21 days in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Normandy & Paris Itinerary

You'll feel the sun getting bigger and brighter the closer you get to Provence on the Mediterranean. When you glimpse your first red-tiled roof, you'll know you've entered the south, filled with vineyards, cypresses, and the crisp, inviting scent of lavender and rosemary. Since before the Roman Empire, Provence has been a vibrant community, partially due to its intensely bright sunlight--bathing the people in its radiance, as well as soaking sunflowers, olive groves, vineyards, and purple lavender fields with its warm rays. Breezy, star-filled nights set the mood for a romantic vacation highlighted by a moonlit stroll, a dramatic performance at the theater, or dynamic nightlife decked out in the height of fashion at the trendiest nightclubs.

Since Provence is a historical province, some people include the French Riviera as part of the region, because it shares the cultural and linguistic identity unique to Provence, while others view the area north of Cannes as separate from the region.

Joining the Mediterranean Sea, and flanked by the Rhône River and the Alps, this region captivated master artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, and Cézanne. If included on an itinerary, it will do the same for you, with its tranquil gardens, mysterious caves, rustic vistas, Roman ruins, and enchanting old harbors. You can enjoy the finer things in life here, like searching for that special something at the area boutiques, visiting the workshop of a local artisan for authentic regional arts and crafts, and learning historical tidbits from a resident's perspective by antiquing in the country's best stores. Like its native Provençal inhabitants, you too can enjoy world-class people watching. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a major celeb or two followed by the relentless paparazzi, all while sitting at an outdoor café overlooking any one of the magnificent Mediterranean marinas, one of the most quintessential things to do in the region.

Discover the Alabaster Coast along the steep Normandy coast with spectacular chalk cliffs, a number of scenic villages, posh seaside holiday resorts, the Channel Islands, and the English Channel. The Channel Islands, although British Crown Dependencies, are considered culturally and historically a part of Normandy. Upper Normandy is predominantly more industrial, while Lower Normandy is predominantly agricultural. The shoreline is famed for the D-Day invasion by Allied troops on June 6, 1944, where you'll find museums and monuments with historical significance to World War II. As you explore the old towns, note the Norman architecture that follows a pattern similar to the English Romanesque architecture following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Typical Norman villages have many half-timbered houses in their old towns and historical vessels in their old ports. One of the most popular things to do along the Alabaster Coast is sampling its local products: The region produces hard apple ciders, Calvados apple brandies, and famous Bénédictine liqueur instead of wine due to its abundance of apple orchards.