Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: a region with a strong tourist vocation

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Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is a region in southern France, located along the Mediterranean Sea, between the mouth of the Rhone and the border with Italy.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, which has the city of Marseille as its capital, borders Italy to the east, the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon to the west and the Rhône-Alpes, the Principality of Monaco to the north it is completely surrounded, except on the sea side, by the territory of the region.

From an administrative point of view, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is made up of 6 departments: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Var (83) and Vaucluse (84).

The geography of the region is characterized by great diversity, which is also the beauty of the region, it ranges from the Mediterranean coast up to the peaks of the Alps. The coast is often steep, high and rocky characterized by the Calanques, with the mountains that in several points they reach the sea, such as near the Esterel and Maures massifs, near the Rhone delta there are vast plains, and the marshy area of the Camargue, a naturalistic paradise. The entire coastal area is densely populated, the major cities are located here, such as Marseille, Toulon, and Nice.

Between the coast and the Alps there are hilly or mountainous areas, such as Mont Ventoux, the Luberon Massif, and the Alpilles, to the east towards the border with Italy the imposing peaks of the Alps rise, here are the mountains highest in the region, exceeding four thousand metres, the Barre des Écrins (4,102 metres) is the highest peak.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: WHAT TO VISIT IN PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D’AZUR

Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is a region with a strong tourist vocation that includes two of the most important tourist areas in France: the Côte d’Azur and Provence. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has tourist attractions for all seasons, first-rate seaside resorts (Nice, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes), winter ski centers (Isola 2000, Pra Loup, Le Sauze, Val d’Allos , Puy-Saint-Vincent, Orcières-Merlette, Saint-Jean-de-Montclar, Le Grand Puy, Chabanon, Serre Chevalier, Vars, Risoul, Montgenèvre, SuperDévoluy les Orres, La Joue du Loup), cities of art (Arles , Avignon, Orange, Fréjus, Aix-en-Provence), a myriad of small historic centres, green tourism (Camargue, Gorges du Verdon, Luberon, Mont Ventoux, Esterel), in this last area the region has three national parks (Écrins, Mercantour and Port-Cros), five regional parks and numerous nature reserves.

One of the strengths of the region is its great diversity and geographical variety, ranging from the Mediterranean coast up to the peaks of the Alps. The coast has areas of great scenic beauty, such as in the Calanques, between Toulon and Marseille, when high and rocky, or near the Esterel and Maures massifs, where the mountains reach down to the sea. In the Rhône delta area there is the marshy area of the Camargue, a naturalistic paradise, rich in migratory, marsh and aquatic birds, and which is home to the largest colony of pink flamingos on the European continent.

There are three sites in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur that UNESCO has included among the world heritage sites: the Roman theater and the triumphal arch of Orange; the city of Arles, with its Roman and Romanesque monuments; and the historic center of the city of Avignon, with the Palace of the Popes, the bishop’s palaces and the bridge over the Rhone.

The French Riviera.

Provence.