Enduringly
seductive...
The sloping vineyards, olive groves, colourful scenery and old Roman towns of Provence make it one of the most distinctive regions in France. Combine this with glorious sunshine, the hum of cicadas and the spectacular quality of light for which the region is famous and you have one of the most seductive holiday destinations imaginable. Peter Mayles immortalized the region in his best-selling books A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence.
The bustling, brash city of Marseilles is France’s second largest city. Quite atypical of Provence, it is nevertheless worth a visit. Stroll around the old port where ships have docked for 26 centuries and where the atmosphere, spirit, and charm of the city are at their most tangible. Aix en Provence, one of France’s most sophisticated and stylish cities, lies north of Marseilles. An elegant mix of public squares, grand avenues and beautiful fountains, the city was home to Cezanne who did much of his painting here. Stroll along the wide and leafy Cours Mirabeau and stop in one of the myriad trendy cafes that line it.
...wreathed in vines and lavender
The Vaucluse area of Provence, just north of Aix, is the region at its most picturesque. Dotted with Gallo-Roman buildings and wreathed in vines and lavender, it is home to the region’s highest mountain, Mont Ventoux. The capital of the region, Avignon, has been one of France’s important artistic centres for centuries. Pope Clement V and his court set up here in the 14th century due to political turmoil in Rome. Avignon was to remain home to the Holy See for nearly 70 years. Check out the Avignon bridge – as featured in the well-known French nursery rhyme, the interesting walled city and the Musee du Petit Palais which houses a great collection of 13th to 16th century Italian religious paintings. The outstanding Roman theatre and triumphal arch in the town of Orange are two of the most remarkable buildings of their kind in France.
The city of Arles in the west of the region and the wild beauty of the Camargue should not be missed. Arles was one of the most important settlements in Gaul and boasts well-preserved evidence of its illustrious past – including a spectacular Roman amphitheatre. The thinly populated 780 sq kilometre delta of the Rhone River is known as the Camargue and is home to more than 400 species of land and water birds. Watch out for the famous pink flamingoes that come to nest here every summer and the herds of white horses that also make their home here. Round off your trip to Provence by visiting the north-eastern town of Digne les Bains. Enjoy a thermal spa in the town’s thermal springs.
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