Winning tip: Carrières de Lumières, Les Baux

The huge underground quarries close to Les Baux-de-Provence, left behind after the bauxite mines were exhausted, have been converted to host a spectacular audio-visual show. We saw paintings by Van Gogh and Gauguin displayed on the floors, ceiling and towering walls. It was breathtaking – and a cool escape from the searing Provençal summer heat. Combine the visit with a tour of the 11th-century castle perched above the village.
tinyurl.com/lesbaux, entry €8.50
daven48

Mines de Bruoux, Gargas
Ochre has been mined here since 1848, for its red and yellow pigments. Today, guided tours are available through some of the 40km of spectacular vaulted tunnels that have been hewn by hand out of the earth. The tour guide was interesting, and the tunnels make a great sanctuary from the heat of the Provençal sun. The cliff marking the entrance to the mines looks more like a scene from Petra than Provence.
+33 4 9006 2259, minesdebruoux.fr, entry €7.50
mlkiwi

Fondation Vasarely, Aix-en-Provence
This cool, airy building concertinas across a hillside outside Aix; the black and white facade hints at the kaleidoscope of delight within. The museum houses towering panels of brightly coloured optical art: are those cubes really flat? It seems impossible that they aren't pouring out of the walls. Our children were captivated and we were too. For a couple of hours we escaped the heat and revelled in colour and shape and illusion.
+33 4 4220 0109, fondationvasarely.fr, adult €9, child €4
helenchandos

The Camargue
This area of marshland on Provence's Mediterranean coast is a wild corner of France. Teeming with wildlife, it boasts pink flamingoes, Camargue bulls and also native rare-breed grey horses, ridden by troupes of traditionally dressed gardiens (much like cowboys). Book in to the Mas de la Fouque hotel for a stay in stylish surroundings, in the heart of the wetlands.
Saintes Maries de la Mer, +33 4 9097 8102, masdelafouque.com, doubles from €340
missmarple0512

Aigues-Mortes
One of my most magical moments was wandering into the medieval citadel of Aigues-Mortes during the Bastille Day celebrations. The walled town dates to the crusades, and parts even further back. With its six-metre-thick walls and huge ramparts, it is magnificent enough, but on Bastille weekend, the town comes to life with a festival of arts, dance, period jesters and craftsmen, fire-eaters, historic re-enactments and incredible fireworks. Aigues Mortes translates as "dead waters" – this place is anything but.
gledders

Grand canyon du Verdon
The gorge of Verdon is situated deep in the Provençal countryside. A small road twists around its steep sides, offering fantastic views from above the crystal blue water. If you are renting a car while in the region, this is a drive worth taking. The more adventurous can rent kayaks and meander their way up from the immense lake at the bottom. For those who want to keep their feet on dry land, there's hiking or rock climbing. If none of the above appeals, there is a lovely manmade beach, and many areas to enjoy both a picnic and the fantastic view.
meggeorge19

Forcalquier market
Every Monday, from around 9am to 2pm, there is an amazing regional market in this adorable village. There's mouthwatering produce, of course, but also a fantastic variety of other things, like beautiful Provençal tablecloths, homemade soaps and artisan crafts. There are often secondhand clothes bargains to be found (tables of lovely stuff to dig through for €1!) and usually some extremely funny demonstration of the latest cooking implement, such as a frites-cutter. It's the type of place you can pass the whole morning – and fill your shopping baskets.
forcalquier.com
bhimji

L'Art Glacier, Ansouis
L'Art Glacier is an open-air ice-cream parlour at the foot of the Luberon Hills. It has fantastic views and an unusual selection of ice-creams and sorbets – more than 60 flavours, including lavender, sage, gingerbread and lily of the valley. The ambience is warm, friendly and welcoming.
+33 4 9077 7572, artglacier.com
eileendean

Lourmarin to Saignon
The road from Lourmarin to Saignon, up and through the Luberon is a beautiful drive through lavender fields with bories, the typical stone shepherd huts. Saignon is a quaint village with a view of the Mont Ventoux and a beautiful little square with a cafe.
judwells

Roman amphitheatre, Arles
This two-tiered amphitheatre was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. It's a spectacular building – I remember visiting as a child and being in awe of the fact that gladiators would have fought where I stood. It's still used for plays and concerts now.
+33 8 9170 0370, arenes-arles.com
freamon

Hôtel D'Arlatan, Arles
Set in the old part of Arles, this family-run hotel is a real gem, complete with swimming pool, generous rooms, and a really excellent buffet breakfast. The amphitheatre and all the sites of the old town are within easy walking distance. The friendly staff will recommend local restaurants (the hotel has no restaurant) and give you other useful information on the area.
26 rue du Sauvage, +33 4 9093 5666, hotel-arlatan.fr, doubles from €90
hindse

La Bastide Collombe, Brue-Auriac
This delightful little B&B (only three rooms) has superb decor – we stayed for an extended weekend in the Suite Framboise, with breakfast on the sunny private terrace. The hosts are really lovely and can tell you a thing or two about antiques and collectables, which was very handy as we came down to Provence to look at antiques for our house back in England.
Chemin de Valcros, +33 9 6306 3046, chambre-hote-provence-collombe.com, B&B doubles from €95
julzzz

L'Isle sur la Sorgue
This small town is a short drive from Avignon on the edge of the Luberon natural park. There are many open-air restaurants alongside the river, which winds its way through the town. Wander around the markets and along the river to the water wheel, and get an ice cream at Compagnie des Glaces which has more than 50 flavours, including lavender – very Provence!
Quai Jean Jaurès, compagnie-des-glaces.fr
rachael2012

Le Colorado Provençal de Rustrel, Vaucluse
A former ochre mine, this site is now a rain and wind sculpted area of red and yellow earth, hidden in a forested valley in Provence. The walk through the forest opens up into a colourful martian-like landscape, with beautiful cliffs and pinnacles of ochre. The longest route takes about an hour to walk, but you can find shorter routes too.
+33 4 9004 9607, colorado-provencal.com
mlkiwi