PROVENCE REGIONAL GUIDE

View Provence Holiday Properties

Famous for glamorous resorts such as Cannes, the stylish sun-kissed French Riviera is one of the holiday hot spots of the world.

However, Provence also possesses a traditional side. High in the hills, you’ll discover olive groves, lavender fields and peaceful medieval villages.

For art and culture, visit the Roman spa town of Aix-en-Provence or Avignon with its maze of cafes and shops, plus the Palais des Papes.

From beach to the Alpes d’Azur takes just an hour, offering skiing in winter, or summer exploration by foot or on horseback.

PROVENCE PLACES OF INTEREST

Cannes

Chic Cannes on the Med is world-renowned for its annual Film Festival. In 2008, this takes place 15-26 May – see ‘Activities’ below. Cannes has beautiful beaches, superb shopping on the rue d’Antibes, a delightful old quarter, a yacht-filled harbour and a scenic promenade, the stunning La Croisette.

From Cannes, you can take a boat trip to the islands of St Honorat and Ste Marguerite where the mysterious ‘man in the iron mask’ was imprisoned in the seventeenth century.

Aix-en-Provence

This elegant city has a fascinating medieval quarter, a magnificent Cathedral (if on a guided tour, ask to see the beautiful carved main doors, normally covered) and superb seventeenth and eighteenth century buildings and fountains, especially along the Cours Mirabeau.

Paul Cezanne was born in Aix in 1839 and you can visit his studio. His contemporary, Zola, was brought to live in Aix, at the age of 3 years, in 1840.

Aix is known for its plaster figurines, ‘santons,’ for its almond-paste sweets, ‘calissons’ and for its excellent shops and markets.

Avignon

Children world-wide sing about the ‘pont d’Avignon,’ the St-Benezet bridge over the Rhone. It once spanned the whole river but strong flooding in the seventeenth century swept part of it away.

In the fifteenth century, the presence of the Popes made Avignon the capital of medieval Europe. Nowadays, it is a delightful cultural centre and the Popes Palace a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Grasse

Grasse is the centre of France’s perfumery industry. Many visitors head for the Fragonard perfume factory, the oldest in Grasse, dating from 1782. Free guided tours are available plus you can visit the museum. On the outskirts of Grasse is the more modern Fabrique des Fleurs where visitors can have free guided tours of the laboratories and packing areas.

Only 15km from Cannes, Grasse’s altitude gives it a pleasant climate. The old town and Cathedral are both worth a visit.

Pot-holers will enjoy the holes and grottoes on the Plateau de la Malle to the north of Grasse.

Nice

A leading Riviera resort, Nice comprises the old town and port, the nineteenth century city centre and chic Cimiez. Its famous Promenade des Anglais runs along the whole of the seafront and is lined with restaurants, shops and museums. The views across the sea are unforgettable.

The old town is pedestrianised so you can enjoy its quaint streets and squares. Nice has a selection of fine museums including the Matisse Museum, the Chagall Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and the Naval Museum. For a spectacular view of the city, visit the Château whilst the Russian Cathedral and flower market are both must-sees.

Arles

The River Rhone splits into 2 at Arles. Its geography attracted the Romans and their legacy is very much in evidence, especially the beautifully preserved Arena. Built in 1BC, it seated 20,000 spectators. It is still in use today for Spanish and Camargue-style bull-fighting. In the latter, a rosette is tied to the bull’s forehead and the the bull-fighter has 15 mins to grab it with a hook.

Van Gogh moved to Arles in 1888 and painted some of his most famous works there, including Sunflowers.

St-Paul-de-Vence

Picture-postcard medieval village with a rich historical and cultural heritage. Its maze of narrow streeets, squares, fountains, ramparts and twelfth century collegiate church are a delight to explore and are much beloved by photgraphers and artists.

Both Matisse and Picasso painted there, drawn by the exceptional quality of the light. It is now home to numerous contemporary artists whose work can be viewed in the many galleries. Don’t forget to visit too La Colombe d’Or restaurant famed for its art collection – payment in kind by the many artists who dined there when it was a simple auberge.

PROVENCE GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL BEAUTY

Gorges du Verdon

Stunning scenery makes the Gorges du Verdon one of Provence’s main tourist attractions. Set within the Verdon Regional Nature Park since 1997, you can walk, bike, climb, fish, kayak and more.

It is one of the world’s largest gorges at 20km long and 300m deep. The distinctive turquoise Verdon River cuts through the limestone cliffs and then flows into the Sainte-Croix de Verdon Lake.

Many visitors tour the Gorges by car, stopping off at the pretty village of Moustieres Ste Marie well known both for its earthenware tiles and for its 227m long iron chain stretching between the cliff faces and on which is hooked a crusader knight star.

Griffon vultures have been re-introduced here – the best chance of viewing them is from either the Route des Cretes or the village of Rougon.

Parc National du Mercantour

The Mercantour National Park is a virtually uninhabited area of outstanding beauty with high mountain peaks, olive trees and lavender fields. It is a walker’s paradise with a huge network of signed trails. Many visitors head for the Vallee des Merveilles with 37,000 Bronze Age rock carvings.

Within the park are 2,000 plant species including the rare edelweiss. You may see chamois, marmots, ermine, ibex and mouflon as well as boar, eagles and even wolves, re-introduced in the 1990’s.

