What is Provence?

Romantic Provence, intoxicating lavender sea of flowers

Provence is located in the south of France, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the inland hilly areas, with a big river phone flowing in the middle. Since ancient times, many historical towns have amazed the world with their beautiful sunshine and blue sky.

From the day it was born, Provence in the south of France kept her secret carefully. It was not until the arrival of the Englishman Peter Mailer that the veil of Provence's long-standing unique lifestyle was gradually unveiled. In Mel's works, "Provence" is no longer a simple geographical name, but represents a simple and carefree, relaxed and lazy lifestyle; A humiliation, watching the flowers bloom before the court; I have no intention of staying, and I have no intention of staying, looking up at the leisurely mood of the sky.

Nowadays, millions of people flock to Provence and C? te d 'Azur in the south of France every year to visit the scenery that is hard to describe in picture books and the incredible leisure in novels. If you travel to get rid of the shackles of life, Provence will make you forget everything.

Eternal Provence

The whole Provence region has an unusual charm because of its variety-unpredictable weather, warm winds, wild cold winds, undulating terrain, vast plains, steep peaks, lonely canyons, desolate castles, winding mountains and bustling metropolises-all of which show the myriad customs of this land in France. From July to August, lavender blooms in the wind, rich colors decorate the green valley, and the slightly spicy fragrance is mixed with the burnt grass fragrance, interweaving into the most unforgettable atmosphere in southern France. In terms of food, Provence's greatest advantage lies in its rich agricultural products. Fresh vegetables are combined with fruits, olive oil, garlic, seafood and spices to form a paradise for diners.

There are many activities in this area, even more dazzling, from the Monton Lemon Festival in February to the avignon Art Festival in July and August. Ou Hongji's opera festival to the lavender festival in Puwangsi Mountain in August echoed the unrestrained years of the mountain city at four o'clock.

This free color bewitched the creative inspiration of artists, including Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso and Xia, who all started a new stage of their artistic life in Provence. The hedonistic atmosphere of the C? te d 'Azur also attracted American writer Fitzgerald, British writer D.H. Lawrence, French writers Huxley and Nietzsche to make pilgrimages, including a year in Provence. Provence-lavender-romantic colors and endless art also attract us to listen to the wind.

Roaming the lavender world

Lavender-Lavender, a purple flower, has the flower language of "waiting for love", which has fascinated many people. Mr Pascal of Self Voyages in Provence drove us through mountains and fields in his Toyota, over white limestone, through a large golden sunflower garden, and finally stopped on a transpiration land in Xia Zi.

Lavender capital, lavender Sausel, is so beautiful. It's the first time for me to see such a lush lavender field, so pure purple blooms in the strewn at random fields, opening romantic symbols in Xia Feng, like the quietest yearning and the sweetest melancholy, as if hidden in the hearts of relatives but never able to hold your hand.

Harvested haystacks are rolled into oak barrels and dried in small groups in the fields, which is pure yellow. Yellow and purple are stretched so clean that the air, our hair and skin are full of lavender flavor.

Our driver and tour guide, Mr Pascal from Provence Self Voyages, prepared a picnic chair for us in the cypress forest. The content of the picnic is so rich that the only worry is that our appetite is too good. Chinese and western dishes, freshly squeezed juice, bread, cheese, fruit, wine and even dessert! Sunlight reveals golden spots from cypress leaves, the wind is soft, birds sing tactfully, their eyes are full of pure purple, and their breath is full of sweet breath-so-called happiness, that's all!

The original Provence started from the Alps in the north and reached the Pyrenees in the south, including the whole southern France. During the Roman Empire, Provence was listed as its province. With the decline of ancient Rome, Provence was controlled by other forces ... Franks, Saracens, feudal lords, and also divided between the French Empire and the Pope.

Based on this factor, the border of Provence has undergone great changes in history. /kloc-During the Great Revolution at the end of 0/8, France was divided into five different administrative provinces, and Provence was one of them. In the 1960s, the administrative province was reorganized and divided into 22 regions, so the Provence-Alpes Region came into being. Before and after the moderate university town of Aix and the papal town of avignon, there are small medieval villages and ancient mountain cities that have escaped the changes of the century.

Although the turmoil of the century left Provence with a chaotic concept of borders, it also gave Provence a colorful past. With the passage of time, Provence perfectly blends ancient and modern fashions.

In the small town of orange, you can sit in the Roman amphitheater and watch the play; In another small town, arles, you can spend an afternoon sitting in the coffee shop of Square Forum. The intoxicating scenery is almost the same as that painted by Van Gogh a century ago. ...

However, it is dramatic that those picturesque small mountain villages always remind people of the bloody history in the past. Lesdex and Gettys are located in the steep mountains in the north-central Provence. Disputes between feudal lords in the Middle Ages plunged the whole of southern France into war. For the sake of safety, the mountain villages in this area are closely structured and built on the edge of a steep cliff, as if to be isolated from the dangerous world forever.

