It’s impossible not to fall in love with a beautiful country of France! And it is equally impossible to set priority to one of its regions – Normandy, Burgundy, Gascony or Provence…
But why should we dispute what is better – the ocean coast or the magnificent Alps? Each person after visiting this country will surely have his favourite region, his most beautiful city, his most interesting tourist route, his dearest sights which have sunk deep into his heart, etc.
Let’s open this country to ourselves gradually, step by step. And let’s begin with Provence. Why not?
In Provence, the south-eastern region of the country, the whole France is reflected like in miniature: here one can find submountain Alps next to mountain chains and the Mediterranean coast, planes next to hills? Lakes, rivers, slashes, uplands and canyons…
Bright and vibrant, simply fantastically sunny Provence is so various! The landscapes behind your car window change rather fast, together with flora and fauna. Vineyards and lavender fields float before your eyes, to be changed by rice plantations, olive groves and forest zones, and soon there appears a part of a stony coast. In each part here there are local specifics of architecture, traditions, cuisine.
Provence’s capital Marseille alone has accumulated during the 26 centuries of its existence so many interesting things, that they are impossible to enumerate; one should see them with one’s own eyes. One day is not enough for this! Palaces Longchamp and Faro, basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Castle of d'If, Saint Victor Abbey, the Old port and the town hall with a cathedral church…
Further on there is Arles with its immense heritage – from the Roman rule up to the time of Vincent Van Gogh (Medieval narrow streets, the Roman theater and amphitheater, the hospital where a mad genius artist Van Gogh stayed).
No less wonderful Avignon has most beautiful streets and small squares, the ancient fortress wall and a unique Pontifical residence of the 14thcentury, church bell-towers…
And your time won’t be wasted if you listen to street performers’ music and the murmur of the fountains in Aix-en-Provence, admiring in the meantime honey-coloured facades of local houses…
You will be also unable to leave quickly other Provence small towns and villages, just drop in to Bonnier and Ménerbes, Les Baux-de-Provence, Gordes and Roussillon, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Ansouis ou Lurmaran! Even here you can find not only charming pieces of nature worthy of attention, but also picture galleries, exhibitions of sculpture, local craft shops, musical parties and concerts.
And whenever you go you will receive a hearty welcome, have wonderful wine and most delicious Provence food! It is really impossible to feel the local atmosphere without the degustation of all the gastronomic wealth of Provence!
But why should we dispute what is better – the ocean coast or the magnificent Alps? Each person after visiting this country will surely have his favourite region, his most beautiful city, his most interesting tourist route, his dearest sights which have sunk deep into his heart, etc.
Let’s open this country to ourselves gradually, step by step. And let’s begin with Provence. Why not?
In Provence, the south-eastern region of the country, the whole France is reflected like in miniature: here one can find submountain Alps next to mountain chains and the Mediterranean coast, planes next to hills? Lakes, rivers, slashes, uplands and canyons…
Bright and vibrant, simply fantastically sunny Provence is so various! The landscapes behind your car window change rather fast, together with flora and fauna. Vineyards and lavender fields float before your eyes, to be changed by rice plantations, olive groves and forest zones, and soon there appears a part of a stony coast. In each part here there are local specifics of architecture, traditions, cuisine.
Provence’s capital Marseille alone has accumulated during the 26 centuries of its existence so many interesting things, that they are impossible to enumerate; one should see them with one’s own eyes. One day is not enough for this! Palaces Longchamp and Faro, basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Castle of d'If, Saint Victor Abbey, the Old port and the town hall with a cathedral church…
Further on there is Arles with its immense heritage – from the Roman rule up to the time of Vincent Van Gogh (Medieval narrow streets, the Roman theater and amphitheater, the hospital where a mad genius artist Van Gogh stayed).
No less wonderful Avignon has most beautiful streets and small squares, the ancient fortress wall and a unique Pontifical residence of the 14thcentury, church bell-towers…
And your time won’t be wasted if you listen to street performers’ music and the murmur of the fountains in Aix-en-Provence, admiring in the meantime honey-coloured facades of local houses…
You will be also unable to leave quickly other Provence small towns and villages, just drop in to Bonnier and Ménerbes, Les Baux-de-Provence, Gordes and Roussillon, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Ansouis ou Lurmaran! Even here you can find not only charming pieces of nature worthy of attention, but also picture galleries, exhibitions of sculpture, local craft shops, musical parties and concerts.
And whenever you go you will receive a hearty welcome, have wonderful wine and most delicious Provence food! It is really impossible to feel the local atmosphere without the degustation of all the gastronomic wealth of Provence!