---
title: "A Week in Provence: Where to Stay and How to Plan It"
description: "How to spend a week in Provence from one villa: choosing between the Luberon, the Alpilles and Aix, and a seven-day plan prepared with your concierge."
image: https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/hubfs/hd-week-in-provence-bastide-garence-olive-alley.jpeg
---
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26 October 26 [Provence](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/tag/provence), [France](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/tag/france), [Where to stay](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/tag/where-to-stay)
# A Week in Provence: Where to Stay and How to Plan the Week Around It
How to spend a week in Provence from one villa: choosing between the Luberon, the Alpilles and Aix, and a seven-day plan prepared with your concierge.
France’s Provence region has more to offer than most can reasonably experience in a single week. To truly live at its pace and discover the region the way locals do, Le Collectionist recommends choosing one base and exploring slowly from there. Your concierge arranges everything before you arrive, from transfers and groceries to restaurant reservations, leaving you free to focus on enjoying the week ahead.
Le Collectionist’s Provence collection spans three distinct bases: the Luberon, the Alpilles, and the hills around Aix-en-Provence. Each has its own character, its own markets and villages, and more than enough to fill seven days at whatever pace suits you. Below, Le Collectionist guides you through what each base has to offer and how to make the most of a week from it.
**In this article**
- [Prepare the week before you arrive](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/week-in-provence#before-you-arrive)
- [Le Collectionist’s selection: choose your base](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/week-in-provence#choose-your-base)
- [Your seven days from one home](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/week-in-provence#seven-days)
- [Choose the season and keep the week flexible](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/week-in-provence#seasons)
- [FAQ](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/week-in-provence#faq)
## Prepare the week before you arrive
The most seamless weeks in Provence begin long before you arrive. Le Collectionist’s concierge team works with you in the weeks ahead of your arrival to make sure everything is in place. For those [arriving in Provence by air](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/planning-your-holidays-to-provence-by-air), Marseille Provence Airport is the most convenient entry point for most properties, with Avignon Caumont serving those based further north in the Luberon; your concierge can arrange a private transfer from either airport directly to your villa. A welcome grocery order stocked to your preferences and any dietary requirements passed to the chef, if one has been arranged, can all be confirmed in advance. Mobility needs, travelling with children and your preferred pace are all details to share early, so the week can be shaped around the needs of your group before you arrive.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/provence)
Not every service is included as standard in each rental. A private chef, a chauffeur or a wellness practitioner are arranged on request, with availability varying by season. Le Collectionist’s [essential services](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/our-essential-concierge-services) and [collections](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/our-collections) pages set out what is available across the portfolio. Your concierge will confirm each detail before your arrival. Read more about [the art of a well-prepared stay](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/the-art-of-the-invisible-or-how-our-luxury-concierges-make-your-vacation-unique) and the invisible work that happens beforehand.
| What to arrange | Arranged by | Availability |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Airport transfer | Concierge | On request |
| Welcome grocery order | Concierge | On request |
| Private chef | Concierge | On request |
| Restaurant reservations | Concierge | Included |
| Car rental | Concierge | On request |
| Wellness at home | Concierge | On request |
| Childcare / babysitter | Concierge | On request |
## Le Collectionist’s selection: choose your base
The location of your accommodation determines the angle from which you will experience Provence. Each of our three recommended bases offers its own unique experiences, seasonal markets, villages and landscapes. Le Collectionist has selected one home from each of the three corners of Provence, chosen for its setting, its service and its suitability for a week spent exploring.
