September in the South of France

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Why visit the South of France in September? September is one of the best months to travel to Europe as you'll still be experiencing Summer weather, beautiful villages decorated with bright greenery, you often can find cheaper rates, and can experience life like the locals without the large tourism traffic. Check out our local recommendations and overall ratings of each town we visited in the South of France this past September!

Our 5-Day Trip Itinerary in the South of France:

Unfortunately, our first flight got delayed over 2 hours which made us miss our connecting flight as well as a few other outgoing flights so our trip got shortened by a day. But nonetheless, we moved fast pace and made the best of it below!

Day 1 (Thursday)

  • Hotel: Le Tholonet Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire Hotel (checked in late the night prior)
  • Morning at the Farmers Market at Aix en Provence (more details below)
  • Mid-day / Early Afternoon at Gorges du Verdon (more details below)
  • Explore Moutiers Sainte Marie (village next to the gorges)

Day 2 (Friday)

  • Hotel: Le Tholonet Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire Hotel (checked out)
  • Breakfast at Aix in Provence
  • Spent a few hours at a beach in Cassis, France
  • Explored the town of Cassis
  • Checked out Marseille (were not fans at all - kinda dirty and very busy city life)
  • Spent the later part of the afternoon chilling at our favorite hotel of the trip (Domaine de Fontenille - checked in)

Day 3 (Saturday)

  • Hotel: Domaine de Fontenille
  • Explored the Saturday Market at Aix en Provence
  • Brunch in Aix en Provence (as we waited fro the rain to hold off)
  • Explored Loumarin, France
  • Relaxed by the pool at the hotel

Day 4 (Sunday)

  • Relaxing morning at Domaine de Fontenille (breakfast was spectacular)
  • Explored the Antique / Local Markets at I'Isle Sur La Sorgue
  • Explored the grounds at Domaine de Fontenille (vineyards, garden, donkeys, pool)
  • Dinner in Loumarin, France

Day 5 (Monday)

  • Our last full day! We checked out of Domaine de Fontenille since we were staying at a hotel closer to the Nice Airport as we departed early the next day.
  • Grabbed breakfast on the way to Eze, France at La Belle Niche (an organic boulangerie!! best croissants out of the whole trip!!)
  • Explored Eze, France
  • Explored Monaco, France
  • Explored Nice, France
  • Dinner at L'Atelier de Julien (such good pizzas!!)

Since we lost a day, we weren't able to explore Ville Franche Sur Mer nor Menton, but heard wonderful things about these small villages!

If visiting Menton, check out the below local recommendations:

  • Saint Michael Archange Basilica
  • Hike to cemetery of the old castle for viewpoint of Monaco and Italy
  • Swin at Plague Sablettes
  • Promenade du Solei

If visiting Ville Franche Sur Mer, here are some local recommendations:

  • Quiet beaches at Saint Jena Cap Ferrat

Where to Stay in the South of France?

Our absolute favorite place to stay was Domaine de Fontenille, a 35 minute-ish drive to Aix en Provence. The property was much like a boutique chateau - absolutely stunning interior and perfect place for a time to relax in the country of the South of France. They have a pool, you can walk their grounds with their vineyards, garden (which most of their food is made from), donkeys, and more.

They have a Michelin Star Chef restaurant, as well as Bistro style restaurant (which we ate at for dinner one night - amazing!!). The made-from-scratch breakfast was worth every penny!! Ask for an omelette!!

We also stayed at Le Tholonet Les Lodges Sainte Victoria which was another beautiful chateau that's only a 20 minute drive from Aix en Provence. The outdoor seating from breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner is also gorgeous, they have two pools, and is so close to the city yet feels like you're relaxing in the country.

Beaches in Cassis, France

A must visit place in the South of France! Cassis is a small fishing village with beautiful mountains and cliffs that are set amongst the beautiful coast.

  • Plage du Corton and Plage de l'Arène, both south of the town, are two naturally rocky beaches bordered by pines.
  • La Plage du Bestouan and La Plage Bleue are both west of the port. In between these two beaches there is a large sloping stone cove popular with nudists, so beware when traveling with family.

