Provençal sight seeing

The house is located in the hamlet of La Barque, attached to the town of Fuveau. In the past, the fastest way to go from Fuveau to Aix-en-Provence was by river. People would take a small boat and float downstream on the small Arc river. The river passes behind the property, but there is no danger to children, as the garden is completely fenced.

Fuvolea holiday home allows numerous day trips. Here are some ideas:

Sainte-Victoire Mountain

The Sainte-Victoire Mountain

Just a short distance from the house, this is an ideal starting point for walks, hikes, and bicycle rides. 

Symbol of Provence, like Mont Ventoux and the Sainte-Baume, a beacon of the region of Aix and the muse of Cézanne, Sainte-Victoire Mountain rises to 1011 metres, offering a panoramic view of Provence. A great place for walking, it can be explored by all its paths across terraced areas.

Aix-en-Provence

Renowned for its relaxed lifestyle, Aix-en-Provence is famous for the charm of its old town and its famous Cours Mirabeau. Decorated with beautiful plane trees, its historic centre is an inviting place to stroll around: pleasant little squares, numerous 17th and 18th century mansions, charming fountains, pretty shops, lively café terraces, flower, fruit and vegetable markets spreading the colours and scents of Provence.

History shows that many artists have fallen under the spell of Aix and its region, a charm that inspired great painters like Cézanne and Van Gogh, and great writers like Giono, Daudet and Pagnol.

Aix-en-Provence

Bimont Dam

The Bimont Dam

The Bimont dam is what is known as an arch dam. It is in the district of Saint-Marc- Jaumegarde, just a few kilometres from Aix-en-Provence. It holds back the waters of the Infernet river, running-off from the north face of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain. However, it is in fact mainly fed by an underground gallery, known as the Campane, which brings water from the Verdon through the Canal de Provence. It’s a popular spot for families, with walks and cycle rides near the dam and then over dirt roads leading to vast meadows ideal for picnics. 

The old port of Marseille

Historical and cultural center of the city, the Old Port of Marseille has played different roles depending on the era. In 600 BC, it was a simple cove called the Lacydon cove, colonized by the Phocaeans who gradually settled on the north shore and later on the south shore. In the Middle Ages and until the 19th century, the Old Port of Marseille played a role in the trade of goods and French colonies, it was then the great historic port of Mediterranean France. Subsequently, port activities were moved and the Old Port of Marseille now has a pleasure function, even if a few fishing boats bring in fresh fish to supply local markets

The old port of Marseille

Cassis and its creeks

Cassis and its creeks

Cassis is a Mediterranean fishing port. Overlooked by a centuries-old castle, the town is famous for its pebble beaches and creeks with steep limestone cliffs. The harbor is lined with pastel-colored buildings, street cafes and restaurants. The local vineyards are known for the production of Cassis white wine. Trails run along the immense Cap Canaille with its rocky walls and offer a panoramic view of the sea.

By paddle, kayak, on foot or by boat, do not miss the visit of the creeks. Boat tours are offered from the Port of Cassis.

The Alpilles

The Alpilles are one of the essentials of Provence: harmony of sublime landscapes, nature that has remained wild, and carefully safeguarded traditions.
Image of inland Provence, it is authentic Provence with style and refinement. This is the Provence of St Rémy de Provence, Les Baux de Provence… It is the country of writers Alphonse Daudet and Frédéric Mistral, it is also the country of Van Gogh who lived in St Rémy, an artist who was resolutely inspired by its light, its sunflowers and its famous cypresses.

The Alpilles

The Camargue

The Camargue

The Camargue offers a wide variety of landscapes, from coastline to marshes, fields and rice paddies, where wild pink flamingos and breeding bulls live side by side. The richness of its natural environments attracts many species of birds. Both a cultural and natural heritage site, the Camargue Regional Nature Park is located in the Rhône delta, just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea. It is a protected area of 6,500-hectare which is home to emblematic species such as the Camargue horses and bulls herded by the gardians. Some even speak of the Camargue Trinity: horses, men, and bulls.

The Isle sur la Sorgue market

This market is one of the oldest and liveliest markets in Provence and has become a not-to-be-missed event in the region! 

Regular visitors enjoy strolling along the Sorgue river and letting themselves be carried away by the scents of Provence. You’ll find local produce, seasonal fruit and vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, olives… as well as craft products, beautiful clothes and fabrics, fashion accessories and decorative items. The market is also renowned for its second-hand goods and antique dealers. 

The Isle sur la Sorgue market

Plateau of Valensole

Lavender from the Valensole plateau

The Valensole plateau is certainly one of the most popular places when lavender blooms. Nestled between the Durance Valley and the Gorges du Verdon, this remarkable site promises you a unique spectacle.

