Provence, France Area Information
A land of light, warmth and beauty, Provence awakens all the senses. The scent of purple lavender, the sound of cicadas in the pine trees, the taste of chilled rose wine, and the warmth of the sun on your back.
This beautiful region, in south-east France, has been divided into six different 'departements', each with
its own unique feel and landscape. Our properties are to be found in the Vaucluse, a picturesque area of diverse beauty ranging from cultivated vineyards and medieval villages, to deep river canyons and ochre coloured cliffs.
Vaison la Romaine at the northern end of the Vaucluse will enchant anyone with a love of history. Roman ruins jostle with modern day shops and restaurants, whilst an arched Roman bridge leads you to the cobbled streets of the medieval village overlooking the town.
Country lanes wind into the hinterland known as the Drome Provencale, bordering the edge of the Drome. Olive groves, vineyards and pretty stone hamlets lie in the valleys before you reach the Baronnies hills and the Toulourenc Valley.
To the south of Vaison la Romaine the hills rise up to become the Dentelles de Montmirail. The name comes from the unique outline of the pale limestone peaks, 'dentelle' meaning lace. Enchanting villages nestle among vineyards noted for their excellent wines.
Rising from the Vaucluse plateau is Mont Ventoux, the highest peak between the Alps and the Pyrenees. The ascent is awe inspiring -the higher you climb, the sparser the vegetation becomes until you reach the white limestone gravel covered summit. Indeed, the ecosystem of Mont Ventoux is so diverse that the mountain has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The summit affords breathtaking views, transformed at night into a dark carpet studded with clusters of glittering lights.
The largest of these clusters is Avignon, capital of the Vaucluse. Lying on the banks of the river Rhone, vestiges of its eminent past remain in the imposing Palais des Papes, a magnificent building that looms over the city. Wander elegant boulevards or simply while away an afternoon in one of the many cafes.
Moving east into the countryside, the town of Carpentras is worthy of a visit, for its Friday market. Equally appealing are Pernes les Fontaines with the 40 fountains found within its village walls, Isle sur la Sorgue, the second biggest antiques centre in France with its Sunday morning 'brocante' market, and Fontaine de Vaucluse famous for its resurgent spring. Tiny back roads lead you to Venasque, known for the beauty of its spring time cherry blossom. From the cobbled streets of Venasque, the road meanders to the valley known as the Luberon.
Probably the best known area of Provence, the Luberon abounds with elegant restored villages perched on hillsides overlooking valleys of vineyards, orchards and fields. A designated national park, it remains unspoilt and beautiful. The burnt sienna coloured houses of Roussillon and Rustrel echo the ochre sands found in the area, used for art and building work. From the deep red cliffs of the Provence Colorado, the landscape opens out on to a wide plateau where the air is filled with the scent of the lavender that covers the plain, evoking the true sense of Provence.
An hour's drive from the Vaucluse brings you to the charming centre of St Rémy de Provence, gateway to the Alpilles. A picture postcard town, it offers the quintessential boulevards shaded by plane trees, fountains in squares, narrow streets and cafés. A truly magnificent site is Les Baux de Provence, a fortified castle and village perched atop a tall spur of rock with sheer cliffs on three sides.
Head southwards towards the coast and you arrive in the Var, where a tranquil and rural way of life can still be found and a coastline dotted with small unspoilt coves where white sand meets sparkling blue waters. Inland, the sleepy villages of the Haut Var are set amongst vineyards. Slightly to the north lies the Grand Canyon du Verdon, stretching for 21km, where sheer cliffs and rushing green torrents of water combine to create a spectacular site.
Cuisine
Bursting with colour, fragrance and flavour, the local market offers irresistible stalls burdened with the best local ingredients. Sun-ripened tomatoes, ripe black olives, deep hued aubergines, the reddest strawberries and juiciest melons lay alongside fresh fish from the coast, lamb from the hillside and tables laden with herbs. Peppers, garlic and olives transform a catch of Mediterranean fish into that mainstay of Provencal cuisine: bouillabaisse. Finish with some goat’s cheese or peaches topped with lavender scented honey.
Provencal vineyards offer many quality wines. Rosés are perfect for long summer days and warm evenings. Chateauneuf du Pape is famous worldwide for its excellent reds whilst villages such as Vacqueyras and Gigondas in the Vaucluse offer equally good wines. Muscat de Beaumes de Venise is a superb dessert wine and for an aperitif, a pastis from Marseille is the obvious choice.
Festivities
Provence offers an abundance of colourful outdoor summer festivals. History and tradition are honoured with celebrations ranging from the huge Avignon Festival to the smallest village fête. Other events include opera and classical music performed in the Roman amphitheatre in Orange and jazz at the July Aix Festival.
Natural heritage is commemorated too at St Rémy de Provence, for example, with the Fete de la Transhumance in May or the August lavender festivals, notably in Sault and Digne. In September every grape producing village has its own festival offering thanks to the ‘vendange’ or wine harvest.
Climate
Provence is renowned for its temperate weather and long sunny days. July and August can see temperatures rising into the 30s. Spring is a lovely time to visit when all the flowers are in bloom and the trees in blossom. Warm enough to sit outside, the temperatures range from 21 to 25 degrees Celcius whilst in autumn it remains mild enough to sunbathe and swim.
Getting there
Provence is easily accessible by plane, train and car. From the northern Channel ports, it is a drive of 9-10 hours. By air, the region is served by both scheduled and low cost airlines.Nimes, Marseille and Avignon are the closest airports to our properties. Slightly further away are Lyon and Nice airports.