A Provencal Getaway

France is known around the world for its vast and varied offerings, from the museums and boutiques in Paris to the beaches of the Côte d’Azur, and one of the regions that many people dream of discovering is Provence with its rolling hills and picturesque towns.

- Sandra Iskander

Here, we turn our attention to the charming destination and share with you the best hotels, spas, and restaurants to discover.

The French commune of Les Baux de Provence is arguably one of the most beautiful villages in the country and with reportedly only 22 people residing here the village lends itself to being one of the most sought-after destinations for people who are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of larger towns. In the heart of the town is where the Château des Baux is located, built in the 10th century it is perched high, overlooking the village. It is here at the chateau that you can discover the reconstruction of the trebuchet that was used to attack fortified sites during sieges. Measuring 16 meters in height the trebuchet was designed and reconstructed based on medieval drawings and visitors to the site can attend catapult demonstrations that are held here daily.

Just five minutes from the chateau is another incredible site that is worthy of a visit. Unlike any other cultural space, the Carrières de Lumières, once a stone quarry, organizes temporary exhibitions that showcase the works of renowned artists including Chagall, Monet, and Renoir. Using 100 video projectors projecting images onto the entire surface of the former stone quarry including the ground, covering the space with wonderful images, the space becomes an interactive show, visually and musically, as visitors are invited to walk around discovering the works while the images are projected on them as well, in turn becoming part of the show themselves. This year, and through to the 5th of December, 2020, it is Van Gogh who is being honoured at the Carrières de Lumières, with the Starry Night exhibit, bringing Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous pieces, including Sunflowers, The Church at Auvers and of course The Starry Night to the unique exhibition space.