Travel has a way of shifting perspectives and seeing into your consciousness, making it a major point of inspiration for almost all creatives. There’s nothing quite like exploring a place previously unseen and discovering the unexpected.

Whether sifting through Parisian ateliers or navigating the best galleries in Los Angeles, the pursuit of the unique is constant. Take, for example, a recent ramble through the South of France, exploring some of the region’s most revered art foundations, where past and present merge in brilliant expressions of design.

But this storied region is more than just a visual indulgence—it’s a slow unravelling of inspiration, woven into every sun-faded façade, every considered detail. Let’s begin.

Arriving at Villa La Coste in Provence, we explored an immersive Art and Architecture Trail, wandering through vineyards and fields to discover works, including Andy Goldsworthy’s Oak Room and Tadao Ando’s Chapel, both of which were personal highlights. A short drive east brought us to LUMA Arles, a dynamic artistic hub blending historic industrial spaces with Frank Gehry’s shimmering tower rising above seven reimagined 19th-century factories. A shift in scale, and we find ourselves in Lee Ufan’s Vernon Hotel, where his minimalist sculptures encourages reflection on nature and industry. Nearby, following a drive through shimmering fields to Villa Benkemoun, this 1970’s architectural gem remains a tribute to its design legacy.

Continuing east, Hôtel La Ponche, St Tropez, offered a luxurious Mediterranean retreat before heading to the Venet Foundation in Le Muy, home to an impressive collection of minimalist and conceptual art. Here, we were treated to a personal tour of Bernar Venet’s own home, gallery and sculpture park—by golf cart, no less.

Parking ourselves at the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel, a seamless blend of modernist elegance and Mediterranean charm, we began our day with breakfast at the Michelin-starred Les Pêcheurs, gazing out over the coast. From there, we set off to explore Saint Paul de Vence—rosé in hand on the ramparts, taking in the hillside view—before heading to the Hartung-Bergman Foundation, a striking modernist villa devoted to abstract expressionism, and the CAB Foundation. But it was Maeght Foundation that proved a personal highlight: a mind-boggling collection of over 12,000 works by the like of Miró—Miró en son jardin felt especially magical—Giacometti, Calder, and Braque, all housed within Josep Lluís Sert’s masterful architecture. Despite its scale and calibre, it somehow felt entirely intimate, like stumbling into a dream curated just for us.

Our final stop: the Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, Matisse’s quietly radical masterpiece. Designed in totality by the artist—from the vivid stained glass to the austere black line drawings—it’s less a chapel, more a distilled expression of light, colour and grace. No photos allowed, and none needed. After a day of sensory immersion, it felt like an exhale—a moment of stillness wrapped in cobalt and gold. A final, unexpected peace to carry home.

xxx ADC