Set between the Rhône and the sweeping wetlands of the Camargue, Arles has long been a bastion of creativity and stronghold of culture. Within easy reach of Nîmes, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, few places in Provence offer such density of history combined with so singular a setting.

Welcome to Paris, a true antique buyer’s heaven. From the design specialists at the St Ouen flea market, to the fashionable St Germain neighborhood, street markets and auction houses, there is truly enough to keep you busy and happy for days on end.

Welcome to Provence with its spectacular light, its landscapes and architecture and its very own brand of slow living. As well as rosé wine, olive groves and lavender fields, it is also a wonderful spot for antique buying. Weekly fairs, whole towns given over to antiques and tiny village brocantes… this is the place to combine shopping with la Dolce Vita.

In the iconic words spoken by Audrey Hepburn, “Paris is always a good idea.” But for those who don’t want to stay in the city the whole time, it’s worth setting aside a day to explore the rich countryside and smaller villages within a couple hours from the capital.

Set on the Bay of Biscay on France’s western edge, La Rochelle juts majestically into the Atlantic. Capital of the Charente-Maritime, it is both a historic city and a working port, shaped by global trade since the Middle Ages. Today, three harbors define its rhythm, earning it a reputation as a true porte océane.