Contents
Key points
- Nine destinations: Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, the coast, Toulon, the Var, the Luberon, the Alpilles, the Camargue and Avignon.
- Access: Aix-en-Provence TGV is 2 h 55 min from Paris, Avignon TGV 2 h 40 min; Marseille Provence Airport is linked to Aix by a shuttle in about 30 minutes.
- Budget: among venues that publish their prices, day meeting packages start between €45 and €72 per person, residential packages between €197 and €239.
- Season: spring and the shoulder season; July is festival month in Aix and Avignon.
Why Provence for a corporate retreat
Provence brings together three advantages that are rare for an event of 15 to 150 people: fast access from Paris and other major cities, a climate that lets you work and get together outdoors for much of the year, and a wide variety of venues: bastides, mas (Provençal farmhouses), wine estates, château hotels and hamlets.
The sunshine is not just a brochure claim: at the Météo-France weather station in Marignane, near Marseille, average sunshine is 2,897.6 hours a year (1991–2020 normals).
The destinations
Aix-en-Provence and the Sainte-Victoire
The most accessible area: Aix-en-Provence TGV station and Marseille Provence Airport are close by. Bastides and château hotels surround the city, right up to the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain. The right choice for a day meeting or a short offsite when participants are travelling from several cities.
Marseille
France’s oldest city, with Saint-Charles station in the city centre, Marseille Provence Airport 27 km away and four convention centres: the obvious choice for a large group or a day meeting in town, with the sea as a backdrop.
The coast: Cassis and the shoreline
Calanques, harbours and coves, from Marseille to Cassis and the Var coastline: for an offsite that combines work and time out at sea.
The Luberon
Hilltop villages, vineyards and secluded estates: the Luberon suits residential seminars and leadership teams looking for peace and quiet. Access is usually via Avignon TGV or Aix-en-Provence TGV, then by road.
The Alpilles
Around Les Baux-de-Provence and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, mas and estates often with a spa or golf course. Avignon TGV is the most convenient station.
The Var
The Var hinterland offers wine châteaux and large estates with substantial accommodation capacity. It lends itself to residential seminars lasting several days.
The Camargue
Lagoons, manades (traditional bull and horse ranches) and wide open spaces between Arles and the sea: a change of scene for a team cohesion retreat or an incentive trip.
Avignon
The City of Popes, 2 h 40 min from Paris by TGV according to Avignon Tourisme: a conference city with an exceptional heritage, and the gateway to the Alpilles and the Luberon.
Toulon and its harbour
Two TGV stations, an airport and a 1,500-hectare natural harbour according to the tourist office: a base for an offsite between city and sea, within boat reach of the Îles d’Hyères.
We visit the venues in each area before featuring them. Venue profiles will be published as visits take place. In the meantime, describe your event: we pass your request on to suitable venues.
Getting there
| Journey | Time or distance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paris → Aix-en-Provence TGV | 2 h 55 min | Office de tourisme d’Aix-en-Provence |
| Paris → Avignon TGV | 2 h 40 min | Avignon Tourisme |
| Aix-en-Provence TGV station → Aix city centre | about 15 km, shuttle every 30 minutes | Office de tourisme d’Aix-en-Provence |
| Avignon TGV station → Avignon city centre | 6 km | Avignon Tourisme |
| Marseille Provence Airport → Aix centre (shuttle line A2) | about 30 minutes, every 30 minutes | Aéroport Marseille Provence |
| Marseille Provence Airport → Aix-en-Provence TGV station | 15 minutes | Aéroport Marseille Provence |
For a group, the public shuttle will do at a pinch, but it means waiting and carrying luggage. Most venues can arrange a transfer from the station or airport: ask for it in your brief.
What budget to plan
Few venues display their rates: most quote on request. Below are the packages published on the official websites of venues in the region, exactly as they appear there.
| Venue | Area | Day meeting | Residential | Excl. / incl. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domaine de Saint-Endréol Golf & Spa Resort | Var (La Motte) | from €45 per person (welcome coffee, one break, lunch), room from €350 extra | from €239 per person, in a double room | not stated |
| Le Mas de la Senancole | Luberon (Gordes) | from €60 per person | from €197 per person, in a single room | excl. VAT |
| Les Bories & Spa | Luberon (Gordes) | from €65 per person | from €215 per person, in a single room | not stated |
| Hôtel Negrecoste | Aix-en-Provence | €69 per person (room, 2 breaks, lunch), minimum 15 participants | — | not stated |
| Le Vallon de Valrugues | Alpilles (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence) | from €72 per person | from €225 per person, in a single room | not stated |
| La Bastide Bourrelly | Aix-Marseille (Cabriès) | “Day meeting package and residential seminar package” (« Forfait Journée d’étude et Forfait Séminaire résidentiel »): €125 per person; residential business club: €230 per person | not stated | |
| Château de Berne | Var (Lorgues) | — | from €430 per person for 2 days and 1 night (offer valid 1 October to 15 December, from 8 rooms, weekends excluded) | incl. VAT |
These are starting prices, recorded on 11 November 2026. See also the cost of an offsite and the VAT rules. They vary with the season, group size, day of the week and what is included (room, breaks, meals, drinks, single or double room). To compare two proposals, bring them down to the same content and check whether they are excl. or incl. VAT.
