Best Villages in Provence to Buy a Holiday Home
The Best Villages to Buy a Holiday Home in Provence
A new ranking has identified the best villages in Provence to buy a holiday home, taking into account not only cultural appeal and village life but also practical factors like internet speeds and access to TGV connections.
Where to buy a holiday home in Provence
According to a ranking compiled by Le Figaro, the top five villages are:
- Saint-Étienne-du-Grès (Alpilles)
- Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt (Luberon)
- Maillane (Alpilles)
- Plan-d’Aups-Sainte-Baume (Var)
- Rians (Var)
Saint-Étienne-du-Grès: An Authentic Provençal Gem
Nestled between Avignon and Arles, Saint-Étienne-du-Grès offers the charm of the Alpilles region, with its limestone landscapes, vineyards, and olive groves. Unlike the more tourist-heavy destinations of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux-de-Provence, and Eygalières, this village remains peaceful and authentic.
“It’s a traditional and charming village,” says Lissie Templeton, the Alpilles expert at Home Hunts. “It has a great selection of small shops, local artisans, traditional restaurants, a wine shop, and a fishmonger. People come here for a quieter, more genuine and peaceful way of life.”
A long-time resident, whose family has had a second home there since the 1960s, describes it as “one of the most authentic villages in Provence” with a lively atmosphere. The village hosts regular events, including the Festival of Saint-Eloi in August, where locals dress in traditional Provençal attire.
Maillane: Peaceful and Well-Connected
Ranked third, Maillane is just 8 km north of Saint-Étienne-du-Grès and is noted for its tranquility and safety. Its proximity to major transport links—Avignon’s TGV station is less than 15 km away—makes it highly accessible. With frequent train connections to Paris, this small village benefits from its location at the crossroads of the Marseille and Montpellier railway lines.
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt: The Underrated Luberon Beauty
Previously ranked first, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt has slipped to second place this year. Le Figaro describes it as “one of the most underrated villages in the Luberon,” offering all the charm of better-known villages like Rustrel and Roussillon but without the heavy tourist crowds.
“The village is just as beautiful but receives less attention,” says Bettina Matias, director of the Apt-Luberon Tourist Office. It is also more affordable, as it lies 20 minutes farther from the nearest TGV station than the so-called “golden triangle” villages.
How the Villages Were Ranked
The ranking evaluated 90 municipalities (with populations between 800 and 5,000 residents) based on 28 key criteria, including:
- Aesthetic appeal (as featured in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France)
- Tourist appeal and facilities
- Internet speed and fiber optic availability
- Access to healthcare and pharmacies
- Sports and leisure amenities
- Proximity to Paris via TGV
- Local commerce and village life
- Availability of banking services
- Cultural richness
- Air quality and pollution levels
- Safety and crime rates
- Median household income
- Property investment potential
The analysis also incorporated multiple village rankings, including:
- Les Plus Beaux Villages de France en Provence
- Villages de Caractère du Var
- Les Villages Incontournables (Luberon.fr)
- Les 43 Villages Typiques de la Provence Verte (Provence Verte et Verdon Tourisme)
- Les Villages Touristiques du Gard Rhodanien (Office de Tourisme Provence Occitane)
For those of you who may be considering to buy a holiday home in Provence, these villages offer a blend of charm, authenticity, and investment potential, making them some of the most attractive options in the region.
Home Hunts are buyer’s agents, we are here to help you to buy a holiday home in Provence or anywhere in France. If you would like to speak to one of the team to discuss your needs or just to have a chat about the market, you can call us on +33 970 44 66 43 or send us a mail to info@home-hunts.com. If you just want to browse through thousands of beautiful French homes, visit our website at www.home-hunts.com keep up to date with our latest news at www.home-hunts.net or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
