Try Provence in the Early Summertime

A tourist expert recommended a trip to this beautiful region of France in May or early June, to avoid the crowds.

One of the local tourist agencies promoting cheap holidays in Provence has been busy this week, urging holidaymakers from the UK to chase down the best weather outside the peak season and visit in late spring/early summer.

The Mougins Tourism Office said that although visiting in July and August is great for a sunshine holiday in this popular French region, taking your Provence holidays a little earlier will make for a more relaxing break, avoiding all of the bustling crowds in the cities and the heavily-booked country retreats. Tourist office spokeswoman Nina Nagel said: “I always recommend June, which is quite nice, or any time from May to June. All year round it’s nice, but if you want to enjoy cheap holidays in Provence with sun you have to avoid winter.”

Ms Nagel went on to list some of the many varied attractions and activities that tourists can enjoy on their Provence holidays, including cycling tours of the beautiful woodlands of Mougins – a protected wildlife area – climbing and canyoning in the rocky Provençal countryside or watersports and simply lazing on the beach in Cannes or in the beautiful mediaeval village of Mougins itself, as both destinations can be found in the Alpes-Maritimes area, giving visitors easy access to the rest of the renowned French Riviera. Mougins boasts a new Museum of Classical Art, which opened in May.

If you’re considering a trip to Provence, look for cheap flights to Nice, Marseille, Avignon or Toulon. Once you’re there, car hire is highly recommended to ensure you can experience the best in gorgeous Provençal scenery and its collection of fascinating villages and restaurants, off the beaten track.