9 Old Ruins to Explore in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Abbaye de Montmajour is a fortified Benedictine monastery that was founded between the 10th and 18th centuries. During the Middle Ages, it was a major pilgrimage site. Today, the abbey ruins are preserved by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux as a historical monument.

Saint-Victor Abbey is a former abbey situated in Marseille. It was founded during the late Roman period and named after the saint and martyr of the local soldier, Victor of Marseilles.

Located in the city of Aries, Arles Amphitheatre is one of city’s most important and impressive Roman structures. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arles Amphitheatre was built in 90 AD and during its prime time, it had a seating capacity of over over 20,000 spectators. It was built to conduct chariot races and bloddy hand to hand battles.

Castle Hill Located near the city center of Nice. It offers a delightful walkway with striking views over the Baie des Anges. The park owes its name to the castle of Nice which once shielded the city from multiple invaders from different kingdoms and duchies during the Middle Ages.

Fort Carre was built in the late 16th century by King Henry II of France. It was used to guard the nearby border with the County of Nice and to defend the town of Antibes. it is now classified as a historic monument.

The Castre Museum is a museum located in Cannes, France. It houses collections of primitive arts of the Himalayas-Tibet, the Arctic, pre-Columbian America, Mediterranean antiquities. Castre Museum also presents musical instruments around the world and the landscape paintings of the 19th century.

The Pont d'Avignon is one of the most famous historic bridges in France, forming part of a World Heritage Site. According to the legend, the bridge was built in the 12th century by a young shepherd from Ardèche - Bénezet. It was later washed away several times by flood waters and rebuilt until it was abandoned in the 17th century. Today, all that remains are four arches and a chapel.

Glanum was a prosperous and ancient town dating back from the 7th century BC. The site is renowned for its two well-preserved 1st century BC monuments, known as "Les Antiques"- a mausoleum, and a triumphal arch.

The Vallée des Merveilles is a mountain area and a valley loacted in southern France. It holds the largest quantity of open-air Bronze Age petroglyphs in Europe.