Travel Joural

Provence or the Riviera? Here’s How to Tell Them Apart

There are two very different Souths. Provence, calm and rural, where life follows the rhythm of the sun and the scent of rosemary. And the French Riviera, glittering by the sea, full of colour, art, and light.

November 11, 2025

Most people imagine the South of France as one single region: sunshine, lavender, sea views, and rosé on a terrace. But in reality, it’s divided into two very distinct areas: Provence and the French Riviera (also known as the Côte d’Azur).

They sit side by side, but they couldn’t feel more different. Provence is about wide open landscapes, quiet villages, and stone farmhouses surrounded by olive trees. The Riviera is about the coast, the sea breeze, and elegant towns filled with art and light.

©Joanna Maclennan

Geography

Provence

Provence is the inland heart of southern France. It stretches from Avignon to Aix-en-Provence, and down toward the Alpilles and the Luberon. The landscape is rural, fields of lavender, vineyards, and cypress trees lining winding roads. Life here revolves around small villages, markets, and nature.

The French Riviera

The Riviera begins where the hills of Provence meet the sea, stretching from Saint-Raphael to Menton, near the Italian border. It’s the Mediterranean coastline, dotted with famous towns like Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and Monaco. The atmosphere is coastal and cosmopolitan, with fishing ports, palm trees, and pastel buildings along the water.

©Mas De Chabran

©Edge Retreats

Architecture

Provence

Architecture in Provence feels timeless. Houses are built from pale stone with terracotta roofs and pastel shutters, often grouped around a shady courtyard. You’ll find traditional mas (farmhouses), small chapels, and hilltop villages made to keep cool in summer. Everything blends into the landscape, it’s simple, earthy, and elegant without trying to be.

The French Riviera

The Riviera’s architecture is more eclectic and expressive. Along the coast you’ll find Belle Époque villas, Art Deco façades, and Italian-inspired mansions overlooking the sea. Townhouses are often painted in warm hues, ochre, coral, soft pink and framed by palm trees. Buildings are taller, brighter, and built to enjoy the view.

©Provence Poiriers by Luke White

©Villa Ephrussi

Gardens

Provence

Gardens in Provence reflect the region’s dry, sunny climate. They’re designed around stone terraces, gravel paths, and fragrant plants that thrive in heat, lavender, rosemary, thyme, olive trees, and cypress. Water is precious, so fountains and basins are small and discreet. Everything feels calm and connected to nature.
Some of the most beautiful examples include La Louve in Bonnieux and Château de Brantes, both showing how simplicity and structure create harmony with the landscape.

The French Riviera

The Riviera’s gardens are a mix of Mediterranean plants and exotic species brought from abroad. Here you’ll find palm trees, citrus, bougainvillaea, and bold architectural features like statues, pergolas, and fountains. They’re often designed for dramatic effect, with terraces cascading down to sea views.
On our Riviera tour, we visit gardens like Les Colombières in Menton, designed by artist Ferdinand Bac, and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, which feels like an open-air museum.

©Vincent van Gogh – Estrine Museum

©Grace Kelly – Britannica

People & History

Provence

Provence has long been a refuge for artists and writers looking for peace and inspiration. Van Gogh painted some of his greatest works in Arles and Saint-Rémy, Cézanne lived and worked in Aix-en-Provence, and writers like Albert Camus and Peter Mayle captured the spirit of life here. It’s a place that draws people who love authenticity and calm, where inspiration comes from the landscape itself.

The French Riviera

The Riviera has always attracted a more glamorous crowd, artists, aristocrats, and film stars drawn to its light and elegance. Matisse, Picasso, and Cocteau all worked here; later came F. Scott Fitzgerald, Grace Kelly, and Brigitte Bardot, who turned the coast into a symbol of French style. It’s still that blend of art and glamour that defines the Riviera today.

Which One Will You Love More?

Provence

If you love countryside landscapes, gardens filled with lavender, local markets, and a slower pace of life, Provence will feel like home. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to experience the soul of the South of France.

The French Riviera

If you’re drawn to art, sea views, elegant villas, and that timeless mix of French charm and glamour, you’ll love the Riviera. It’s vibrant, creative, and full of sunshine, the perfect place to see how history, beauty, and modern life blend together.

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