Wandering Through Provence – Part 1

The way there

We travelled in both directions by plane from Treviso to Marseille. Ryanair offers low-cost tickets and the flight is very short, lasting just under an hour. We arrived late in the evening and settled near the centre of Marseille. The city is easy to get around on foot or by public transport, but steep hills and narrow streets can make it difficult to travel by car. We rented a car for the next few days.

In the heart of Marseille

Our first stop in the morning was a city tour (free tour) that took us through the history of this ancient port city. The city itself is 2,600 years old. In 2013, it was awarded the title of the European Capital of Culture, which is still reflected in the restored image. However, it still has a reputation as one of the less safe cities in Europe, something we did not get the impression of during our stay. Nevertheless, the consequences of the riots and protests are visible, which, according to the guide, are the "French way of life". A shop with broken glass was visible, and a visit to the history museum was not possible because there was a burglary during the protest, which required inventory. We could visit the archaeological site next to the museum, where the sea used to be.

Marseille is unique because the wealthier people live in the suburbs and by the sea, while the centre is considered to be the poorer area. Once a Greek city, it became part of the Kingdom of France in 1482. The whole modern city was designed by the same architect who created Paris, so you can feel the Parisian spirit. Each building has its own story. During the Second World War, the Nazis destroyed 2000 buildings, so there are no Greek remains like in other Provençal towns. They left only a few with historical significance, such as the former hospital and medical school, which became a guillotine court during the French Revolution. Most of the city's attractions and museums are free to visit.

We finished the tour with a walk along the coast, the harbour and a visit to the military fortresses built when France was still a colonial power. We were also taught about Marseille's most well-known product: soap. The original and real soap from this place must be green, must not be perfumed, must contain 72% olive oil (which must be printed on the soap), the piece must weigh 300 grams, and the price must not exceed 4 euros.

Aix-en-Provence and the Verdon Gorge

Our journey continued to Aix-en-Provence, a small town further north from Marseille. We visited the church, the manor house, which is currently being restored, and walked through the narrow streets. There was also a daily market where we had the opportunity to try the typical Callison dessert, made from candied citrus fruits. There is a selection of small French bakeries with madeleines, baguettes and quiches around the city.

After a walk in the hot sun and a sweet treat, we headed to cool off to the natural wonders of the Verdon Gorge and the lake. Firstly, we tried swimming and the beach in Saint-Corix de Verdon, close to the lake. Parking right next to the beach requires a fee, but when parking along the road on the hill, only a parking timer is enough. The beach was not overcrowded, but there was no shade anywhere. In addition to swimmers, the water was full of paddleboards, sailboats and pedal boats, and swimming is at your own risk.

A similar situation was the next stop along the Verdon River, where we enjoyed an exciting kayaking trip. The price of renting a kayak is 30 euros for 2 hours, but I recommend renting it later in the afternoon, when the crowds in the canyon have cleared and it is possible to enjoy the activity more. We found the experience fun and well worth the money. We spent the evening at a small fair in Riez.

Le Sentier des Ocres and Roussillon

We stopped further north at Le Sentier des Ocres. The route took us through a former clay mine where ochre was extracted. The view of the orange hills is reminiscent of the orange American desert with a touch of greenery. The mine is a conservation area, a protected nature park, for which it is necessary to pay an entrance fee.

It is possible to walk along a shorter and longer path, all together, the walk and the visit, take one hour. I recommend going with darker shoes and clothes that can be washed properly, as ochre is everywhere and can leave a strong colour.

We also visited the nearby picturesque town of Roussillon, where all the houses are orange due to the proximity of the mine. We continued our journey to Avignon, where we managed to walk through the quiet atmosphere of the night.

You can read about the continuation of our journey in the next issue of Globetrotter magazine!