### The Luberon
The Luberon offers the most quintessentially Provençal experience of the three bases. Hilltop villages, lavender fields and long market mornings define the rhythm of the week here, with Gordes, Bonnieux and Ménerbes all within easy reach. Discover the [full Luberon collection](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/luberon) to find the right home for your week.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/luberon)
#### Domaine des Constellations
Bonnieux, Luberon | Up to 19 guests | 8 bedrooms | Essential Collection
Heated pool · Sauna · Pétanque · Wooded grounds · On-site caretaker · Concierge before your stay
Nestled on the outskirts of Bonnieux, [Domaine des Constellations](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/domaine-des-constellations-bonnieux-and-surroundings) combines stone walls and Provençal shutters with a heated pool and generous wooded grounds. Apt market and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue are both within easy reach. A private chef, transfers and wellness can all be arranged on request through your concierge before arrival.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/domaine-des-constellations-bonnieux-and-surroundings)
### The Alpilles
The [Alpilles](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/le-collectionist-guide-to-the-alpilles), a regional nature park and the most compact of the three areas, offers a landscape of limestone ridges lined with olive groves and dotted with historic villages. Les Baux-de-Provence, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the Carrières des Lumières are all within easy reach. The Saturday market in Saint-Rémy is one of the liveliest in the region. Discover the [full Alpilles collection](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/alpilles) to find the right home for your week.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/alpilles)
#### Mas Cèlesto
Maussane-les-Alpilles, Alpilles | Up to 12 guests | 5 bedrooms | Signature Collection
Pool (heatable) · Sauna · Fitness room · Pétanque · Breakfast preparation · Housekeeping 7x per week · Concierge before and during your stay
Set without neighbours outside Maussane-les-Alpilles, [Mas Cèlesto](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/mas-celesto-maussane-les-alpilles-and-surroundings) offers privacy and quiet with easy access to Les Baux, the Carrières des Lumières and the Saturday market in Saint-Rémy. Your concierge is available before and during your stay to arrange a private chef, guided excursions and more.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/mas-celesto-maussane-les-alpilles-and-surroundings)
### Aix-en-Provence
The hills around [Aix-en-Provence](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/explore-things-to-do-in-aix-en-provence) combine the tranquility of the Provençal countryside with the cultural richness of one of the region’s most celebrated cities, its markets, galleries and restaurants all a short drive away and the vineyards of the Sainte-Victoire just beyond. Browse the [full Provence collection](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/provence) to explore all available homes.
#### Bastide Garence
Aix-en-Provence surroundings | Up to 10 guests | 5 bedrooms | Signature Collection
Pool (heatable on request) · Cinema room · Pétanque · Breakfast preparation · Housekeeping 7x per week · Concierge before and during your stay
Set among fields on the outskirts of Aix, [Bastide Garence](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/bastide-garence-aix-en-provence-surroundings) combines traditional bastide architecture with contemporary comfort. Aix and its markets are fifteen minutes by car. Your concierge can arrange transfers, a private chef, culinary tours and cooking classes throughout your stay.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/bastide-garence-aix-en-provence-surroundings)
## Your seven days from one home
### Day 1: Arrive and settle in
Upon your arrival, the villa is ready and the groceries are stocked to your preferences, arranged in advance with your Le Collectionist concierge. A private transfer from Marseille Provence Airport or Avignon can be arranged to coincide with your arrival. There will be plenty of adventure ahead, so allow the first afternoon to settle in and explore the grounds at your own pace. There is no better introduction to the week than the villa itself. Spend the evening on the terrace enjoying a leisurely dinner at home, with a private chef arranged in advance to take care of every detail.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/provence)
### Day 2: Market morning, cook at home
No morning in Provence is better spent than at a local market. Your Le Collectionist concierge will direct you to the nearest one: Lourmarin on Tuesdays for those based in the Luberon, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on Saturdays for the Alpilles, and Place Richelme in Aix-en-Provence for a daily market that runs year-round. Take your time wandering through the market stalls, filling your basket with whatever seasonal produce catches your eye. Back at the villa, the afternoon is yours to spend in the kitchen with the morning’s finds, one of the most rewarding [local experiences](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/our-guide-to-the-most-unique-things-to-do-in-provence) a week in Provence has to offer. For a more structured experience, your concierge can arrange a private chef or a cooking class at the villa, subject to confirmation in advance.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/provence)
### Day 3: Villages and art
Reserve day three to explore the iconic villages the region has to offer. Your concierge can suggest a route from your base, or arrange a guided cycle ride or vintage-car outing for a more structured way to take in the surrounding countryside. For a deeper look at the region’s cultural heritage, [Yes Provence](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/stepping-back-in-time-with-yes-provence) is a useful resource for what to seek out along the way. The landscapes and light of Provence inspired generations of artists, from Cézanne and Van Gogh to the Post-Impressionists who made the region their subject and, in some cases, their home. For art lovers, Carrières des Lumières is not to be missed. Set inside a former limestone quarry in Les Baux-de-Provence, it projects large-scale immersive exhibitions across the walls, floor and ceiling of the cave. The venue is currently presenting Picasso and Frida Kahlo; your concierge can assist with advance booking. Discover Le Collectionist’s guide to the [villages of Provence](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/best-villages-to-visit-in-provence).
