When most people dream of travelling to the South of France, they inevitably begin thinking of places like Nice, Marseilles, St Tropez and Cannes. This glorious stretch of France hugging the Mediterranean sea is littered with many more interesting places. Here are the 10 lesser known places that I visited that left a great impression on me.
Sete
Sete is a small town that offers some of the best secluded beaches in South France. Located a few kilometres from Montpellier in the Langeudoc-Roussillon region, this is the first place where I went to take a dip in the Mediterranean sea. Sete has a popular port and is a French secret resort that sees hardly any crowds. If you are looking to escape other tourists, there is hardly a better stop than Sete to satiate you.
Getting there: You can get to Sete from Montpellier by train in about 25 – 30 minutes.
Carcassonne
Carcassonne occupies such an important part of French history that it is difficult to fathom why the place isn’t more popular. Carcassonne is famous for the Cite, a UNESCO World Heritage list fortress built during medieval times that has been occupied by many rulers over the centuries. The city’s location was its major draw for invaders who wanted to control this land that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees.
The fort itself is majestic and takes a better part of the day to explore. It is worth checking out the site at night as well for its brilliant lighting.
Getting there: Carcassonne is easily reached by train from anywhere in South France.
Avignon
Located on the banks of the Rhone river, Avignon is another gem from South France that deserves more popularity than it currently has. It is the only other city that held the papacy after Popes fled Rome in the 14th century. They built ‘Le Palais des Papes’ that is today considered as the world’s largest Gothic edifice. Another important point outside the now-demolished city walls in the Pont d’Avignon located on the Rhone river that is a must-visit in my opinion.
Getting there: Avignon is a major city and has well-connected rail and roads links.
Antibes
So many people are caught up in the glamour of South France towns of Cannes and Nice that they completely miss Antibes, the town located between these two cities. Antibes, thus, has a more French feel than places like Nice that seem overrun by tourists, especially during the summer. Located around its central Picasso Museum, Antibes lends itself to a long walk in its central part and has a great lookout point.
Getting there: Antibes is well-connected by train from Nice, Paris and Cannes. The Nice airport is also pretty close. The best way to get here and explore though, is by road.
Toulouse
After spending a hectic couple of weeks, I was thoroughly tired by the time I reached Toulouse. The city, apart from its famous museums, has few other charms to offer. However, it is the gateway to the tiny country of Andorra located between France and Spain. There is a regular bus service that connects the two regions and is one of the main draws to visit Toulouse.
Getting there: Toulouse is a major transport hub with an airport, train station and bus service from other cities in France and Europe linking to it.
Nimes
Nimes was once a very important Roman city. You will find evidence of this all along the small and compact city today. Nowhere is the Roman influence more visible than at the Roman Amphitheatre, a smaller version of the Colosseum at Rome and at the Maison Carree that has one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world. Nimes is small enough to be covered on foot in a single day and is one of the more charming French cities I visited during my trip.
Getting there: Nimes is connected by train to other cities in South France and is the best and most affordable way to reach here.
Pont du Gard
It may look slightly intimidating at first glance, but the Pont du Gard is an ancient aqueduct bridge built by the Romans to ferry water from a spring at Uzes to Nimes. One of the best preserved Roman aqueducts in the world, Pont du Gard one stretched to 50 kms and is still the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges.
Getting there: You will need road transport to reach Pont du Gard. There are infrequent buses from Nimes and Montpellier but your best bet is to take a private tour.
Montpellier
Montpellier is a young and funky student city where you can spend time without bothering to visit any important locations. This lack of attractions allows visitors to plan their days the way they want and explore France’s eighth-largest city the way they wish to. Spend a day visiting the various churches here, stroll the local market or while away your day people-watching at the Place de la Comedie, Montpellier is the ultimate spot to relax and refresh yourself along the French Riviera.
Getting there: There are high-speed train links from Paris and other cities in South France. Montpellier is well connected by road as well.
St Emilion
If you arrive in Bordeaux thinking you’ll see wineries all around, you will be very disappointed. Most vineyards lie on the outskirts of Bordeaux and the one I recommend you visit is St Emilion. The Romans were the first to plant vineyards here way back in the 2nd century. St Emilion has retained its glory through the ages and is one of the best places to sample different wines and take a tour through its big and small vineyards. The narrow cobbled streets and old churches merely add to the allure of this place.
Getting there: I took a trip from Viator to St Emilion that included wine tasting and trips to thee vineyards.
Roussillon and Gordes
I took a day trip from Avignon to visit Roussillon and Gordes and had the most amazing time. While Gordes has the most amazing location atop a hill with a view stretching for miles, Roussillon is where you realise the power of lavender in Provencal France with everything you ever imagined available for sale. My favourite lavender item? Lavender ice-cream of course!
Getting there: I took a tour with City-Discovery and recommend you do the same since the roads are difficult to drive on and there is no train connection around.
As you can see, the French Riviera is more than just pretty beaches and the jet-set lifestyle. Take in a few more days to explore this wonderful region of France. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.
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All images copyrighted by Constant Traveller.
