on one of the many terraces facing the old port and discover la vraie bouillabaisse, in one of many, many iconic restaurants. When I am in Marseille I head for Restaurant Michel a five-star heritage restaurant with sea view in the 7th arrondissement. Two excellent alternatives are nearby in the Vallon des Auffes, a traditional fishing haven. Epuisette is built out over the sea, for exceptional views and gastronomic cuisine. Chez Fonfon looks over charming pretty harbour

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon has a rich heritage and its own personality. It is well worth crossing the Rhône to discover: the imposing 14th century battlements and remarkable gardens of the hilltop Fort St.-André; the Chartreuse de Villeneuve lès Avignon with its peaceful cloisters and art centre, and the Musée Pierre-de-Luxembourg with its remarkable religious art., not to mention the Saturday antique fair which is one of the best in the region.

Located on the right bank of the Rhône in the Gard, close to Avignon (lès means "close to" in Old French), Villeneuve was .a vacation place for the cardinals when Avignon was a papal city, and today it remains an exclusive place to live much as it was in the time of the Popes.

At the peak of the Avignon papacy, unlike Avignon and the Comtat-Venaissin, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon was under the authority of the king of France who built the fortress and the and in 1292 Phillippe le Bel built a tower to control access to the Pont d'Avignon.

In 1356, Pope Innocent VI founded the Val de Bénédiction charterhouse, the largest Carthusian monastery, featuring a church, three cloisters and forty cells for the monks. The Chartreuse housed many treasures in works of art, furniture and a library of rare books. Most of these treasures were scattered, lost or destroyed during the Revolution. Some of them were saved and can be found in the Pierre de Luxembourg Museum and much effort was made to restore the monastery. The mausoleum of Pope Innocent VI miraculously survived the vicissitudes of history. In the chapel, some frescoes by Matteo Giovanetti, who also decorated the Palace of the Popes, have also been preserved.

A visit to the Pierre de Luxembourg Museum is the ideal complement to a visit to the Carthusian monastery. The works of art that survived the revolutionary turmoil and the ruin of the monastery are preserved in this former cardinal's livery, transformed in the 17th century into a private mansion.

The festival continues to live on post the death of Pierre Cardin in 2020 under the leadership of his nephew, Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin-Cardin hosting innovative cultural exchanges in a 2021 program which has been very well received.

A program of live classical and jazz music performances and ciné-opéra runs from July through October. Hosted in the grounds of the Renaissance château in Lourmarin. www.chateau-de-lourmarin.com

A Luberon institution, this series of concerts attracts some top classical talent to intimate and beautiful church settings, like those at Menerbes and Oppede-le-vieux. The musical menu is usually focused on the baroque period.

www.musicalesluberon.fr

The Avignon Festival is a huge cultural event that takes over the city for two weeks in July. It is mostly theatre and comedy, but there is also some dance and music. The main festival happens in prestigious locations like the Popes’ Palace, while the “Off” or fringe festival happens wherever a veue can be found, even in the streets.

This is an open-air international piano festival attracting some of the world’s best pianists, The main venue is in the grounds of the Chateau de Florans, but it has now spread out to other delightful spots, and the programme has extended beyond the piano, even beyond classical. The Roque d’Antheron festival takes place in July-August. www.festival-piano.com

Facing the Luberon, at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse plateau, the picturesque village of Roussillon is ranked among the most beautiful villages in France.

Located in the heart of the most important ocher deposit in the world, Roussillon owes its fame to its magnificent cliffs and its impressive ocher quarries.To understand the work of processing these pigments for buildings and decoration visit the "Conservatory of Ocher and Applied Pigments" installed in a former ocher factory .The facades of the houses beautifully illustrate the result obtained by the ochres.

Many artists have naturally been seduced by Roussillon: Jean Cocteau, Carzou, Buffet, Ambrogiani ... You will come across some artisan workshops and artist galleries as well as some good restaurants

Goult is the quintessential village of Provence with an interesting history and the unmissable Café de France, one of the most popular café terrasses in the region.

If you do choose to walk around, the Saint-Sébastien Church, is Romanesque, has a single nave bordered by six side chapels and a remarkable baroque altarpiece. It was built in the 12th century at the same time as the château d’Agoult which belonged to an illustrious Provençal family. The chateau is now privately owned and cannot be visited.

At the top of the village stands the 17th century windmill, the Moulin de Jerusalem (occasionally open for visits in the summer).The windmill in Goult was built to make flour and it was doing this until 1919. The name is thought to be in tribute to the lords of Goult who went off on crusades to the Holy Land.

Goult remains a living village with a grocery store, a butcher, a cheese shop, a bakery, a hairdresser. The restaurants are good as is the antique shop.

Perched on the edge of the plateau of Vaucluse, Gordes offers panoramic views of La Vallée du Cavalon. Named the most beautiful village in Provence there is much to visit: Le Chateau de Gordes notable for medieval and renaissance architecture; les Caves de St Fermin, an underground village from the Middle Ages; the 18th century L’Eglise de Saint Fermin..

Other sites not to be missed near the village:

4 km away, visit the Musée du Moulin des Bouillons, with olive presses dating back to the 16th century and la Musée du Vitrail; and do not miss the much photographed Abbaye of Sénanque - Cistercian monks still live there producing honey, lavender essence, and liqueurs and the entire twelfth century ediface is open for visits.

More recently many artists such as Marc Chagall, Victor Vasarely and Pol Mara came to stay in Gordes and it was a centre for the Résistance in WWII, receiving la Croix de guerre for this historical contribution.