Don't forget to take 1-2 hours to explore the village of Cassis, and enjoy lunch or dinner along the water. A local recommended La Table Du 7 and it was spectacular!

Recommendation for Visiting Eze, France:

Eze is a small village on a hilltop in France, about 20 minutes from Nice and 20 minutes from Monaco. It was very rainy the day we went, and with the steps being a little slippery we didn't get to explore much of the town. But from local recommendations, here is what's the best thing to do in Eze:

  • Visit Exotic Garden (Jardin d'eze) for views of the coast and Monaco
  • Boulevard Napoleon

You only need a few hours to explore Exze, but I'd recommend taking a short drive to Monaco and/or Ville France Sur Mer. Locals recommend visiting Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for quiet beaches if exploring the later village.

Things to do in I'sle Sur La Sorgue:

I'sle Sur La Sorgue has a HUGE market on Sundays... like it wraps around the village and you can be strolling it for HOURS! There's lots of local foods and vintage markets. If you are exploring this village when there isn't a market day, they are still known for their abundance of vintage stores.

Aix en Provence:

There are so many recommendations for Aix en Provence, so I'm only listing a short bunch. But I'd recommend taking the day to explore the town, shops, markets, boulangeries, and more!

  • Christophe Madeleines - an absolute must! They were very popular prior to covid and just recently reopened (like first week in September 2023). Get there early and try a variety of their amazing Madeline flavors!
  • MANA - Great cappuccinos and aesthetic brunch spot.
  • Farinoman Fou Aix - amazing artisanal bread spot!
  • Macarons de Caroline - Macarons
  • Scaramouche - Gelato & Sorbets
  • Maison Weibel - Very popular breakfast spot (but you can also find smaller family wonder places just as good!)
  • Hat's Boulangerie - Another very popular place.
  • Trattoria Pizzeria Da Vito - pizza!

Things to do in Loumarin, France:

Loumarin was a small village that was within a 20 minute drive of Domaine de Fontenille. This town is decorated with beautiful greenery, ADORABLE shops with such cute linens and cotton patterns, and perfect for dinner after a long day exploring. Locals recommended Le Vival (a small boutique-style local grocer), Pizza Nonni (for more casual pizzas and Italian food), L'Insolite Restaurant, and La Récréation Restaurant.

Gorges du Verdon, France:

An absolute must visit spot in the South of France!! We rented a paddle boat and explored the canyons, swam a little in the warm water, and just chilled for the 2 hours that was a total of 40 Euros. Worth every penny, and one of our favorite parts of the trip!

Use this address to find parking that leads to the paddle boat rentals: Base de L'Etoile

Things to do in Moustiers Sainte Marie:

Moustiers Sainte Marie is a small village right next door to the Gorges du Verdon (less than a 10 minute drive). It is filled with beautiful landscapes, a waterfall that runs through the center of the village, lots of bright local pottery shops, and more.

If you visit during lavender season, you'll find lavender fields all along the drive here and shops within town that sell local lavender goods.

I would allow for 2-3 hours to explore the town and shops. You can also hike to the church at the top of the town, which I would allow an additional hour. If you plan on grabbing lunch or dinner after being at Gorges du Verdon, the make a whole day of it!

ROAM LUGGAGE DISCOUNT CODE: BRIGHTMOMENTCO ($50 off any order)

Why I Love Roam Luggage...

I was able to fully customize my Roam Luggage Carry On Suitcase (zippers and all), there was so many compartments to keep.me organized throughout the trip, and you can pack SO much into it while still fitting into the airplane overhead carry on compartments!

ROAM LUGGAGE DISCOUNT CODE: BRIGHTMOMENTCO ($50 off any order)

The videos below are like mini vlogs that go into more visual details! ⬇️

I truly hope you all enjoy this treasured recipe that has nestled its way into our hearts here in the ABM kitchen! ’till next time… xxL

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“"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

September in the South of France

Local recommendations and our 7-day trip itinerary!

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