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Regions à la carte
Southeastern France - Provence
Provence region at a glance |
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 Major city:
Marseille
Sunny, bright region of
mountains and coastline
Quaint hilltop cities and
fashionable, lively towns
Medieval fortresses and Roman ruins
Fields of flowers and lavender made
famous by painters
The region of Provence-Alps-Côte d'Azur is
known for celebrating the simple sensuous pleasures of
life. Ideally situated between the Mediterranean
coastline and the Alps, the region is geographically
diverse with a wide variety of attractions and
activities.
Visitors
can explore ancient Roman ruins, medieval fortresses and
charming hilltop provençal villages. They can hike the
Grand Canyon du Verdon, ride the famous white horses in
the Camargue or simply take a picnic basket for a day in
the countryside. The valleys are carpeted with lavender
and the fields are filled with the sunflowers and olive
trees that Van Gogh loved to paint.
France's
oldest city, Marseille, is a bustling port with a
lively local atmosphere. Avignon, once the Papal
residence is now a cheerful town of cafés, art
galleries and fashionable shops. Aix-en-Provence,
a university town filled with students offers
tree shaded streets and 17th century mansions and
of course, the harbor town of St. Tropez is long
famous for its glamour and beauty.
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Places of
interest |
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Aix-en Provence |
Old
town: 17th and 18th century character, Cours
Mirabeau, St. Sauveur Cathedral, Fountain of the
Nine Cannons and Thermal Water, Museum of
Tapestry, Paul Cézanne Museum |
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Apt |
Typical
Provencal town in the Alps, Church of St. Anne |
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Arles |
Roman
capital and major medieval religious center (the
Cloister and the doorway of St. Trophime,
Montmajour Abbey, Réattu Museum, Constantin
Palace, Antique theater, Pagan Art Museum,
Christian Art Museum |
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Avignon |
Ramparts,
old city, Papal Palace, old palace, Calvet Museum
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Les Baux de
Provence |
Hilltop
city, ghost town and the Cathédral d'Images |
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Briançon |
Highest
town in Europe, Ville Haute old town has changed
very little since Vauban surrounded by ramparts |
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la Camargue |
Region
famous for its white horses and regional cowboys |
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Carpentras |
St.
Siffrein cathedral, Regional Provençal Museum,
15th Century synagogue |
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Cassis |
Small
fishing port |
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Digne-les-Bains |
A
stop on the route Napoleon |
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Draguignan |
Old
town and museum, allied military cemetery |
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Forcalquier |
Cordeliers
convent, the Cathedral Church of Notre Dame, old
town |
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Fontvieille |
Alphonse
Daudet Square, Provençal antiques |
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Gordes |
Village
built on a hill above the Vaucluse plateau,
chateau, Senaque abbey, Borie village |
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Manosque |
Home
of the writer Jean Giono, church of Saint
Sauveur, Notre Dame de Romigier |
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Marseille
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Oldest
city in France, Greek, Roman and Christian
heritage, old port, Canebiére, Saint
Victor Basilica, Historic Marseille Museum, Fine
Arts Museum
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Mont Ventoux |
Lovely
climb to the summit |
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Orange |
Roman
city, gateway to the Midi, Colline St-Eutrope |
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Saint-Rémy de
Provence |
Arc
of Triumph, Van Gogh's convalescent home |
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Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer |
Ornithological
Park |
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Tarascon |
Made
famous by Alphonse Daudet's Tartarin apple pie,
and fabrics, 13th century castle of King René,
10th century St. Marthe Church, Tartarin's house |
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Toulon |
Beautiful
harbor |
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Vaison la Romaine |
Roman
city, the French Pompei. |
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Technical
tourism and sports |
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China, Pottery, Carpets,
Pipes,
Santons (Clay figures for Christmas
nativityscenes), Soleiado fabrics.
Golf,
biking, hiking, horseback riding, water sports,
petanque (bocce).
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Cuisine |
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Beef
is often prepared as a stew called boeuf
en daube with vegetables being a
main staple served as a gratin, in salads or
stuffed with meat.
Cuisine of this region emphasizes seasonings such
as herbs and garlic.
Bouillabaisse is a popular
fish soup. A mayonnaise garlic sauce known as aïoli is also a local specialty.
The Côtes de Provence wine
region is mainly known for its dry, fruity rosé
wines: Bandol, Bellet, Palette, Cassis. Red wines
include Côtes du Rhône, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and
Gigonoles.
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