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The walled towns continued their building stages
into the 12 Th and 14 Th Centuries while many
rulers came and went including the Popes who
resided at Avignon from 1309 to 1376 and built
impressive castles. In recent years, these towns
have been home and motif to Cezanne, Van Gogh,
and Picasso.
into the 12 Th and 14 Th Centuries while many
rulers came and went including the Popes who
resided at Avignon from 1309 to 1376 and built
impressive castles. In recent years, these towns
have been home and motif to Cezanne, Van Gogh,
and Picasso.
| Renting a House In Provence |
The people of Provence work the land and cherish
their traditions; the coliseum at Arles still features
bullfighting two times a year along with its other
Camargue bull spectacles. A movement is
underway to teach the ancient language of
Provencale in the schools and many of the villages
hold festivals throughout the year that include
ancient music, dance, horsemanship, and bull
fighting.
The southern region of France from
Montelimar to the Mediterranean, from Nice
to the Saintes Maries de la Mere in the
Rhone River Delta is called Provence. This
region, rich in Roman ruins, Medieval walled
cities, and Renaissance art, offers fabled
towns like Roman-built Arles and the
one-time capital, Aix-en-Provence, along
with Solon de Provence, home of
Nostradamus, and St. Remy, haunt of the
Impressionist painters. The walled cities of
Provence ooze history ; Roman aqueducts,
coliseum-like arenas, Roman theatres, and
Gothic and Renaissance castles are
everywhere.
Montelimar to the Mediterranean, from Nice
to the Saintes Maries de la Mere in the
Rhone River Delta is called Provence. This
region, rich in Roman ruins, Medieval walled
cities, and Renaissance art, offers fabled
towns like Roman-built Arles and the
one-time capital, Aix-en-Provence, along
with Solon de Provence, home of
Nostradamus, and St. Remy, haunt of the
Impressionist painters. The walled cities of
Provence ooze history ; Roman aqueducts,
coliseum-like arenas, Roman theatres, and
Gothic and Renaissance castles are
everywhere.
Although rich in history, this area had been largely
overlooked by international tourist except those that
toured coastal Provence while visiting Cannes, Nice,
and St Tropez: the Cote d' Azur to French
speakers, the French Riviera in English.
Celebrity chefs like Julia Child then put Provence on
the American cooking vacation circuit with her
cookbooks and her praise for the bouillabaisse of
Marseille (30 to 60 Euros a plate in Marseille's Old
Port restaurants), and the simple fare of the region
based on fresh produce and olive oil.
overlooked by international tourist except those that
toured coastal Provence while visiting Cannes, Nice,
and St Tropez: the Cote d' Azur to French
speakers, the French Riviera in English.
Celebrity chefs like Julia Child then put Provence on
the American cooking vacation circuit with her
cookbooks and her praise for the bouillabaisse of
Marseille (30 to 60 Euros a plate in Marseille's Old
Port restaurants), and the simple fare of the region
based on fresh produce and olive oil.
| Renting In Provence |
| Vacation South of France Hiking, Biking, and the Culinary Vacation |
Tradition
The hills and valleys of Provence were inhabited as
far back as Neolithic times and still have rock tombs
of early settlers. Later, nomadic shepherds built
corbel vaulted beehive-like structures of stone
called bories with an estimated 3000 still standing
around Gordes and Saignon.
Germanic Celtic tribes and Italian Ligurians
inhabited Provence before the Greek (600 BC) and
later Roman settlers (100 BC) built permanent
dwellings of stone.
From the first century BC to the third century AD
the Romans built an extensive road system
throughout Provence, the best example perhaps,
the first century Julian Bridge on the road between
Gordes and Lacoste that, until recently, carried
automobile traffic over the Coulon River, a feeder
of the Durance River.
far back as Neolithic times and still have rock tombs
of early settlers. Later, nomadic shepherds built
corbel vaulted beehive-like structures of stone
called bories with an estimated 3000 still standing
around Gordes and Saignon.
Germanic Celtic tribes and Italian Ligurians
inhabited Provence before the Greek (600 BC) and
later Roman settlers (100 BC) built permanent
dwellings of stone.
From the first century BC to the third century AD
the Romans built an extensive road system
throughout Provence, the best example perhaps,
the first century Julian Bridge on the road between
Gordes and Lacoste that, until recently, carried
automobile traffic over the Coulon River, a feeder
of the Durance River.
History
Cooking Vacation
Continuing interest in the cuisine, a love affair with
the Impressionist painters, and the discovery of
Provence's hiking, climbing, kayaking, and biking
opportunities had generated a wave of American
tourist keeping the rentals full nearly year round
until the Euro became so much stronger than the
dollar. Even with the dollar discounted around 30
percent, Provence still draws Americans, usually in
May and June, and in September and October, the
months when the European travelers are back to
work and not on their six-week July/August
vacations.
Many of the villages in Provence are storybook
quaint, full of ancient stone buildings with tile roofs
and narrow cobble streets open only to
pedestrians. Lavender fields of rich purple color
the hillsides in June and July and 12Th Century
chapels crown the hilltops in the Medieval walled
villages. Farming of rice in the south and wheat
and lavender in the north along with raising of
sheep and the practice of viticulture and olive
production are the primary industries in largely
rural Provence.
the Impressionist painters, and the discovery of
Provence's hiking, climbing, kayaking, and biking
opportunities had generated a wave of American
tourist keeping the rentals full nearly year round
until the Euro became so much stronger than the
dollar. Even with the dollar discounted around 30
percent, Provence still draws Americans, usually in
May and June, and in September and October, the
months when the European travelers are back to
work and not on their six-week July/August
vacations.
