Did you know that Eurostar is running a service from London to Avignon over the summer? The Avignon Festival in July is one of France’s most popular events. It’ll draw artists and spectators from around the world for around 40 theatre and dance performances taking place throughout the town for as a sort of artistic open-air forum. The OFF Avignon Festival will also be running parallel to it with amazing theatre performances.

With all the hype of the events, it would be easy to miss the charm of Provence that lies just outside of the city, which is why I’ve decided to hand pick three villages a short distance away from Avignon. All of them have their own individual charm and character which will give you a different perspective on Provence – and surely make you fall in love at the same time! The area has stunning B&Bs from 50€ a night which can be perused on provenceguide.com.

Region of Vaucluse: Postcard Provence

Vaucluse is one of the regions that many picture when the area of Provence comes to mind: perched rustic villages, transparent rivers, sounds of cicadas drifting along the warm summer breeze and the smell of ripening fruit from the blossoming fruit trees. It’s home to the popular region of the Luberon where some of the area’s most beautiful villages and landscapes can be found. These famous villages include the neighbouring towns of Isle-sur-Sorgue, Fontaine de Vaucluse and Roussillon.

L’Isle sur Sorgue: Antique capital of Provence

When you hear the soft sounds of running water, you know you’re approaching L’Isle sur Sorgue. A small town famous for being the antiques capital of Provence, it’s known as the ‘island on the Sorgue’ and as the ‘Provencal Venice’. Grouped into ‘villages’, the antique shops, art galleries and interior décor shops are an attraction of their own. There are also a number of waterside cafés and restaurants within walking distance from each other, flea markets most Sundays and attractive water wheels throughout the town which are still in working order. On a bright summer’s day, you can amble down the banks of the river to people watch, listening to the sounds of the water going through the water wheels and stopping to buy a charming little trinket.

Fontaine de Vaucluse: Source of Spring

A little ways away from l’Isle sur la Sorgue to the East lies Fontaine de Vaucluse, a town with 600 inhabitants and built around a spring in a valley at the foot of the Vaucluse mountains. The fountain, or spring, is located at the foot of a steep clef 230 metres high, is the biggest spring in France – even Jacques Cousteau couldn’t find the source’s depths when he ventured himself. It is also the fifth largest in the world with an annual flow of 630 million cubic metres. The Spring and the beautiful emerald-coloured Sorgue river which runs through the town have thus drawn visitors in droves. There is also an ancient paper mill and Santon museum in the town.

Roussillon: Technicolour Ochre

At a short 30 minute drive from Fontaine de Vaucluse lies Roussillon. The small village is famed for its 17 ranges of ochre daubed across its houses and the flamboyant technicolour trail that is often compared to Colorado. In Roussillon, red, yellows, oranges and pinks merge into each other as you wander into the spiralling streets. For a little bit of insider knowledge, Roussillon’s ochre quarry was one of the most significant ochre deposits and over the years, all its surrounding fields have turned a reddish orange. Today, the disused quarry is best described as other-wordly, with cliffs and caverns, steeples and ridges. The quarry itself is a starting point for a footpath that continues for 15km to the Colorado de Rustrel quarry, a spectacular natural wonder which has been used as the set for many films.

However, no trip through Provence would be complete without a stop at the poshest towns of all: Gordes and the ‘Maisons Des Bories’ with its exceptional heritage, Ansouis Castle which has remained in the same family hands for centuries or, on the west side of the Rhone, St.-Remy-de-Provence and the Baux de Provence.

The popularity of these towns peaks during the summer, along with the temperatures. That’s why it’s recommended that you visit early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the sweltering heat and crowds!

Bon Voyage!

Marseille, the ‘European Capital of Culture’ for 2013, has been in the centre of attention for a few months now. The ‘Panier’ area, the famous oldest district, hosted the main festivities and has just seen the opening of the new 5-star Intercontinental Marseille Hôtel Dieu in April.

But MP2013 is not only about the city, don’t forget that the whole of Provence is involved. 7 other main cities will be at the heart of the action: Arles and the Camargue, Aix-en-Provence, Aubagne, Salon-de-Provence, Gardanne, Istres and Martigues.

