A driving tour from Marseille is the best way to discover the South of France. Rural villages, vineyard-covered hills and lavender fields await you with a scent that wafts through the region.
Where is Marseille and what does the region have to offer?
Marseille is located on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The city has a seafaring character, streets full of history and a multicultural air that can be felt in every corner of the old port or the Le Panier district.
From here you have easy access to some of the most important landscapes in the south of the country. For example, the coves of the Calanques National Park, the medieval villages of the Luberon or the roads that wind between vineyards and mountains. In just a few hours' drive you can go from the Mediterranean to the heart of Provence, with the aroma of lavender and young wine.
The easiest way to get around the area is by car. It is not a long way to travel, but public transport doesn’t cover many of the villages or rural roads where the best wineries are found.
Having your own means of getting around allows you to travel at your own pace, stop to take pictures or take a detour to a local market without depending on timetables. What’s more, OK Mobility has offices at Marseille airport. And if you are already in the area, you can also pick up or return the car in Nice or Lyon.
Driving tour from Marseille
Our driving tour from Marseille takes you through the best of Provence: lavender fields, golden stone villages and family-owned wineries steeped in tradition.
Aix-en-Provence
Located under 20 miles from Marseille, Aix-en-Provence is an elegant university city. It is famous for its fountain-filled squares, the Provençal market and the shadow of Paul Cézanne, who was born here. You can stroll along the Cours Mirabeau, with its open-air cafés and 17th-century buildings, or visit the painter's studio, preserved exactly as he left it. The vineyards of the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence begin in the vicinity, if you want to start with some wine tasting.
Valensole and the lavender fields
From Aix, the D6 road leads to the Plateau de Valensole, one of the most photogenic spots in summer. Between late June and July, the hills are tinged with violet and the air is filled with the scent of lavender and rosemary.
It is a quiet area, with small farms selling essential oils, soaps and lavender honey directly from the producer. Out of season, the scenery is still spectacular, with almond trees, golden fields and stone villages. If you can, get up early one day to see the sunrise.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the Lake of Sainte-Croix
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is situated less than an hour from Valensole. It is considered one of France’s most beautiful villages, so it simply had to feature on this driving tour from Marseille.
Wedged between two cliffs, it is crowned by a hanging golden star that, according to legend, was placed by a knight in gratitude to the Virgin Mary. It has cobblestone streets and several ceramic workshops where you can do some shopping.
Nearby sits the Lake of Sainte-Croix, with turquoise waters that you can take a boat trip to overlook the Verdon Gorge, Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon. It is also a good spot to take a dip.
Roussillon and Colorado Provençal
The route continues west towards the Luberon, with hills covered with vineyards. In the village of Roussillon, the houses are stained red by the iron oxide of the soil, which contrasts with the green of the cypress trees. You can do the Sentier des Ocres trail, which crosses ancient ochre sites and offers beautiful views. A few miles away you will find the Colorado Provençal in Rustrel, with rock formations in shades of orange and gold.
Gordes and the surrounding area
The last stop on the driving tour from Marseille is Gordes. A village with stone houses stacked on the hill, narrow streets and views of the Luberon valley. Nearby is Sénanque Abbey, surrounded by lavender blossoms. If you are interested in wine, there are wineries with guided tours and tasting sessions.
Return to Marseille
You can head back via the D973 road and the A7 freeway, passing through Salon-de-Provence, hometown of the prophet Nostradamus and a good place for a last stop. Once in Marseille, there’s no better way to bid farewell to the trip by dining in the old port, with a traditional bouillabaisse while the sun sets over the Mediterranean.
If you feel like taking this road trip from Marseille, you now have all the details. Rent your car in Marseille with OK Mobility. Now all you need to do is make your reservation with OK Mobility.
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