Prettiest Villages in Provence

There’s something romantic about Provence. The lavender fields, the sunshine, and the glittering coastline all make it one of the most beautiful regions of France. I studied in Nice and have been back many times, including a recent trip to the hilltop village of Eze. Each time I go I fall more in love with the small towns and villages in the area. If you want to do the same, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to the prettiest villages in Provence.

From Var to Vaucluse, Alpes Maritimes to Bouches du Rhone, Provence is packed with beautiful villages. Some are coastal, others perched on hilltops, and all are full of picturesque streets and squares.

I’ve visited all but one of these villages and can personally attest to their beauty. I’ve been back to some of them multiple times, and I never tire of walking through their narrow streets and taking in the views around them.

How to Get to the Prettiest Villages in Provence

Most of these villages are best reached by car, especially the ones in the hills. There are buses throughout the region if you don’t want to drive, but make sure to check schedules ahead of time as some run infrequently.

Whatever way you choose to travel, I hope you enjoy visiting these places as much as I have.

1. Eze Village

I’ll start my list with Eze, as it’s where I was most recently. This is one of the prettiest villages in Provence, not least because it sits like an eagle’s nest on a hilltop right above the coast.

As a result, Eze has some of the most stunning Mediterranean Sea views of any village in the region.

But Eze’s medieval streets are equally appealing, and if you can tear your eyes away from the water you’ll find a lot to look at in the village.

Stone buildings with orange tile roofs fill the streets, and everywhere you look there are stairways and vines. And speaking of greenery, Eze also has a botanical garden.

Eze is great if you like hiking, too. One of my favorite memories from when I lived in Nice was taking the train to Eze-sur-Mer station and hiking up the winding Chemin de Nietzsche trail to Eze village at the top. It’s a steep climb, but worth it for the views.

2. Saint Paul de Vence

Saint Paul de Vence might just be the most famous of all the prettiest villages in Provence. This hilltop gem is synonymous with Provencal beauty.

The village streets epitomize the region’s medieval architecture and its art galleries attract visitors from around the world.

One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, Saint Paul de Vence is perched on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by ramparts built on the orders of Francois I.

Seeing its tower and rooftops rise above the greenery below gets my heart beating faster every time I visit.

There are regular buses from Nice to Saint Paul de Vence, so it’s a great place to visit if you want an easy day trip from Nice or if you don’t have a car.

3. Les Baux-de-Provence

Rated one of the most beautiful villages in France, Les Baux-de-Provence certainty deserves its place among my list of the prettiest villages in Provence.

This medieval village is nestled among dramatic rock formations. It’s full of quaint squares, terraces, narrow streets, and local shops.

A listed heritage site, Les Baux-de-Provence even has a castle. The Chateau des Baux was constructed during the 10th century and visitors can still take in its fortified walls while in the village today.

This Provencal village is a great day trip from Avignon. I did it a few months ago and enjoyed exploring its streets and taking in the views.

4. Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Tourettes-sur-Loup is another of the prettiest villages in Provence. I stayed here last summer for a few days and loved its sunny squares and dramatic hilltop location.

Surrounded by ramparts, Tourrettes-sur-Loup is full of vibrant markets, Romanesque and medieval streets, art galleries, and craft workshops.

But it’s best known for violets. Tourrettes-sur-Loup’s nickname is the Violet Village since it has a long-standing association with the flower. There’s even a violet festival every spring.

This is a great place to visit if you want somewhere close enough to Nice for a day trip but slightly farther away than places like Eze.

5. Tourtour

Tourtour is a hilltop village in the Var department. I visited a couple years ago and it definitely deserves its place in the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association.

More remote than some of the other villages on my list, Tourtour is less crowded and more relaxed.

It has everything the others have, though. There are cobbled lanes, terraces with views, and a big main square with lots of cafe tables around it.

This village is great if you want to get away from the main tourist areas of Provence and have a quieter, more local experience.

6. Roussillon

The hilltop village of Roussillon is high on my list of places to visit in France. Situated in the Luberon at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse, this village has stunning views of the area below.

Roussillon has a unique ocher color scheme that makes it one of the prettiest villages in Provence.

The color comes from the ocher deposits around the village, which are some of the biggest in the world. They can be visited on a walk through the surrounding canyons.

In the fortified village itself, there’s everything from a market to a clock tower to see. There are also art galleries, restaurants, and cafes to indulge in.

This is an ideal place to visit if you like villages and nature in equal measure.

7. Villeneuve-les-Avignon

Just across the Rhone from Avignon, the village of Villeneuve-les-Avignon is packed with charm.

It has picture-pretty streets, historic cloisters, and sunny squares. It feels like a like a miniature Avignon on a hill.

Above it sits the Fort Saint-Andre, a historic fortress with thick walls and rich history. Next to it is the Chartreuse de Villeneuve-les-Avignon convent, which is beautiful to see.

This is the perfect place to visit if you’re staying in Avignon. It’s in walking distance of the city and makes a great day or half-day trip.