From Southern France to Catalonia, cities best explored at a leisurely pace.
France is like a piece of classical music with a soothing rhythm, and the South of France is its most lyrical melody. Broken bridges, stone cities, the scent of lavender, even the light has a gentle quality. The Orange Line is just such a route, taking you from Paris, around the poetic towns of the South of France, through the passion of Catalonia in Spain, and finally to the tranquility of the Andorra Mountains—each scene with its own unique expression.
This is a route that blends history, art, religion, and nature. Let's use nine cities to write this journey into a book of poems on a map.
Avignon: Medieval Whispers Between the Pope and the Broken Bridge
The streets of Avignon are paved with light gray cobblestones, each step echoing the footsteps of the fourteenth century. This city, once the capital of the Roman Catholic Church, is home to one of Europe's most significant papal palaces—a fortress built from power and faith. Standing in the square today and looking up at it, one senses a solemnity tinged with a touch of bygone loneliness.
Walking to the banks of the Rhône River, you'll see the broken Pont Saint-Bénézet, also known as the Pont Avignon. Its incomplete form only makes it appear more solitary in the sunlight. Legend has it that it was built by a shepherd boy under divine inspiration. It is very much like southern France: ancient, stubborn, and incomplete.
Recommended attractions: Palais des Papes, Pont Saint-Bénézet, Old Town of Avignon
Gordes | Stone Dream of Sky City
Gödl is a town built on a cliff, a real-life embodiment of idealism. Its winding streets and rows of stone houses resemble a hand-carved fairytale model. If you visit in summer, the windowsills are adorned with neatly blooming lavender and geraniums; that still beauty offers a tranquility that many city dwellers have long missed.
Not far from Gödé lies Sénanque Abbey. Nestled between valleys, it seems like a secret quietly protected by heaven and earth. It's a retreat for Cistercian monks, and the solitude and tranquility described in "A Year in the Mountains" remain ever-present here.
Recommended attractions: Gordes, Sénanque Abbey, Lavender Museum (seasonal)
Arles | A city awakened by the brush of a master painter
Arles is a place Van Gogh briefly stayed for a year but fell deeply in love with; perhaps it was precisely because of its brevity that it left the most profound mark. Walking along the city center, the ancient Roman Colosseum and amphitheater still stand; and on some street corner, you'll stumble upon that yellow café—the real-life backdrop to the painting "The Café Under the Stars."
Further away is the Langlou Bridge, where the figures of the washerwomen beneath it are no longer seen, but the wind and light captured by Van Gogh still linger on its surface. Arles doesn't feel like a must-visit city; it's like a letter, a page, a quiet whisper.
Recommended attractions: Colosseum, Café de Van Gogh, Pont Langlois, Roman Theatre
Barcelona | A Curve of Freedom in Architecture and Faith
If Paris is symmetrical, then Barcelona is free. Gaudí left behind not just architecture, but a way of redefining the world. The Sagrada Familia seems to grow from the ground, each column reaching towards the sky like a tree trunk, sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows, making the entire space dreamlike.
La Rambla is the city's artery, teeming with street performers, flower stalls, and graffiti walls, each exuding Catalonia's independent spirit. If you climb Montjuïc, you'll see the city stretching out towards the Mediterranean, with its port, ancient castle, and Olympic stadium all seemingly basking in the sun.
Recommended attractions: Sagrada Familia, La Rambla, Montjuïc, Columbus Tower, Plaça Catalunya
Andorra | A Miniature Kingdom Hidden in the Snowy Mountains
Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains, Andorra is one of the smallest countries in Europe and one of the most unexpected destinations on a journey. It is neither as romantic as France nor as exuberant as Spain, but exists quietly in the valleys, guarding its own rhythm.
Here, the four seasons are distinct. In winter, the mountains are covered in snow, making it a renowned ski resort. In summer, the valleys are lush and green, perfect for hiking and relaxation. Visitors come here to shop, breathe in the mountain air, and soak in hot springs, as if there's no need to rush anything; they can simply relax and enjoy themselves.
Recommended attractions: Andorra City, Pyrenees Scenic Highway, Duty-free shopping area
Lourdes: A Crossroads of Pilgrimage and Tranquility
Lourdes is not a popular city in the traditional sense, but it is a holy site that many people visit at least once in their lifetime. More than 150 years ago, a young girl claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary appear here, and since then, stories of miraculous healings have been frequently told, making this town one of the three major Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.
By day, the crowds in front of the Grotto of Our Lady pray silently and orderly; by night, the candlelight procession moves slowly, as if time itself slows down. Here, regardless of religious belief, you can feel people's devotion to hope.
Recommended attractions: Parlour of Our Lady, Grotto of Our Lady, Candlelight Procession, Temple Square
Bordeaux | The French Slow-Paced Style Hidden Behind Red Wine
Bordeaux is world-renowned for its wines, but the city's charm extends far beyond its wineries. It's the cultural heart of southwestern France, boasting well-preserved 18th-century historic districts and the stunning Place de la Quai de la Water.
Walking along the Garonne River, the air seems to carry the warmth of grape fermentation. Following a guided tour of a winery to learn about the process from a single grape to a bottle of wine, you'll discover that refinement and rhythm are also reflected in the very essence of this city.
Recommended attractions: Place de la Water Mirror, Bordeaux Grand Theatre, and surrounding wineries (such as those in Médoc and Saint-Émilion).
Chambord | Architecture is an elegant expression of power
Chambord Castle stands quietly amidst the dense forests of the Loire Valley, like a nobleman in armor. It is a masterpiece of the French Renaissance, commissioned by King Francis I, and is said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci, especially for its mesmerizing double helix staircase.
Strolling through the Château de Chambord, one is struck by both the rational symmetry of its architecture and the romantic dynamism of its art. Even those unfamiliar with French history will be awestruck by its grandeur.
Recommended attractions: Chambord Castle, scenery along the Loire Valley, double helix staircase
The beauty of the Orange Line lies not in how many large cities it has or how many World Heritage sites it has to visit, but in how it slows down the pace of life, allowing people to find a light and graceful balance between art, faith, architecture and nature.
These nine cities are not bustling, trendy tourist destinations, but they hold the true essence of Southern Europe. They stand quietly, waiting for you to embark on a journey and get closer to their individual warmth and stories.
