Gîtes and Villas in the South of France

The South of France offers everything that draws British holidaymakers across the Channel: proper sunshine, markets heaving with fruit and cheese, and a coastline that shifts from working ports to rocky inlets in the space of a few kilometres. This is Provence and the edge of the Mediterranean, where lavender fields meet Roman ruins and the light really does look different.

The self-catering gîtes on this page put you within reach of Marseille's old harbour, the limestone massifs inland, and vineyards that have been making wine since before the Romans turned up. It's a large area — you could spend a week exploring one corner or use a rental as a base for day trips that take in coastline, countryside, and centuries-old villages built on hilltops for reasons that become obvious when you see the views.

About the South of France

The South of France sprawls across Provence, taking in the country's second city and a hinterland that ranges from flat scrubland to the kind of dramatic river gorges that appear on postcards. Marseille itself is a working Mediterranean port with North African influences in its markets and a reputation that has improved considerably over the past decade. Beyond the city, the countryside is punctuated by medieval abbeys, vineyards, and towns built in honey-coloured stone.

This is not the manicured Riviera of Monaco and Cannes. It's rougher, cheaper, and more varied — you'll find industrial estates next to Roman aqueducts, and some of the beaches are pebbly rather than sandy. But that's part of the appeal for self-caterers who want to cook with produce from local markets rather than eat every meal out. The inland areas around the Luberon and Alpilles offer walking routes, hilltop villages, and summer temperatures that can top 35°C, while the coast provides relief when the heat becomes too much.

The area attracts families who want space and sunshine, couples exploring wine country, and anyone who appreciates the fact that Provence has been a holiday destination since the Romans built their villas here two thousand years ago. The rentals near the coast fill quickly in July and August; those inland offer better value and cooler evenings, even in high summer.

Things to do in the South of France

Notre-Dame de la Garde is the landmark that dominates Marseille — a 19th-century basilica on a limestone outcrop with views across the city and out to sea. The interior is worth the climb, covered in mosaics and ex-votos left by sailors. For something more contemporary, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations sits on the waterfront and covers the history and cultures of the Med through well-curated exhibitions. Nearby, Cathédrale La Major is a vast striped cathedral that blends Byzantine and Romanesque styles and feels oddly undervisited given its scale.

Out of the city, the Carrières des Lumières projects classical art onto the walls of a former quarry — it's a multimedia show in a space that amplifies sound and colour in ways a gallery can't match. Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is a 12th-century Cistercian abbey surrounded by lavender fields that bloom in late June and July, producing the images everyone associates with Provence. Château La Coste combines a working vineyard with contemporary sculpture and architecture — you can walk the trails between installations and stop for a tasting. Families with children should consider Zoo Barben, which keeps elephants, big cats, and primates in a wooded park setting. Palais Longchamp, a grand 19th-century monument in Marseille, anchors a park with fountains and museums, useful on a hot afternoon.

Food & drink

Provence produces wine across dozens of appellations, from the rosés of Côtes de Provence to the reds of Bandol and Châteauneuf-du-Pape further north. Château La Coste offers tastings alongside art installations, making it more than just a standard cellar visit. The markets are where you'll find the region's real food culture: tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, garlic, olives, and herbs sold by the people who grew them. Marseille's fish market near the Vieux-Port operates most mornings and supplies the restaurants that make bouillabaisse, the city's signature seafood stew.

Cheese here means goat and sheep rather than cow — look for Banon, wrapped in chestnut leaves, or Brousse, a fresh cheese eaten with honey or used in sweet tarts. The hypermarkets stock the basics, but it's worth seeking out the weekly markets in smaller towns for fruit, vegetables, and prepared foods like tapenade and anchoïade. Wine, olive oil, and lavender honey make practical souvenirs that actually fit in the car on the way home.

Getting there

Marseille Provence airport is 19 kilometres from the centre of the region and handles direct flights from most UK airports, with journey times under two hours from London. If you're driving down, reckon on around ten hours from Calais to Marseille, which makes it feasible as a long day or an overnight stop en route. Paris Gare du Nord, the Eurostar terminal, is 631 kilometres away — you can take the TGV south from Paris Gare de Lyon, which cuts the total journey time to around six and a half hours from London. The Caen/Ouistreham ferry from Portsmouth is 754 kilometres from the South of France, putting it at the upper limit for a drive-down holiday unless you're treating the journey as part of the trip.