These venues are mentioned for their public rates. They are not, to date, partners of Guide Séminaire.
When to hold your retreat
Provence suits offsites from April to October, and indoor meetings for the rest of the year. Météo-France sunshine averages for Marignane (1991–2020) give a benchmark:
| Month | April | May | June | July | August | September | October |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of sunshine | 250.8 | 298.6 | 337.8 | 372.2 | 333.8 | 263.7 | 196.1 |
July is the sunniest month, but also the month of the major festivals: the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence runs from 1 to 20 July 2027, and the Festival d’Avignon takes place every July (4 to 25 July in 2026). The region then draws large numbers of visitors: book early, or choose spring or the shoulder season, when some venues offer dedicated deals.
Day meeting or residential seminar?
- Day meeting: a working day with meeting room, breaks and lunch, with no overnight stay. Ideal for a regional team or a kick-off meeting. A venue near Aix-en-Provence TGV or the airport makes arrivals easier.
- Residential seminar: at least one night on site. It leaves time for informal conversations and activities. Check the number of single rooms if everyone needs their own: this is often the constraint that rules out the most venues.
- Offsite or leadership team meeting: small group, need for confidentiality and quiet. Estates available for exclusive hire in the Luberon, the Alpilles or the Var are well suited.
Beyond Provence: the whole South of France region, the French Riviera (Nice, Cannes) and the Southern French Alps.
By type of event
- Leadership retreat (executive and management committees)
- Onboarding seminar and team cohesion retreat
- Incentive trip and unusual venues
- Countryside retreat and sustainable events
- Sales kick-off, back-to-work seminar and wellness retreat
- Retreat in a château and golf retreat
- Team building in Provence, team building ideas and company party
To prepare your project: the company offsite guide, the complete method, sample agendas, choosing a meeting room, the cost of an offsite and the budget calculator.
Find your venue with Guide Séminaire
Describe your event in two minutes: type, length, group size, dates, budget, areas. We pass your request on free of charge to three partner venues at most, chosen to match your criteria; they reply to you directly with their proposal.
Sources and method
Information checked on 11 November 2026.
- Accès et transports — Office de tourisme d’Aix-en-Provence : TGV station 2 h 55 min from Paris, about 15 km from the centre, shuttle every 30 minutes
- Comment venir — Avignon Tourisme : Avignon 2 h 40 min from Paris by TGV, TGV station 6 km from the centre
- Navette Aix-en-Provence (ligne A2) — Aéroport Marseille Provence : journey of about 30 minutes to Aix centre, every 30 minutes
- Gares les plus proches — Aéroport Marseille Provence : Aix TGV station 15 minutes from the airport
- Fiche climatologique Marignane, normales 1991-2020 — Météo-France : average annual sunshine of 2,897.6 hours and monthly values
- Séminaires — Domaine de Saint-Endréol : published day meeting and residential packages
- Séminaires à l’hôtel Les Bories — Hôtels Prestige Provence : published packages
- Séminaires — Hôtel Negrecoste : published day meeting package
- Séminaires au Vallon de Valrugues — Hôtels Prestige Provence : published packages
- Plaquette séminaire 2025-2026 — Le Mas de la Senancole : published residential package (excl. VAT)
- Séminaire entreprise — La Bastide Bourrelly : published packages
- Séminaires et incentive — Château de Berne : shoulder-season residential offer
- Festival d’Aix-en-Provence — Festival d’Aix-en-Provence : 2027 edition from 1 to 20 July
- Territoires cinématographiques 2026 — Festival d’Avignon : associated programme from 4 to 25 July 2026
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get there from Paris?
According to the Aix-en-Provence tourist office, Aix-en-Provence TGV station is 2 h 55 min from Paris. Avignon Tourisme gives 2 h 40 min between Paris and Avignon TGV. Then allow for the journey to the venue, by shuttle, taxi or private coach.
What budget should we plan per person?
Among venues in the region that publish their prices, day meeting packages start between €45 and €72 per person, and residential packages between €197 and €239 per person, depending on the venue and what is included. These are starting prices: only the venue’s proposal, for your dates and group size, is binding.
What is the best time of year?
Spring and the shoulder season (September–October) are sunny and quieter. In July, the Aix and Avignon festivals draw large numbers of visitors. Some venues offer shoulder-season deals, such as Château de Berne from 1 October to 15 December.
Does Guide Séminaire charge a fee?
No, the service is free for companies. It is paid for by partner venues, through a commission on confirmed events. Find out more.
