Travelling Provence France

All About Provence France

With its feet in the Mediterranean and its head in the Alps, the region of
Provence has an extensive palette of colorful landscapes.

Provence, the Midi, these are magical names in a luminous landscape
that inspired Van Gogh and Cézanne, and changed the course of
modern painting. They have also created a new current in
contemporary travel.

PROVENCE ATTRACTIONS
Compressed within a few hundred miles’ radius is scenery as varied
and magnificent as anywhere in Europe. Vineyards of Gigondas, silvery
groves in olive-capital Nyons, and lavender- scented hills from Valréas
to Vaison-la-Romaine. The bold silhouettes of Provence encompass
the monumental bald rock of Les Baux, and cypress and cedars
blocked against azure skies in Arles.

The high wall of the Alps shelters the coast, and climate is by no
means the least of the area’s attractions. The very grand Mont Ventoux
is a Provence landmark. At its foot, the Fontaine de Vaucluse is one of
the world’s largest springs with a flow that reaches 175 cubic yards of
water per second.

GETTING AROUND PROVENCE
Provençal roads are equally remarkable, and coupled with most
unusual accommodations, are setting new travel trends. For example,
the TGV train/car flexi-pass opens the way through the Luberon
mountains above vast rich plains. The route to Roman ruins at Arles,
Saint-Rémy and Avignon is nothing less than memorable.

PROVENCE HOTELS
For inspirational accommodations to match, the traveler’s choice can
be the hilltop Crillon-le-Brave, Relais & Châteaux, a venerable country
inn amid gardens and wild flowers, a 13th-century wheat mill, or
perhaps simply a cozy family-run B&B.

Antiquity is a tangible inspiration in the dazzling light of Provence,
replete with monuments from classical times: the 2,000-year old arena
of Arles; medieval St-Trophime cloister and nearby modern Espace
Van Gogh. Nîmes’ Maison Carrée is a perfectly preserved temple from
the times of Emperor Augustus. The 6th-century B.C. ruins of Glanum
pattern a score of acres on a hillside near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

PROVENCE DINING
The bon vivant finds a paradise in the very down-to-earth cuisine of
Provence. Clear air wafts a bouquet of fennel, basil, rosemary, thyme,
and hillside herbs that titillate the palate. Eggplant and tomato are king
in “ratatouille”; olive oil of Provence has a remarkable perfume; local
wines are full bodied; and fresh or candied fruits abound. Provence’s
market places are unforgettable.

All of Provence is now home to the internationally-renowned salade
niçoise, and other favorites are grilled fish with fennel, or spit-broiled
lamb sprinkled with herbs from the hills. Cavaillon melon matches
Vaucluse pears and Salon peaches plus berlingots (hard mint)
candies from Carpentras, and almond paste calissons (marzipan).

WINES OF PROVENCE
To accent the exuberant flavors and fragrances of Provençal dishes,
warm breezes and outdoor living, travelers find the vigorous wines of
Côte de Provence delightful. Read more