VERDON & SAINTE-BAUME
Set amongst the majestic mountains of the Verdon and the deep forests of Sainte-Baume, this region reveals a more hidden side of Provence, where nature shapes the landscape just as much as architecture does.
Here, charming villages are dotted amongst vineyards, olive groves and limestone hills, offering a rare balance between heritage, the good life and wide open spaces.
From cobbled streets to family-owned country houses, from restored village homes to secluded estates, each place tells a unique story of life in Provence. Markets bring the shaded squares to life, footpaths invite you to get away from it all, and charming establishments celebrate local craftsmanship in a well-preserved setting.
The Provence Verte is home to superb traditional villages, amongst which Cotignac, Barjols and Correns stand out for their unique character.
Each has its own way of working with water and stone: in Barjols, fountains, wash houses and canals form a network that has shaped the layout of the built environment – a legacy of its tanning past, where the large industrial buildings situated along the water’s edge now offer ideal potential for regeneration.
In Correns, France’s first organic village, the narrow alleyways and dense fabric of the old town centre interplay with the topography, the cool air and the light.
Cotignac, nestled against its tuff cliff face dotted with cave dwellings, completes this trio, where architecture works in harmony with natural constraints rather than seeking to overcome them.
Just a few kilometres from the Gorges du Verdon, the turquoise lakes and the Sainte-Baume massif, this region combines a certain art of living with authenticity. An inspiring destination where life is taken at a leisurely pace, where the built environment blends seamlessly with the landscape, and where every property is set in an exceptional setting.
