The Top 10 Things to Do in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Fournel was the biggest deposit of silver lead in the Alps and at the Fourney Silver Mines (Les mines d’argent du Fournel) you can find out all about mining and also get to see some of the mine itself. Fournel was mined from the 10th century onwards so here you can learn about mining in the middle ages and then see how it changed with the industrial revolution. There are more than 20 km of tunnels here.

During your tour of a small part of the mine, the guide will tell you stories about the daily lives and work of the miners who once toiled here. It's not all history though. The site also has an Escape Game for families or groups that takes place inside the mine, encouraging you to use your ingenuity and knowledge to work out the answers.

The Observatory of Saint Véran (L’observatoire de Saint-Véran) is on the Pic de Château Renard at almost 3,000 metres above sea level. It is the ideal place to look at the night skies. You can walk there in the summer and use skis or snowshoes in the winter. This hideaway is as close as possible to the stars in the highest village in France and is highly prized by astrophotographers but also by amateur astronomers who come to learn from the local scientists.

Surrounded by other friendly astronomers you can spend the night here observing the sky, from sun set through the totally dark night with its clusters of stars until the first rays of sun come up the next morning. In short, perfection if you love astronomy.

The lavender fields in Provence are among its biggest attractions. Surround yourself with the irresistible perfume of Provence by wandering through the Valensole lavender fields. On this plateau the purple gold loved by the bees extends as far as the eye can see, for you to enjoy walking through but also for creating beautiful photographs.

The lavender begins flowering in mid-June and is harvested in mid-July. So this is the time to come if you want to see the biggest variety of shades of blue and purple. The annual Valensole Lavender Festival (la Fête de la Lavande de Valensole) is held on the third Sunday in July. A great opportunity to explore the local area and find out more about how the emblem of Provençal Drome is grown.

St Eutrope hill (La colline Saint-Eutrope à Orange) is 105 metres high making it the ideal place to see Orange laid out below and especially the Roman theatre. This hill is visible across the whole plain, overlooking not just the city but giving you a breathtaking view of the Rhone and the nearby countryside as far as Mont Ventoux. There are also some remains of old Orange, including the ruins of the Castle of the Princes of Nassau which was once one of the most beautiful in Europe.

Climbing St Eutrope hill gives you a chance to get a bit of fresh air exercising with friends, family or your partner and to learn more about the chequered past of Orange. Once you're at the top there's a pretty garden, a playground, a picnic area and an information table.

The Vasarely Foundation (La fondation Vasarely) in Aix-en-Provence, is a museum designed by and dedicated to the work of this Franco-Hungarian artist who is known for Op Art. Inside this unique lumino-kinetic building there are both permanent and temporary exhibitions to help you discover the fascinating world of this visual artist.

There are different types of guided visits available from looking at just one work, to paper chases for grown up and workshops for those who want to try their hand. In summer there are activities for children. Those 3 years and over can try making their own creation, which they'll keep as a souvenir. Even after you've finished your visit to this extraordinary place the optical illusions of works like Vega, Pyr-Dac and Folkokta will stay with you.

The Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau (Le parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau) is home to some of the many species of birds found in the Camargue. This reserve also has a centre for looking after the birds as well as having lots of nature walks to explore. In summer or winter, there are lots of different birds to see. Some stay all year round, others just pass through on migration or stay for a single season before leaving again.

Warblers, bearded reedlings and glossy ibis are some examples of year-round residents, while storks, spoonbills, flamingos and herons are more likely to be seen in spring and summer. In the autumn and winter you can see red-crested pochards, curlew and snipe from the many different observation points. These are just a few of the large number of species living natural lives in this amazing space that you can only visit on foot.

Bonnieux cedar forest (la forêt de Cèdres de Bonnieux) was planted in 1861 using seeds from the Central Atlas mountains in Algeria. It is a majestic place to walk and enjoy nature. 700 metres above sea level, the giants of the Luberon make up a forest that extends over 10 km. There are many paths for walkers and cyclists to explore, with spectacular views that change with the seasons.

There are also several information panels that tell you about the plants characteristic of the Luberon region. With or without your dog this is a truly beautiful place, rich in plant and wildlife and, of course, wonderfully pure air.

The Verdon canyon has via ferratas you can really enjoy if you love thrills but aren't an experienced climber. If you're a thrill seeker what could be better for the adrenaline than a little abseiling, zip lining or climbing on fixed ropes in an area that is as beautiful as it is wild.

Whether you want half a day or much longer, you'll be able to push yourself to the limits over the Trou de Renard, the Mainmorte canyon or the Cataractes crossing under the watchful eye of your experienced guide.

La Colmiane zip-line is a giant zip-line that flies over the resort and its lakes reaching speeds up to 130 km/h in complete safety. In summer or winter, anyone over 8 years old can enjoy the thrill, alone or in pairs.

These two zip-lines are currently one of the longest in France and Europe. The first line is 1,879 metres long with a slope that averages 13.5%. The second is much shorter (784 metres) and the slope is much gentler (only 6.5%). Whichever one you chose, look forward to 2 minutes of thrills as you descend. Booking essential.

The Rampins cave (la grotte de Rampins) in Méounes les Montrieux is the place to be if you, or your children of 10 years or older, have ever wanted to try speleology. In the company of an experienced guide you can descend underground into this fascinating horizontal fossil cave. It's not just a walk in the park, some parts of this visit are just difficult enough to make you appreciate what descending into the earth could be like.

Book your trip at the Tourist Office. Remember to wear suitable, warm clothing as well as strong shoes or boots that you don't mind getting dirty. And don't forget to bring something to change into at the end of the trip that will take about 3 1/2 hours.