### Day 4: The Calanques by boat
Stretching along the coast between Marseille and Cassis, the Calanques national park is one of the most distinctive landscapes France has to offer. Here, narrow coastal inlets meet sheer white cliffs and water that shifts from pale turquoise to deep blue, offering calm conditions for swimming and snorkelling from either the beach or a boat. The inlets are accessible by hiking trail or by sea. The trails are well-trodden and scenic in their own right, but arriving by boat puts the scale of the cliffs and the clarity of the water in full view in a way the paths cannot. Your concierge can advise on the drive from your villa, check the weather and arrange a private boat outing. If the timing or weather does not work in your favour, ask your concierge for a local alternative suited to your base.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/provence)
### Day 5: Vineyards, olive groves and local producers
Behind the rosé on every restaurant table and the olive oil in every market stall are the estates and groves that have shaped Provençal life for centuries. Day five is a natural moment to visit one of the local producers and see both up close. Most producers welcome visits, and tasting a wine or an olive oil on the estate where it was made gives the afternoon a context no restaurant can replicate. Your concierge can arrange a guided visit, or organise a tasting at the villa instead. If your visit falls during truffle season, your concierge can arrange an experience around it. Le Collectionist’s guide to the [vineyards of Provence](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/where-to-sip-the-best-wines-from-the-vineyards-of-provence) is a useful place to start.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-villas-rentals/provence)
### Day 6: A day at the villa
Day six is yours to do with as you please. In true Provençal fashion, take the day to do nothing other than soak up the sun and appreciate your surroundings. The villa, the pool and the afternoon light are reason enough to stay put. For families, Le Collectionist’s guide to [Provence with children](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/the-best-things-to-do-in-provence-with-kids) offers ideas for those who want a little more from the day without straying far. A massage, yoga session or family workshop can also be arranged through your concierge for those who prefer a little more structure.
[](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/luxury-rental/domaine-des-constellations-bonnieux-and-surroundings)
### Day 7: A slow close to the week
Round off the week with a slow morning soaking in the last hours at the villa before your transfer home. If time allows it, a final coffee in the nearest village is the simplest and most Provençal way to close the week. Those staying in the Alpilles may wish to spend part of the morning exploring the [gardens of the Alpilles](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/our-beautiful-home-gardens-in-alpilles-provence) before departing. Those who wish to venture to the Camargue, the protected wetland delta south of Arles famous for its wild horses, flamingos and salt flats, will find it worth a full day earlier in the week in place of the villa day. Your Le Collectionist concierge can arrange a private transfer back to Marseille Provence Airport or Avignon when you are ready to depart.
## Choose the season and keep the week flexible
Provence has something to offer in every season, though what that looks like varies considerably. Spring is mild and uncrowded, with the markets at their most varied. Lavender appears from late June and peaks through July. Summer is warm and well suited to the coast, though early mornings and shaded afternoons make more sense than midday plans. Autumn brings the harvests and a quieter pace, with truffle season arriving in November. Whatever the time of year, build flexibility into the week. Sailing depends on conditions, flowers on the calendar, and certain experiences on advance notice. Your Le Collectionist concierge can help shape the itinerary around what is seasonably available. For a shorter visit, [a three-day itinerary](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/the-best-itinerary-to-visit-provence-in-3-days) is also available. Learn more about [concierge support](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/our-luxury-concierge-service).
## FAQ
Is one week enough for Provence?
A week is enough to know one part of Provence well. Trying to cover the whole region in seven days means covering none of it properly. Choose one base, explore from there, and you will leave with a genuine sense of the place rather than a list of stops. Le Collectionist also offers [a three-day itinerary](https://magazine.lecollectionist.com/en/the-best-itinerary-to-visit-provence-in-3-days) for shorter visits.
Which base suits this itinerary?
All three bases work well with this itinerary. The Luberon suits those who want space and quiet. The Alpilles are the most compact and easy to navigate. Aix-en-Provence combines the countryside with a vibrant city within easy reach. Your Le Collectionist travel advisor can help you choose which base works best for your party.
Do you need a rental car?
Yes, for most of this itinerary a car is the most practical way to get around. Public transport between villages is limited, and having your own vehicle gives you the flexibility the week depends on. Your [concierge](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/our-luxury-concierge-service) can advise on collection points near your villa.
What can your concierge arrange before arrival?
Grocery stocking, private transfers, restaurant reservations, cooking classes, vineyard visits, boat outings and in-villa services such as massage or a private chef can all be confirmed before you arrive. The earlier you share your plans, the more your [concierge](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/our-luxury-concierge-service) can prepare.
How does the programme change with the season?
Lavender peaks in late June and July, truffle experiences are only available from November, and the Calanques are best visited outside the peak summer heat. Some restaurants and experiences also operate seasonally. Your Le Collectionist concierge can confirm what is available during your specific dates.
The right week in Provence starts with the right home. Share your dates, party size and the pace you have in mind, and Le Collectionist will take care of the rest, from selecting the villa to preparing everything before you arrive. [Plan your week](https://www.lecollectionist.com/en/custom-holidays) with Le Collectionist.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5524673/855310bd-0833-46cb-a149-44fd36a7c949)
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