Everyone from ancient Romans to Post-Impressionist artists to movie stars have been lured to the enchanting South of France. Its abundance of lavender-laced valleys, glittering seashores, medieval hill towns, and lively cities, all bathed in translucent light, are downright seductive.
Journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy to discover Provence and the Côte d’Azur, including the region’s most intriguing sights, historical aspects, food and wine, and art in a virtual exploration using maps, photos, videos, and other visuals.
Kennedy, a freelance travel writer and editor, is a former senior editor at National Geographic Travel Publishing. She served as an expert on National Geographic Expedition tours to Italy and France and wrote the National Geographic Traveler: Provence and the Côte d’Azur guidebook.
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Marseille and Aix-en-Provence
Starting off in Marseille, the oldest city in France and its second most populous, explore how this famously gritty port city has undergone a recent renaissance. Hop to Aix-en-Provence, a genteel Provençal town often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. Perfect for culture lovers, Aix boasts an exquisite historic quarter, quaint cafes, and—perhaps most famously—the birthplace of Cézanne. Go beyond the hustle and bustle of the cities to discover the gorgeous Calanques, with their turquoise waters and steep-sided limestone cliffs, plus two fishing towns beloved by the Post-Impressionists: Cassis and La Ciotat.
Additional Sessions of the Spring in the South of France Series
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