Sillans-la-Cascade

Near the village of Sillans-la-Cascade, the Breque river, a tributary of the Argens, falls from a height of 44 meters into a basin, to the delight of swimmers.

Refreshing waterfalls, valleys like pleasant oases of greenery, dense groves scattered here and there: around Brignoles and Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, alongside the vineyards, there is a Provence as bucolic as it is attractive. Go green with canoe trips on the Argens or walks along the river and discover this unexpected region. Don’t miss the 28 fountains of Barjols, the shell chapel of the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites, the troglodyte houses overlooking the village of Cotignac, the gorges of the Sourn valley as well as Sillans-la-Cascade, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in France.

Sillans-la-Cascade

The Baux-de-Provence

Les Baux-de-Provence

Recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France, Les Baux-de-Provence, perched on a rocky outcrop, possesses an incredibly rich architectural heritage. Its citadel overlooks natural sites of extraordinary beauty.

The light quarries of Les-Baux-de Provence host sound and light shows, projecting masterpieces onto the immense walls, pillars, and floors of a large quarry (7,000 m² in surface area). 

The ancient theater of Orange

The best preserved in Europe and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient theater of Orange was designed to spread Roman culture. It has more than 9,500 seats built into the hillside. it‘s the stage itself that is perhaps the most extraordinary part of the theatre. It extends over 61 meters long at one meter from the ground. In the background, its wall, the scaenae frons rises to 37 meters, its original height. This wall projects a sound of exceptional quality and purity.

The ancient theater of Orange

Arles

Arles

Capital of the Camargue, starting point of the Way of Compostela Via Tolosana, Arles is a city located on the banks of the Rhône. It is a Roman city with southern charm, where small squares and small alleys are grouped around the famous arenas (an amphitheater which is reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome), the theater, the terms of Constantine or the necropolis of the Alyscamps. Roman immersion guaranteed!

Avignon and its Palace of the Popes

Classified as World Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 1995, the historic center of Avignon is made up of the Palace of the Popes, the episcopal ensemble and the bridge of Avignon, that of the famous song, officially called the Saint- Benezet.

Today, the Festival d’Avignon is one of the most important international events for contemporary performing arts. Every year in July, Avignon becomes a theater city, transforming its architectural heritage into a variety of majestic and astonishing performance venues, welcoming tens of thousands of theater lovers of all generations.

Avignon and its Palace of the Popes

Saint-Raphaël

Saint-Raphaël

Saint-Raphaël is a coastal resort nestled at the foot of the superb Estérel massif in the Gulf of Fréjus / Saint-Raphaël.

The diversity of its neighborhoods and landscapes make it an ideal location for a wide range of activities: kayaking around the Ile d’Or, horseback riding above the Dramont lakes, buggy riding on the Corniche d’Or, paddle boarding in the Rade d’Agay, nature walks in the Estérel massif…

Cannes

A seaside town on the Côte d’Azur, Cannes is famous for its international film festival. La Croisette, the boulevard that runs along the coast, is lined with sandy beaches, luxury boutiques and palaces.

The Vieux Port and its quayside mark the entrance to Le Suquet, the oldest district and historic center of Cannes. Built on a hill, it invites you to stroll through its steep medieval streets.

Cannes

Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez

From the corsair town dominated by its citadel in the 16th century to a fishing village in the early 20th century, Saint-Tropez was the first town to be liberated during the Provence landings. From the 1950s onwards, it became an internationally renowned seaside resort on the Var Côte d’Azur, thanks to the popularity of the New Wave artists and later the Yé-yés, and finally a holiday destination for the European and American jet set. The cobble stoned district of La Ponche bears witness to its past as a fishing village, even if there are now more yachts than fishing boats in the Vieux Port.

 

Nice

Thanks to its beauty, history, architecture and natural spaces, the city of Nice has been recognized by UNESCO as having Outstanding Universal Value for its architectural, landscape and urban heritage. Nice is a city of arts and culture; it’s lively day and night, with the ‘Nice Jazz Festival‘ in the superb arena and Cimiez gardens in summer.

Nice

Gorges du Verdon

Gorges du Verdon

The Verdon is a natural gem that’s well worth the detour and even more. On top of its breathtaking nature and famous Gorges, the Verdon is an unspoiled area, rich in purity, that reminds us of the simple things in life and the pleasures of life.

Its spectacular scenery leaves no one indifferent, including Europe’s largest canyon, its cliffs and vultures, and the emerald waters of the Verdon river. There are plenty of sporting and family activities to choose from.

Ideas for sporting activities near Fuvolea holiday home