Print this pageDate Added: 09-07-2009
The heart of Provence is in the hills that bind the sea to the Alps. In southeastern France it is divided into six departments stretching from Orange to Nice. Luberon in Vaucluse is considered by many to be the real Provence with gently sloping vineyards and lavender fields that charmed great artists including Cezanne and Van Gogh. Towards the end of the 19th Century many impressionist painters were attracted to Provence to capture the colours and nuances of light which only exists in this part of the world.
Provence is of course known for its olive groves, lavender, sunflowers and the famous vineyards of Côtes du Rhône, Côtes de Provence and Bandol, everything growing in about 3000 hours of sunlight per year. Flowers with their heady perfumes become world-famous scents. In the summer musicians come from all over the world to Provence and perform at the many festivals.
In the past century the South of France became a byword for opulence with the area from Cannes to Menton, often referred to as the Riviera, viewed through the lenses of thousands of movie cameras. It was in the town of Hyères, with its tropical vegetation and fabulous palm trees that the enchanting term “Côte d’Azur”, now so synonymous with holidays and the Riviera’s quality of life, was first invented. The luxury yachts, chic boutiques, nightlife, art galleries, elegant hotels and restaurants and of course the celebrities; famous movie stars, footballers wives, nouveau riche and not forgetting the Aristocracy all flock to the Provence-Côte-d’Azur.
The heart of Provence is in the hills that bind the sea to the Alps. In southeastern France it is divided into six departments stretching from Orange to Nice. Luberon in Vaucluse is considered by many to be the real Provence with gently sloping vineyards and lavender fields that charmed great artists including Cezanne and Van Gogh. Towards the end of the 19th Century many impressionist painters were attracted to Provence to capture the colours and nuances of light which only exists in this part of the world.
Provence is of course known for its olive groves, lavender, sunflowers and the famous vineyards of Côtes du Rhône, Côtes de Provence and Bandol, everything growing in about 3000 hours of sunlight per year. Flowers with their heady perfumes become world-famous scents. In the summer musicians come from all over the world to Provence and perform at the many festivals.
In the past century the South of France became a byword for opulence with the area from Cannes to Menton, often referred to as the Riviera, viewed through the lenses of thousands of movie cameras. It was in the town of Hyères, with its tropical vegetation and fabulous palm trees that the enchanting term “Côte d’Azur”, now so synonymous with holidays and the Riviera’s quality of life, was first invented. The luxury yachts, chic boutiques, nightlife, art galleries, elegant hotels and restaurants and of course the celebrities; famous movie stars, footballers wives, nouveau riche and not forgetting the Aristocracy all flock to the Provence-Côte-d’Azur.
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