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Provence, France: A Traveler's Delight

Norman
2004-08-11 16:38:28

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The spectacular and varied flora of Provence, coupled with magnificent weather, has made this southeastern corner of France an artist's paradise as well as a traveller's delight. It has always fascinated outsiders for many centuries and it has always attracted the romantic traveller.
The remarkable colours existing all around this region of France, such as hues of pewter, bronze, dark green and vibrant green, deep red soil, lavender, Marseille's orange coral, are like a giant kaleidoscope too spectacular to describe or even imagine. No wonder it is in Provence where some of the greatest modern artists, such as Cézanne, Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, Chagall, Dufy, Cocteau and Van Gogh, were inspired to paint their masterpieces in a setting that is beyond description.

The principal counties of Provence, or as the French call them "departements," comprise Hautes Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Var, Vaucluse, Bouches du Rhône and Alpes-Maritimes. These are all under the administration region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

The major and most important cities or towns you would not want to miss are Avignon, Marseille, Carmargue, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Les Baux and Nîmes.

If we were to ask where is the gateway to Provence or where would be the start of our journey? The reply would have to be the historic Ville de Avignon. Many of us have at one time or another recited the children's song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon." The Pont St-Bénézet was the inspiration of this song.

Historically, Avignon is noted for the Palace of Popes and also for having been the political capital of the Christian World during the Middle Ages. It was here where Pope Clément V moved from Italy in the 14th century and began an era where nine popes resided and two of whom were schismatic.

Nîmes is another interesting city whose history dates back as far as the dawn of time. This city ...