Many of the villages in Provence are storybook
quaint, full of ancient stone buildings with tile roofs
and narrow cobble streets open only to
pedestrians. Lavender fields of rich purple color
the hillsides in June and July and 12Th Century
chapels crown the hilltops in the Medieval walled
villages. Farming of rice in the south and wheat
and lavender in the north along with raising of
sheep and the practice of viticulture and olive
production are the primary industries in largely
rural Provence.
Hiking Biking Kayaking
Many visitors rent a place in Provence to settle in
for a brief period of living the village life, shopping
for the daily provisions, and cooking with the locally
grown produce. Others home base in a convenient
village and make day trips by rental car to
surrounding hill towns of stonewalls and Medieval
castles and for reaching the hiking, biking,
horseback riding, kayaking, and cliff climbing.in the
hills and river valleys.
Renting a house, even if it just for a week or two, is
a good and economical way to enjoy all that
Provence has to offer.
for a brief period of living the village life, shopping
for the daily provisions, and cooking with the locally
grown produce. Others home base in a convenient
village and make day trips by rental car to
surrounding hill towns of stonewalls and Medieval
castles and for reaching the hiking, biking,
horseback riding, kayaking, and cliff climbing.in the
hills and river valleys.
Renting a house, even if it just for a week or two, is
a good and economical way to enjoy all that
Provence has to offer.
| Renting a House |
Rentals can accommodate several families or just
two people. When your search begins on the web,
start first with the number of people that you will
accommodate.
two people. When your search begins on the web,
start first with the number of people that you will
accommodate.
How Many People
The regions of Provence are called departments
and include Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute
Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhone,
Var, Vaucluse, and the Drome Provencale.
Start a search with either the region you desire or
the price range you seek. Some villages are more
expensive than others but the area is well served
by good roads so that you can base in one place
and reach many villages and walled cities in an
hours drive.
Link to Rental Houses and Apartments
Transportation will be of crucial importance. Will
you have a rental car? (30-60 USD per day and
plentiful in the major cities and TVG stations) If not,
lodging in one of the larger towns or cities would be
a better option unless you want the solitude and
isolation of a country villa or retreat.
Click Link For Rental Cars
Transportation: Local buses make trips between
major cities stopping at towns and villages along
the way. Schedule.
Click Here For Exchange Rates ; prices for rentals
will list in Euros or the British Pound.
and include Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute
Provence, Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhone,
Var, Vaucluse, and the Drome Provencale.
Start a search with either the region you desire or
the price range you seek. Some villages are more
expensive than others but the area is well served
by good roads so that you can base in one place
and reach many villages and walled cities in an
hours drive.
Link to Rental Houses and Apartments
Transportation will be of crucial importance. Will
you have a rental car? (30-60 USD per day and
plentiful in the major cities and TVG stations) If not,
lodging in one of the larger towns or cities would be
a better option unless you want the solitude and
isolation of a country villa or retreat.
Click Link For Rental Cars
Transportation: Local buses make trips between
major cities stopping at towns and villages along
the way. Schedule.
Click Here For Exchange Rates ; prices for rentals
will list in Euros or the British Pound.
What Region
Medieval Castles
Next came English writer Peter Mayle's "A Year In
Provence," a book that prompted a herd of
Europeans to fan out in the countryside of the
Luberon and Vaucluse looking for distressed
cottages and old farms to buy as fix-up vacation
homes and rentals. Otherwise the countryside of
Provence has changed little in five hundred years.
No massive development, no malls, and just a few
high-speed roads. The one major innovation, the
high-speed TVG train; with top speeds of 180 MPH
it puts Avignon two and a half hours from Paris.
Provence," a book that prompted a herd of
Europeans to fan out in the countryside of the
Luberon and Vaucluse looking for distressed
cottages and old farms to buy as fix-up vacation
homes and rentals. Otherwise the countryside of
Provence has changed little in five hundred years.
No massive development, no malls, and just a few
high-speed roads. The one major innovation, the
high-speed TVG train; with top speeds of 180 MPH
it puts Avignon two and a half hours from Paris.
A Year In Provence
A Villa or Vacation rental
at the foot of a walled city
could accommodate up
to 15 or more and give
good access to
recreation, culture,
shopping
at the foot of a walled city
could accommodate up
to 15 or more and give
good access to
recreation, culture,
shopping
Saignon on the hilltop
overlooking Apt is
postcard perfect and
near enough to the larger
city to offer transportation
overlooking Apt is
postcard perfect and
near enough to the larger
city to offer transportation
Arles was a roman city in
the first century
the first century
A limited menu family run
mom and pop style
restaurant in the Village of
Apt, La Manade on Rue
Rene Cassin should not be
missed
mom and pop style
restaurant in the Village of
Apt, La Manade on Rue
Rene Cassin should not be
missed
Plain Trees
(Sycamore)
(Sycamore)
Non-lethal bull fighting
Road to St. Remy
Season: High, Mid, Low
High: July August
Mid: April, May June, September, October,and
School Vacations
Low: November,December, January, February,
March
High: July August
Mid: April, May June, September, October,and
School Vacations
Low: November,December, January, February,
March
Text and Photos David Hilbert
The Roman Arena in Arles
still hosts bull fights
still hosts bull fights
The Roman Theatre in Arles
| Cooking Vacation in Provence Healthy Eating,Low Fat Cooking |
Eygaleires
Apt
david@SoftSeatTravel.com
Dave Hilbert's
SoftSeatTravel
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