Monday, May 19, 2008

Go Provence!


As far as I’m concerned, going on a France vacation without visiting Provence is like having an ice-cream cone without the ice cream.  Provence is by far by very favorite part of France - a place I could visit again and again. 

Not only is Provence beautiful, but it is also a historically and culturally rich region with so many things to keep you busy every hour of the day.  Yet, my favorite part of Provence is the region’s rich abundance of fresh produce and seafood accompanied by some of the best wine I’ve ever tasted (and so reasonably priced too!)

Provence stretches along both sides of the River Rhone from just north of Orange down to the Mediterranean, and along France’s southern coast from the Camargue salt marshes in the west to Marseille in the east. 

It really is a wonderful place to visit no matter the time of year.  For much of the year you will experience bright, sunny and dry conditions.  The exception is the cold, dry winds of the mistral that strike southwards down the Rhone Valley.  The first time I experienced the mistral I was surprised how quickly it turned a wonderful spring day into a blustery, winter one.  Hopefully, your France vacation won’t coincide with the unpredictable mistral winds that can reach speeds of more than 100km/hour and can damage crops, cause forest fires and keep everyone inside.  Typically, this weather condition is more common in winter and spring.

Provence covers a rather large area and it is broken up into five areas:

  • Marseille - Definitely worth a visit, Marseille features an old port, lively markets, wonderful and delicious harbourside restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.
  • Aix En Provence - Considered one of France’s most graceful and popular cities it features a fusion of majestic public squares, shaded avenues and mossy fountains.  Located only 25kms from Marseille, why not pop by for an afternoon of sightseeing. 
  • The Vaucluse - I found this area to be the most picturesque of all I visited.  Many of the towns amazingly date back to Roman times and you’ll find unbelievable Gallo-Roman structures.  Be sure to visit some of the towns on market days when everything bursts into life.  This area is home to Avignon.  If you visit in the summer, try to time your visit with the annual performing arts festival.
  • Arles & The Camargue - Famed for being home to Vincent Van Gogh, one travel book I read said that it is easy to see why the painter may have found Arles both soothing and visually exciting.  I love the fact that little has changed since Van Gogh painted the city’s winding streets and shady squares.  Bullfighting is very popular here and the city comes alive on fight days.
  • Northeastern Provence - In the northeastern section of Provence, the land of sun and olive trees meets the land of snow and melted cheese!  Consider visiting the town of Digne-Les-Bains, a laid back town named for its thermal springs.  The town holds a large festival in August in honor of Lavender production and I’m told it is worth the trip.

I love everything about Provence and dream of retiring there some day.  I hope you’ll have your own opportunity to visit this wonderful land on a France vacation and gather up your own wonderful Provence experiences!

Posted by frequent-flyer on 05/19 at 04:03 PM
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