5 breathtaking villages in the south of France you should visit at least once

These places are like Disney fairy tales: ivy-covered old townhouses, wild vineyards, lavender fields, flower-dotted hills and cozy picturesque streets.

These villages have long been competing with each other for beauty, and it's impossible to choose asingle good spot from this list. OBOZREVATEL tells you about the best villages in the south of France every tourist should visit at least once.

1. Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Getting there: You can get here by car or bus from Nice (Gare Routière) toward Vence for 3-4 euros. The journey will take about an hour.

This medieval town, 20 kilometers from Nice, has long been transformed into an art gallery on the Côte d'Azur. Walking along the ancient streets of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you can see facades dating back to the 16th-18th centuries, flowering gardens, fountains, and ancient chapels.

Moreover, you can buy works by Picasso, Matisse and other famous 20th century painters and sculptors who connected their lives with Nice and this cozy corner of the French Riviera.

2. Gassin

Getting there: You can get to Gassin by bus or car. You can also rent a bike. For example, from Golfe-Juan, which is located near Cannes, you can travel by bike in 4 hours.

The first settlement appeared here in the Neolithic period, and later it was occupied by the Saracens. Gassin is located at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level on the Var rock. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from the highest points here.

The ancient buildings, streets where people walked many centuries ago, the azure sea and pleasant climate will help you feel like a character of a fairy tale.

3. Mougins

Getting there: The most convenient way to get to Mougins is by train, bus (140-200 dollars) or by car. The journey will take 2 hours. By car, you can get there in 40 minutes.

Mougins is located not far from Cannes, and the city looks like a postcard come to life. Its beauty lies in the ivy-covered alleys, rich vegetation at every turn, and fountains.

At different times, Pablo Picasso and Christian Dior chose this place as their home.

4. Saignon

Getting there: You can get to Saignon from Nice by train, bus or car. The distance of 232 km can be covered most quickly by car.

The village of Saignon is located in the Luberon mountain range. And it has all those famous Provence charming details that make people from all over the world want to come here: small stone houses, ivy-covered gazebos and, of course, endless fields of lavender.

In addition, the Asylum and Chapel of Saint-Rémy, built in 1032, as well as Église Notre-Dame-de-Pitié de Puteaux of the 11th-12th centuries, have been preserved here.

5. Lourmarin

Getting there: You can take the Avignon-Cavaillon-Pertuis bus. If you go from Avignon, the journey will take about an hour and a half.

Lourmarin is also a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France Association (The Most Beautiful Villages in France). Vineyards, old buildings, narrow streets and olive groves give it an incredible charm.

Here you can admire the snowy mountain tops and street cafes, as well as shops of local craftsmen. Albert Camus and Henri Bosco loved Lourmarin.