7 Day Provence Photography Workshop
Barcelona Photography Tours is delighted to share and experience the beauty of Provence in France on our 7 Day Photography Workshop. One of Europe’s premiere destinations for photographers to explore with their camera, this photo vacation has now been updated to include the wonderfully photogenic town of Arles, coinciding with the famous Arles Photography Festival. Our time together on this small group photo tour includes accommodation, local transportation and instruction by a professional photographer with decades of experience in leading international photography trips. Our Provence Photography Workshop will run from July 10-16, 2026, and can be run back-to-back with our new Wild horses of Camargue photography workshop.
Beginning in Nice, the jewel of the French Riviera, our adventure continues through quaint coastal towns, mountainous villages and stunning landscapes, before ending in Marseille. We will stay in hand-picked accommodation along our route, and enjoy some of France’s best cuisine. Set amongst the beautiful and inspiring scenery, you will receive hands-on tuition in perfecting your photography skills, learning when to implement different camera settings, and discovering your inner creativity. This region of France truly is a dream destination for any photographer, and is testament to how such prominent artists found inspiration to create their own masterpieces. 
Our first 2 nights will be spent in Nice, where we will explore Nice’s historic quarter and all it has to offer. Stunning art galleries and exhibits, the contrast of beautiful architecture and the charm of urban decay, and the dynamic yet relaxed atmosphere as the locals exercise along the broad walk. Nice merges elegant architecture for the elite with the charming vibe of a small coastal village. Set by the long, narrow beaches that hug the iconic Promenade des Anglais, the town is a shining jewel of the French Riviera. With a fabulous selection of restaurants, bars, cafes and markets, the quality and freshness of the local cuisine will satisfy even the most picky of foodies. On the first evening, we will enjoy our welcome dinner together at one of our favourite restaurants.
Located nearby to Nice, we will also spend the first 2 days heading out to surrounding charming coastal towns such as Villefranche Sur Mer, Eze and Saint Paul de Vence. Part of the Cote D’Azur, these quaint towns and villages meander through winding, cobbled streets and allow for many photo opportunities. Villefranche has a long and varied history, evident in the ramparts dating back to 1260 that line the harbour. The enchanting hilltop village of Eze has one of the most spectacular locations in Europe, where it’s Medieval buildings and cobbled streets wind through a journey back in time. With a backdrop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, some stunning images can be created here. Famous for it’s abundance of art galleries since the 1920’s, Saint Paul de Vence is one of the oldest towns on the French Riviera, and it’s connection to famous artists include Marc Chagall, Picasso, Dufy and Matisse, who have resided here and were inspired to create their artworks. The stunning location and views will inspire you too.
On our third day, we head to the world-famous resort town of Cannes on the French Riviera. Well known for it’s international film festival, it is also home to some of the country’s wealthy elite, reflected in it’s red carpet status, upmarket boutiques, hotels and restaurants, while luxurious vehicles line the beautiful boulevard along the beach. These elements can make for some interesting street photography. Continuing on our journey, we head inland to visit the glorious lavender fields at the Abbey in Gordes. Dating back to 1148, the abbey is inhabited by Cistercian monks and makes for a wonderful focal point surrounded by beautiful fields of striking purple colour. The famed lavender fields in full bloom are one of the highlights for photographers to this region, where glorious landscapes to abstracts, portraits and macro photography can be achieved. To round off another productive day, we will head to Avignon – the base for our next 2 nights.
Avignon is famous for housing successive Popes since the 14th Century after fleeing the corruption of Rome. Le Palais des Papes is the largest Gothic building in the World, and the surrounding ramparts of this walled city are a national icon. Many also associate Avignon with the famous Pont d’Avignon on the Rhone river. This bridge was constructed in 1177, and today only 4 arches survive. Our morning of the 4th day consists of enjoying a walk around some of the city’s most beautiful sites, where architectural and street photography are on the menu. On leaving the city, we drive to the beautiful fortified village of Sault. With it’s stunning location set on a rocky outcrop, overlooking a valley of lavender fields and golden wheat fields, Sault is what one imagines a beautiful Provincial setting to be. During the months of June and July, the scent of lavender and the stunning colour add to the beauty of this region.
Another location we will photograph is the town of Carpentras, a hub of art and history with an interesting past. From the 13th to 18th century it was often home to the Avignon popes that protected the Jews of the region. Before returning to our hotel in Avignon, we will spend some time wandering through Venasque. Classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, with it’s Provencial markets of the finest local produce, souvenir stores of lavender products and quaint cafes, wandering through the cobbled streets and winding lanes, photography in Venasque during the late afternoon light will round off a memorable day.
On our next morning, we have a photographic treat in store. The Arles Photography Festival has been a central hub for local and international photography enthusiasts since it’s founding in 1970. With over 100,000 visitors each year, the festival showcases the unseen work of some of the world’s most renowned and upcoming artists, held in unique locations such as 12th century chapels and 19th century industrial buildings and other historic sites. With over 50 specially organised events around the city, the Les Rencontres d’Arles is the most important photographic festival in the world, and one of the highlights of our trip. The city itself is a wonderful location for creating images due to the abundance of a rich history, artistic heritage and stunning backgrounds. In the evening we will return for our last night in Avignon.
Our last 2 days are spent in the city of Marseilles. This coastal city dates back to 600 BC by Greek settlers, is the second most populated, and is the oldest city in France. Life revolves around the old fishing port, which offers excellent photographic opportunities from environmental portraits, to interesting abstracts, to reflections of the fishing boats during golden hour. An iconic structure that overlooks the city, the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde is an imposing yet, beautiful building. A meeting point of cultures and ethnic groups, Marseilles is home to communities from Southern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, making it a great location for street photography. other excellent sites that we will explore include the Palais Longchamp, Le Panier and La Calanque de Samena – highlights of architectural feats, old districts of independent boutiques, cafe’s, street art and rocky coastlines of turquoise colored waters. A contrast from the quaint Provincial towns visited during our week, Marseilles is the perfect destination to end our photography adventure, and an easy hub for onward travel. We look forward to answering any enquiries on our Provence Workshop or other international photo destinations.