The events which already began

• Ulysses – Contemporary art itinerary

12 January 2013 – January 2014

Crossing through the Capital of Culture area, the FRAC (the Regional Contemporary Art Funds) of the Provence region have created an itinerary based upon Ulysses’ journey. This trail allows hikers to see natural landscapes as well as contemporary art sites, exhibitions and other events.

• ‘Rodin, the Light of Antiquity’ exhibition

6 April – 1 September 2013

The ‘Arles antiques’ museum will exhibit 132 of Rodin’s sculptures, drawings and artworks. The biggest museums from around the world – Paris, Boston, Melbourne, London and Liverpool – have enriched the exhibition with some of their most famous artworks.

• ‘Festins de Méditerranée’

4 May – 13 October 2013

For 6 months, 7 culinary rendezvous have been planned around Provence: Aubagne, Gardanne, Istres, Port-de-Bouc, Salon-de-Provence, Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The idea is to share an exceptional Mediterranean influenced meal with 600 guests – all cooked by French chefs.

The events which are going to start soon

• Transhumance

17 May – 9 June 2013

Farmers will lead horses and herds along 3 different trails throughout the region to arrive at the same place, at the same time. One of these trails will start in Italy, the other in Morocco and the third in Châteaurenard in the Bouches-du-Rhône. Visitors can participate in the ‘Transhumance’ with their own horse, or with one rented from an equestrian centre.

• MuCEM (European and Mediterranean Civilisations Museum) opening

7 June 2013

This national museum, located near the Fort Saint-Jean and linked directly to it by a foot bridge, has been designed by the architect Rudy Rucciotti. Two floors will offer two different exhibitions: on the ground floor – the historical wealth and diversity of the Mediterranean civilisation, the first floor – a temporary exhibition based upon the societies, cities, places and human beings from the Mediterranean. Two exhibitions will be inaugurated at the museum opening: ‘Au bazar du genre, féminin/masculin’ and ‘Le noir et le bleu, un rêve Méditerranéen’.

• The ‘Grand atelier du midi’

13 June – 13 October 2013

An exhibition in two parts, representing two artistic periods: the first - from Van Gogh to Bonnard, the second – from Cézanne to Matisse. The first, which will take place in Marseille, will exhibit 100 artworks from the biggest 19 and 20^th century masters. The second, which will take place in Aix-en-Provence, will exhibit 100 artworks from modern art collections from around the world.

• ‘Chemins de traverse’ and ‘Danse en été’

Juin – Aout 2013

During the summer, various festivals and shows will take place throughout the Capital of Culture area: music, dance, photography and outdoor projections to name but a few. The Aix-en-Provence Festival is a lyrical rendezvous, the ‘5 continents Jazz Festival’ will take place on the Palais Longchamp in Marseille or the ‘Festival of dance and multiple arts’ at various locations in Marseille.

The events for this autumn

• Maritime Parade

7 September 2013

All the naval clubs and associations will gather along the ‘Corniche Kennedy’ to form a big parade. Products and works from the sea will be highlighted at the old port of Marseille in a joyful atmosphere. At nightfall, the MuCEM will become an artistic stage.

• ‘Métamorphoses’

20 September – 6 October 2013

For a fortnight, Marseille will become a giant games area: a building façade which becomes a deforming mirror, the streets which look like musical scores or imaginary art galleries, and Cannebière Street which will look like a 300 metre long table.

• Mobile Centre Pompidou

From November 2013

Aubagne will welcome the Mobile Centre Pompidou for the first time. Visitors will discover some of Matisse’s, Braque’s, Picasso’s or Calder’s major artworks, usually hosted by the Paris’ museum. Designed by the architect Patrick Bouchain, the ‘travelling museum’ will resemble a circus tent in its form and colours.

Travel to Marseille with Aer Lingus from Ireland, BMI, Easyjet and Ryanair from Edinburgh and British Airways, Easyjet and Ryanair from London. By train, a new Eurostar line between London and Aix-en-Provence will open for the first time from 4 May to 29 June. This line will also link London to Avignon.