Southern France, from Marseille to the Spanish border

Stretching from Marseille, France’s second-largest city, to Perpignan and the Spanish border, southwest France has much to offer to art enthusiasts and curious travelers. The area comprises two regions – Occitanie to the west and the western part of Provence to the east. In ancient times, it was the home of Greek settlements, such as the ancient Massalía which we know now as Marseille, and then one of the wealthiest provinces of the Roman Empire; many traces of that glorious past survive today, such as the many monumental Roman buildings still visible in Nîmes, Orange, and Arles, for example.

But the rich history of this portion of the Midi is not limited to Antiquity: from the Provençal-Catalan culture of the Middle Ages and the Avignon Papacy in the 14th century to the French Revolution with its La Marseillaise anthem and the great artists of the 19th and 20th century who chose this part of the Mediterranean coast as their favorite retreat, this part of France has been, and still is, one of the most culturally vibrant regions of Europe.

Our advice: along with the largest cities, take your time to visit the countryside and smaller towns, such as Ceret and Rivesaltes, which can provide you with a pleasant, relaxing, and unorthodox voyage across over twenty centuries of great culture.

Cover image: the Mucem Museum in Marseille; © Lisa Ricciotti – Rudy Ricciotti – Roland Carta