WORDS & PICTURES: Marzia Abeni
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If I close my eyes, I can still smell the scent of lush jasmine and lavender, about to bloom in the summer season, and the fragrance of wild fig tree. I can vividly spot the raw, mellow colours of the dry stone walls, and of the land all around Provence, France.
The first stop of our road trip dans le sud is Roussilon. We arrive there late in the afternoon; the colourful village welcomes us with a beautiful natural terrace overlooking the provençal countryside and the warmest shades of the Sentier des Ocres, whose paths and deposits of clay vary from orange to a deep red.
This French commune – among the most beautiful ever visited – is midway between Avignon and Aix-en-Provence; it’s right in this last place that we spend our first night, in a domaine perfectly nestled between wheat fields and pine forests.
The following day, after visiting the tiny medieval citadel of Les Baux de Provence, situated in the rocky heart of the Alpilles, our trip heads south, towards the wide, open spaces of Camargue.
Arriving in this region feels like coming home, to me: the rigor of Provence, France, gives way to the white manes of horses, swept by the wind, and to the carefree atmosphere of the coastal villages.
Spend your morning hours visiting the salt flats, looking for vibrant pink flamingos at the Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau, or simply walking around the streets of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. And make sure you don’t miss the fresh catch of the day, sitting at one of the many tables dressed in red and white chequered tablecloths.
Camargue is a pristine strip of nature, where wild and unspoiled landscapes permeate slow, everyday life: the best way to enjoy its real atmosphere is to stay at one of the many typical Mas, set in the beautiful regional park.
This itinerary, around one of the most fascinating areas of France, will gift you with some of the most scenic roads you’ll happen to drive along, while the cicadas singing in the shade of tree branches and the sound of the sea lapping at the shore will make you feel at peace, and forget about the hustle and bustle of city life.
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