Their isolation has been successful in the past few centuries. But since the 1960s, a group of new invaders quickly broke the peace here. They are tourists.

"In summer, in order to buy some daily necessities, there are often long queues of tourists waiting for them to pay for one or two postcards one by one. This is boring. " Although the local people complained a lot, after the tourist season, peace was restored here.

Aix's Provence Aix is the hometown of painter Paul Cézanne. It has been a university town and a famous "Spring City" since the Middle Ages. This is the ancient capital of Provence in Rome. Today, it is still famous for its ancient Roman ruins, medieval, Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Aix is also famous for its unique cooking, rose wine and special language-Provence dialect.

The life in Provence is simple and noble. It is also a rare realm of life to come here to slow down, take a sip of grass and taste delicious cheese.

Local production of high-quality wine, of which 20% are high-grade and top-grade wines. Due to the 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 northern wine. Dry pink wine with a slight orange color is the most distinctive. Common red wines are: Provence Winery, Provence Daniel F. Akerson Winery and Bandor.

Arles, an ancient town in the south of Provence, is famous for its warm and bright Mediterranean sunshine and fashionable artistic style. Anyone who has seen the Biography of Van Gogh will probably remember that outstanding painters once created and lived here. The streets, houses and bars here are full of strong artistic atmosphere. Ancient Roman architecture (Arabs are descendants of ancient Romans), artists' works and people living in modern civilized society live in harmony, tranquility and beauty here. Every July, a fashionable international photography festival is held here. On the Stone Gu Xiang and Little Square, great photographers and romantic figures who are creating trends today will be exhibited.

Six impressions of Provence make you forget all the paradise.

Every year, millions of people flock to Provence and C? te d 'Azur in the south of France, hoping to see the beautiful scenery that is difficult to describe in picture books and the incredible leisure and gorgeous life in novels and essays. If you travel to get rid of the shackles of life, Provence will make you forget everything.

1. Beach

The coast of Provence surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea is called the Riviera. 1887, poets praised it in the name of' Azur Coast'. Since18th century, it has been the most fashionable holiday resort for royalty and wealthy celebrities. When the north is covered with thick ice and snow, they fly to the south like migratory birds and gather at the seaside to enjoy warm sunshine, air, luxury and flashy life. This type and reputation has continued to this day. In fact, the beaches of the C? te d 'Azur are not naturally beautiful. They are bounded by Antibu, with beaches in the west and gravel in the east, so they need to import sand to pave the way. However, under the deliberate management of hotel operators, the beach is very clean.

2. Flower Sea

Lavender and sunflower are the most famous flowers in Provence mountain area. The quality of lavender in Provence ranks first in the world, but it is not easy to get close to the purple sea of flowers, because most of them are distributed in remote mountainous areas. In full bloom in July, the flowers are overflowing, and sunflowers competing with the sunshine in southern France are blooming in Shan Ye, and the flower fields occupy Shan Ye wantonly. These gorgeous colors are the orthographic symbols of Provence.

3. Delicious food

For France, the gourmet kingdom, Provence's greatest advantage lies in its rich agricultural products and reputation as a "French farm". Provence cuisine is characterized by the extensive use of five items, namely seafood, seasonal fruits and vegetables, olive oil, spices and garlic, which is unique in French cuisine with its fresh, light and healthy characteristics. Finally, coupled with the sunshine of Provence, Provence has become a paradise for gourmets.

4. Art

The bright colors of Provence bewitched the inspiration of the artist's creation. From the19th century to the beginning of 20th century, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Matisse and Xia all started another stage of their artistic life in Provence, and the hedonistic atmosphere of the C? te d 'Azur also attracted numerous writers, such as American writer Fitzgerald, British writer D.H. Lawrence and French writer Huxley. Don't miss Peter Mayer, who pushed Provence to the top with A Year in Provence. These creators painted different styles of Provence with color or literary talent.

Step 5 celebrate

There are many activities in this area, from the Nice Carnival in February, the Monton Lemon Festival, the avignon Art Festival in July and August, the Opera Festival of Ou Hongji, and even the Lavender Festival in the Provence Mountains in August. The summer in Provence is particularly lively, and there are music activities everywhere, such as the jazz festival in Antioch, the music performance in the old town of Cannes, and the fireworks show at sea. It seems that only lively and colorful large-scale activities can echo this unrestrained era.

6. Roman and medieval architectural relics

The coastal area adjacent to Italy was the first area where the Romans entered France. The Romans, who were good at irrigation and building reclamation, left many unique relics, including intact ancient city pools, arenas, circular arches and fountains, or decaying stone pillars and lost mosaic wall decorations. Another feature is medieval monasteries. The square monastery built by local marble has a unique aesthetic feeling, and the white colonnade and circular arch restore the simplest religion.