PROVENCE CUISINE AND WINE

Provence is famous for olive oil and lavender honey as well as its southern Cotes du Rhone and Provencal wines. Dishes prepared a la provencale are made with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, onions, herbs and perhaps aubergines whereas dishes made a la nicoise also include olives, capers, anchovies and tarragon.

Cote d’Azur cuisine is influenced by its close neighbour, Italy and you will find wide use of ravioli, cannelloni, gnocci and pistou, similar to pesto. Fish is commonly found on menus, often accompanied by raito or rayte, a sauce made from red wine, tomatoes, garlic and ground walnuts.

The speciality of Marseille is bouillabaisse, a rich fish soup, whilst the must-try in Nice is ratatouille – garlic, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and aubergines braised in olive oil. Salade nicoise is so delicious, it’s served world-wide but come to Provence for the real thing – artichoke hearts, peppers, tomatoes, black olives and anchovy fillets with garlic infused olive oil and fine herbs. The variations of salade nicoise are as numerous as the restaurants serving it and you may also find haricot beans, hard-boiled eggs, capers and tuna.

To round off a meal, cheeses include banon, wrapped in chestnut leaves, and picodon de Valreas, goats cheese with a delicate, nutty taste whilst dessert highlights include apple galettes and walnut crepes. And don’t forget nougat from Montelimar and calissons, little boat-shaped almond-paste sweets from Aix-en-Provence.

PROVENCE ACTIVITIES

Beaches

The beaches of the Riviera are world-famous for their beauty, glamour, warm climate and of course the bright blue of the Mediterranean Sea. With 900km of coast, the choice of beaches is staggering, from chic Cannes and flamboyant Nice to pretty Menton and Antibes and glamorous St-Tropez. Hugely popular, particularly during school holidays so be prepared for busy roads and crowds at the area’s hotspot.

Wine-tasting

Provence is an important wine production area – some 140 million bottles a year. With its limestone/sandy soil and mild Mediterranean climate, its 500 or so vineyards produce a wide variety of wines. Much loved are Provence’s fruity rose wines, a delightful accompaniment to its local cuisine.

Taste them throughout the region including the beautiful setting of Les Baux de Provence. Visit Chateau Romanin with its visitor centre, tasting bar and shop, or Mas Saint Berthe which also has a short, signposted trail. Visit Les Baux in November for the annual wine festival with tastings, visits and delicious local dishes.

Provencal Markets

Provencal markets are a delight to see, smell and taste. Expect to find locally grown fruit and vegetables, olive oil, wines and honey as well as lavender products, stunning flowers and local textiles.

There are markets throughout Provence – check with the property owner or local tourist office for precise information.

And throughout the winter, there are truffle markets, such as that at Carpentras on Friday mornings.

Climb Cezanne’s Mont Sainte Victoire

Mont Sainte-Victoire is an iconic symbol of Aix-en-Provence due to its numerous – over 50 – depictions by Cezanne. It is a very popular walking location, one of the most popular routes being the GR9, the Chemin des Veuvenargues, which can take you to the summit in approximately 2 hours – depending, of course, on how fast you walk! Enjoy the panoramic views from the Cross of Provence. There is good car parking or, alternatively, catch a bus from Aix. The many walks available range from easy to strenuous and you need to be well prepared if walking in hot weather.

Best described as a tilted pyramid, Mont Sainte-Victoire has striking white limestone rock faces. Like Cezanne, you can enjoy the wonderful light and ever-changing colours of this mountain, especially at sunset.

If you prefer to drive, then follow the 60km Route Cezanne to the south of Mont Sainte Victoire and take in the beautiful scenery from the comfort of your car.

Tortoise Village

For a very different visit, head to Tortoise Village in Gonfaron. This conservation project was initiated in 1988 to protect the indigenous Hermann’s tortoise which now only survives in the Maures Mountains and in Corsica. Since 1988, the sanctuary has released more than 8,000 Hermann’s tortoises back into the wild.

At any one time, Tortoise Village has around 2,500 tortoises on site, including those being treated for injuries. Not only can you delight in seeing these fascinating creatures but you can also enjoy a special display that takes you through the history of the tortoise right from 300 million years ago.

Visit Cannes Film Festival

The 61^st Festival takes place between 15-26 May 2008. The main focus of the Festival is the Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) award, one of the most sought-after prizes in the film industry. Alongside the Festival itself runs the Directors Fortnight which screens films by little-known film-makers.

The Festival attracts huge numbers of visitors to Cannes – as many as 200,000 – principally stars, film-makers and fans. Although much of the event is only open to the film industry, some Directors Fortnight tickets are made available to the public and there are screenings at the Cinema de la Plage. But many visitors go just to soak up the atmosphere and to star-spot – you may be lucky enough to see your favourite star around town or along La Croisette. If you decide to star-spot at the red carpet entrance, do get there early to ‘bag’ your place!

PROVENCE EVENTS

Lemon Festival, Menton, 3 consecutive Sundays from 17 February to 2 March 2008, from 2.30pm

This is an important Lemon production area and Menton’s annual Lemon Festival celebrates the harvest through colourful processions and displays.

Black Sarah Gypsy Pilgrimage, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, 24 May 2008

Gypsies from across Europe descend upon this tiny Camargue village each year to honour their patron saint. The statue of Black Sarah along with those of Mary Jacobe and Mary Salome are taken to the sea and blessed.

Fete de la Tarasque, Tarascon, June 2008

On the last weekend of June each year, festivities and music commemorate Sainte Marthe’s defeat of the dragon who devoured the local children. This ancient festival dates back to the fifteenth century.