What is the beauty of Provence?

Romantic Provence, intoxicating sea of ??lavender flowers

Provence is located in the south of France, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the inland hilly areas, with the big river Phone flowing in the middle, and many historical towns that have existed since ancient times. With its beautiful sunshine and blue sky, it amazes the world.

Since its birth, Provence in southern France has carefully kept its secrets. It was not until the arrival of the Englishman Peter Mayer that the veil of Provence’s unique life style for a long time was gradually revealed. open. In Meyer's writing, "Provence" is no longer a simple regional name, but also represents a simple, carefree, relaxed and lazy lifestyle; a kind of unfazed by favors and humiliations, watching the flowers bloom and fall in front of the court; having no intention of leaving or leaving, looking forward to it. The relaxing mood of the clouds in the sky.

Today, millions of people flock to Provence and the C?te d'Azur in southern France every year to experience the indescribable scenery in the albums and the incredible leisure in the novels. If traveling is to get rid of the shackles of life, Provence It will make you forget everything.

Forever Provence

The entire Provence region has an unusual charm due to its extreme changes - the weather is cloudy and sunny, the warm wind is gentle, the cold wind is wild, the terrain is undulating, and the plains Vastness, steep peaks, lonely canyons, desolate castles, winding mountains and lively cities - all of them interpret various styles in this land of France. Lavender blooms in the wind between July and August, and the rich colors decorate the green valleys. The slightly spicy fragrance is mixed with the fragrance of scorched grass, intertwining into the most unforgettable scent of southern France. In terms of food, Provence’s biggest advantage is its abundant agricultural products. The combination of fresh vegetables and fruits, olive oil, garlic, seafood and spices creates a paradise for diners.

The number of activities in this area is even more dizzying, from the Monton Lemon Festival in February of the year to the Avignon Arts Festival from July to August. From Ohongi's Opera Festival to the Lavender Festival in the Provence Mountains in August, the four seasons echo the unfettered years of the mountain town.

This free color inspired the creation of artists, including Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Chagall, etc., who all started a new stage of artistic life in Provence. The hedonism of the C?te d'Azur, It has also attracted American writer Fitzgerald, British writer D.H Lawrence, French writers Huxley, Nietzsche and others to come for pilgrimage. Of course, it also includes Peter who pushed Provence to its peak with "A Year in Provence". Mel. Provence - lavender - romantic colors and endless art also attract us.

Wandering in the world of lavender

Lavender——Lavender, this small purple flower whose flower language is "waiting for love", has fascinated many people. Mr. Pascal from Self Voyages Provence drove us through the mountains and wilderness in his Toyota, over the white limestone Mont Ventoux that looks like snow even in summer, and through the vast expanse of golden The sunflower garden finally stopped in a land of steaming purple clouds.

Lavender Sault, the capital of lavender, is so beautiful. This is the first time I have seen such a lush lavender field, such pure purple blooming in the high and low fields, opening romantic symbols in the summer wind, like the quietest longing, the sweetest melancholy, It's like that warm and sad feeling that hides in the heart of a loved one but can never hold his hand.

The harvested haystacks were rolled into the shape of oak barrels and laid out in threes and fives to dry in the fields, turning a pure yellow color. Yellow and purple stretch out so cleanly, and the air, our hair, and our skin are filled with the smell of lavender.

Our driver and tour guide, Mr. Pascal from Self Voyages Provence (Provence self-guided travel agency), has already set up picnic benches for us in the cypress forest. The content of the picnic is so rich that the only thing we worry about is It’s a good appetite, Chinese and Western dishes, freshly squeezed juices, bread, cheese, fruits, wine, and even desserts! The sun reveals spots of gold from among the cypress leaves, the wind is gentle, the birds chirp gracefully, the eyes are full of pure purple, and the breath is full of sweetness - so-called happiness, that's it!

The original Provence stretched from the Alps in the north to the Pyrenees in the south, including the entire southern region of France. During the Roman Empire, Provence was listed as a province. With the decline of ancient Rome, Provence was controlled by other powers...the Franks, Saracens, feudal lords, and was divided between the French Empire and the Pope.

Based on this factor, the boundaries of Provence have changed greatly in history. During the Revolution at the end of the 18th century, France was divided into five different administrative provinces, and Provence was one of them. In the 1960s, the administrative provinces were reorganized and divided into 22 regions, resulting in the current Provence-Alpes region. Around the elegant university city of Aix and the papal city of Avignon, there are also those small medieval villages and ancient mountain towns that have escaped the changes of the centuries.

Although the turmoil of the century has left Provence with a confused concept of boundaries, it has also given Provence a colorful past. As time goes by, Provence has perfectly blended ancient and modern styles.

In the small town of Orange, you can sit and watch a play in the Roman-era amphitheater; in another small town of Arles, you can spend an afternoon sitting in the café of Place du Forum. The intoxicating scenery is almost the same as the paintings painted by Van Gogh a century ago...

However, what is dramatic is that those beautiful and picturesque mountain villages also always remind people of the A bloody past. Les Deux and Gettys are located in the steep mountainous areas of central and northern Provence. The disputes between feudal lords in the medieval era plunged the entire southern France into war. For safety reasons, the mountain villages in this area are tightly structured and built on the edge of steep cliffs, as if they are permanently isolated from the dangerous world.

Over the past few centuries, their isolation has been successful. But since the 1960s, a new group of intruders have quickly broken the tranquility here. They are tourists.

"In summer, in order to buy some daily necessities, I often have to queue behind a long line of tourists, waiting for them to pay for one or two postcards one by one. This is annoying." Although the locals complained, But after the tourist season, tranquility returned here.

Aix-en-Provence, the city of Aix, is the hometown of the painter Paul Cézanne. It has been a university town since the Middle Ages and is also a famous "City of Springs". This is the ancient capital of Roman Provence. It is still known today for its Roman ruins, medieval, Gothic and Renaissance style architecture. Aix is ??also famous for its unique cuisine, rosé wine, and its special language - Provence dialect.

The life in Provence is simple but noble. Coming here to slow down the pace, take a good breath of the fragrance of forget-me-not, and taste the delicious cheese is a rare state in life.

High-quality grape wines are produced locally, 20% of which are high-end and top-quality wines. Due to the abundant sunshine in the Mediterranean, the grapes in Provence contain more sugar, which is converted into alcohol, making the alcohol content of Provence wine 2 degrees higher than that of wine in the north. The slightly orange dry rosé wine is the most distinctive. Common red wines include: Cotes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, Bandol.

Arles, an ancient town in South Provence, is famous for its warm and bright Mediterranean sunshine and fashionable artistic style. Anyone who has read "The Biography of Van Gogh" will probably remember that the outstanding painter once created and lived here. The streets, houses, and bars here are full of strong artistic atmosphere. The architecture of ancient Rome (the Arians are descendants of the ancient Romans), the works of artists, and the people living in modern civilized society coexist harmoniously and peacefully here. A very fashionable International Photography Festival is held here every July. In the stone ancient alleys and small squares, today's trend-creating photographers and romantic figures are exhibited.