Berry - Lonely Planet Provence & Southeastern France Road Trips Discover the Freedom of the Open Road

WELCOME TO PROVENCE & SOUTHEAST FRANCE

With its shimmering coast and rustic Provenal heart, the Mediterranean south has a timeless allure. Driving here youll travel through wildly divergent landscapes: cinematic coastline, rugged hinterland and bucolic valleys.

Southeastern Frances glamorous cities, deep-blue Mediterranean and chic hilltop villages always delight. Inland, weave between fragrant lavender fields, forested gorges and Roman ruins. Linger in art galleries or be engulfed in the lush green wetlands of the Camargue.

Along the way youll connect with the poets, painters and writers who flocked here during the 20th century, chasing sun and inspiration.

House in Vaucluse
GERARD LABRIET/GETTY IMAGES

PROVENCE & SOUTHEAST FRANCE HIGHLIGHTS

The scale of this Roman aqueduct is astonishing. View it from beside the Gard River, clamber along the top deck, or arrive after dark when its all lit up.

DANITA DELIMONT/GETTY IMAGES

The quintessential Provenal village.

HANS GEORG EIBEN/GETTY IMAGES

This huge natural wetland is a paradise for nature-lovers, with its population of seabirds, wild horses and pink flamingos.

CORDIER SYLVAIN/GETTY IMAGES

CITY GUIDE

Montmartre, Paris
MATT MUNRO/LONELY PLANET

If ever a city needed no introduction, its Paris a trend setter, fashion former and style icon for centuries, and still very much at the cutting edge. Whether youre here to tick off the landmarks or seek out the secret corners, Paris fulfils all your expectations, and still leaves you wanting more.

Driving in Paris is a nightmare. Happily, theres no need for a car. The metro is fast, frequent and efficient; tickets cost 1.70 (day passes 6.70) and are valid on the citys buses. Bikes can be hired from 1800 Vlib (www.velib.paris.fr) stations; insert a credit card, authorise a 150 deposit and pedal away. Day passes cost 1; first 30 minutes free, subsequent 30 minutes from 2.

Meters dont take coins; use a chip-enabled credit card. Municipal car parks cost 2 to 3.50 an hour, or 20 to 25 per 24 hours.

Le Marais is one of the best areas for eating out, with its small restaurants and trendy bistros. Dont miss Paris street markets: the March Bastille, rue Montorgueil and rue Mouffetard are full of atmosphere.

Base yourself in Montmartre for its Parisian charm, if you dont mind crowds. Le Marais and Bastille provide style on a budget, while St-Germain is good for a splurge.

Paris Info (http://en.parisinfo.com) Official visitor site.

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/paris) Lonely Planets city guide.

Secrets of Paris (www.secretsofparis.com) Locals blog full of insider tips.

Paris by Mouth (www.parisbymouth.com) Eat and drink your way round the capital.

TOP EXPERIENCES

Eiffel Tower at Twilight

Any time is a good time to take in the panorama from the top of the Metal Asparagus (as Parisians snidely call it) but the twilight view is extra special (www.toureiffel.fr).

Muse du Louvre

Frances greatest repository of art, sculpture and artefacts, the Louvre is a must-visit but dont expect to see it all in a day (www.louvre.fr).

Basilique du Sacr-Coeur

Climb inside the cupola of this Montmartre landmark for one of the best cross-city vistas (www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com).

Muse dOrsay

Paris second-most-essential museum, with a fabulous collection encompassing originals by Czanne, Degas, Monet, Van Gogh and more (www.musee-orsay.fr).

Cathdrale de Notre-Dame

Peer over Paris from the north tower of this Gothic landmark, surrounded by gargoyles and flying buttresses (www.cathedraledeparis.com).

Les Catacombes

Explore more than 2km of tunnels beneath the streets of Montparnasse, lined with the bones and skulls of millions of Parisians (www.catacombes.paris.fr).

Cimetire Pre-Lachaise

Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust and Jim Morrison are just a few of the famous names buried in this wildly overgrown cemetery (www.perelachaise.com).

Canal St-Martin

Join the locals for a walk or bike ride along the tow-paths of this 4.5km canal, once derelict but now reborn as a haven from the city hustle.