Des Oliviers (Rog100)

Provence, as a region, is full of incredibly beautiful sights from endless lavender fields, to ancient monasteries, to stunning beaches, to perfectly pretty medieval towns full of architectural gems. If you have found a vacation rental in Provence and are exploring the region and you are looking for particularly lovely examples of the latter, we recommend a visit to the gorgeous town of Avignon in France and to the Palais des Papes.

In 1305, Clement V was elected as Pope and famously made the decision to transfer papal power to Avignon in order to avoid the political unrest of Rome at the time. With this move, a new home for the papal seat was required and the largest medieval gothic palace in the world was built upon the foundations of an old Episcopal bishop's palace. This building, though begun under Clement V was greatly expanded under Benedict XII in 1334 and then even further under Clement VI in 1342 when he joined Benedict XII's Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and the Palais Neuf (New Palace). All of these extensions and this expansion eventually added up to create the monumental gem full of incredible objects and a rich and complex history that we know today; it covers a whopping 15,000 square metres, boasts ten fortified towers, was home to Europe's largest library at the time, excellent frescoes and fresco cycles, and much more besides.

Beautiful Avignon is a stunning medieval city in the south-east of France, on the left bank of the Rhône river, that has a UNESCO-awarded ancient walled city centre. It is a magical and utterly picturesque place and the ideal spot to escape to for a relaxing getaway. Just browse our vacation rentals in Avignon and go get lost in its timeless grandeur and pretty charm and enjoy a taste of the relaxed and slow-paced Provençal lifestyle. While you’re in the city, be sure to visit her crowning glory, the Rocher des Doms, or Jardin des Doms, a lovely public garden that is perched high above and affords incredible views over Avignon and the surrounding area.

This week, we have been celebrating Provence as the picturesque and idyllic holiday destination that it is. If you have always wanted to explore this region in the south of France and its iconic fields of lavender, sleepy historic villages and diverse lush landscape, then why not make it happen now? We have a wide selection of incredible vacation rentals in Provence and have been highlighting some of our prettiest properties in Provence. Here are more of just some of the best of the best among them...

7. La Villebague (Available from €422 per night)

This beautiful stone villa is stunning gem inside and out and a typical property of Provence. Built in 1850 and renovated in 2012, it is located 1km from the centre of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and is surrounded by greenery. The house has a small fenced garden with a heated swimming pool, a pool house, a terrace, garden furniture and a barbecue.

Back in 1866, a family business was established in Cavaillon, France, selling Cavaillon melons at the entrance to the city. These melons are spherical and slightly smaller than the standard cantaloupe. The exterior has a pale gold skin with bluish-green vertical striping running from end to end and orange inner flesh with an intense floral yet tropical aroma and a very high sugar content. Available from mid-summer to fall, the fruit comes from Cavaillon and is a much-celebrated local product with special designation status. It can only be called a Cavaillon Melon if it is grown in Provence or in a part of the Durance valley and must be grown by farmers that belong to the product’s official association. Beloved of its hometown, statues, paintings, annual festivals, and a 9-ton melon sculpture at the entryway to the town all mark what it means to locals.

This beloved local melon can also be thanked for birthing the town’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Maison Prévôt. This restaurant, which goes completely melon-themed for five months of the year, owes its origins to a trip to Paris in 1977, when Jean-Jacques Prévôt, chef and founder of Maison Prévôt broke down in the south of France, just outside Cavaillon.

If you have found yourself a vacation rental in Provence and are looking for things to do in that beautiful part of the world, we would have to suggest a visit to the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh in Arles. This extraordinary gallery and museum is devoted to the life and work of the great Van Gogh and, in particular, his incredibly productive stay in Arles. A permanent collection of works by Van Gogh himself and by other artists in homage to his oeuvre, as well as temporary contemporary art exhibitions, are displayed throughout the museum, which is, in of itself, a rather beautiful work of art. If you're a Van Gogh fan or art lover visiting the area, it is a must-see attraction.

Vincent van Gogh came to live in Arles in 1888, in search of what he described as a “different kind of light” and he must have found it as is period in the city was the most productive of his life. It was then and there that masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom” were born. Sadly, few traces of the artist remained in the place that had inspired him so, bar the hospital in which he was treated after the infamous ear incident. To right this shame and reestablish a connection with the artist, a non-profit foundation was established according to Van Gogh's own desire to have an international center of artistic creation and exchange in Arles.