Provence customs and business etiquette

Romantic Provence, intoxicating sea of ??lavender flowers

Provence is located in the south of France. From the day it was born, it carefully kept its secrets until the arrival of the British Peter Mayle. , the veil of Provence’s long-standing unique lifestyle has gradually been unveiled. 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 indifference, 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. If traveling is about getting rid of the shackles of life, Provence will make you forget everything.

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 ups and downs, the plains are vast, the peaks are steep, and the lonely canyons, Desolate castles, winding mountains and lively cities all 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, interweaving into the most unforgettable scent of southern France.

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 Ohunji's Opera Festival to the Lavender Festival in the Provence Mountains in August, the four seasons echo the unfettered years of the mountain city. 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 hedonistic atmosphere of the C?te d'Azur also attracted the American writer Fei Zijero, the British writer D.H Lawrence, the French writer Huxley, Nietzsche and others came to make pilgrimages, and of course, Peter Meyer, who pushed Provence to its peak with "The Days in the Mountains". The romantic colors and endless art of Provence also attract us.

The most refreshing thing about Provence is that its air is always filled with the aroma of lavender, thyme, pine, etc. This unique natural aroma cannot be easily experienced elsewhere. Among them, lavender is the most unique and loved. Since the abundant and bright sunshine is most suitable for the growth of lavender, and the local residents love the fragrance and curative effect of lavender, in Provence, not only can you see the charming scenes of lavender purple flowers blooming all over the place, but it is also common to hang various hangings in homes. There are various kinds of lavender sachets and sachets, and shops are also filled with various products made from lavender, such as lavender essential oil, perfume, soap, candles, etc., and packaged lavender herbal tea is sold in pharmacies and markets. . People can't help but want to know more about the charming aroma of Provence - the varieties of lavender.

In Provence, lavender fields have completely different landscapes throughout the year. In winter, after the harvest is cut, only short and neat dead stems are left, covered with white snow. When spring arrives, green leaves emerge. June is purple. Gradually, as the summer sun gets hotter and hotter, the lavender flowers quickly turn into a charming deep purple. Then the busy harvesting work begins. Time is important, so flower farmers must work day and night to harvest the flowers and distill the extract. By the end of September, all flower fields have been harvested. The lavender fields can take a breather, absorb the essence of nature, and prepare for the purple flowers to bloom again next summer.

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 ups and downs, and the plains Vast expanses, steep peaks, lonely canyons, desolate castles, winding mountains and lively cities - all of these are present in this French land. 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.

Wandering in the world of lavender

Lavender - Lavender, this small purple flower whose flower language is "waiting for love", has fascinated so 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 - the so-called happiness, that's it!

Provence Geography & History

Provence is located in southern France. 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. 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.

Provence produces high-quality grape wines, of which 20$Cts%$ are high-end and top-quality wines. Due to the abundant sunshine in the Mediterranean, Provence grapes 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 $Cts'$Aix en Provence, Bandol.

It stretches from the Mediterranean coast to the hilly areas inland, with the great river "Rhone" flowing in the middle. Many historical towns have been famous for their beautiful sunshine and blue sky, charming Mediterranean Sea and intoxicating lavender since ancient times. Amazing to the world.

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.

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.

Provence Food

Many people often use three foods to represent the cooking characteristics of Provence: "olive oil, garlic and tomatoes". When walking in Provence, almost everything you see is green olive trees. This place can be said to be the important town of French olive oil production. It not only creates a unique natural landscape, but also provides the residents with the oil needed for nutrition. Olives have naturally entered every kitchen, and tapenade is the best example.

·Tape tapenade

Chop the garlic and anchovy separately, add washed capers, thyme, savory and lemon juice. Beat well with a food processor, slowly pour in olive oil and season with pepper. The prepared tapenade spread on lightly toasted bread is the most authentic appetizer, and French bread made with tapenade is a specialty of Provence. If you like, you can also use tapenade as a dish!

·Garlic Mayonnaise

Garlic mayonnaise is often called the cream of Provence, which shows its popularity. Just like the direct translation of the name, it is a mixture of mayonnaise and garlic. It is extremely simple, but it can be paired with a variety of foods, from boiled eggs, steamed fish, to various lobster ingredients.

Fish Bouillabaisse

In fact, the whole of France has its own fish soup, but the content is slightly different and it is given a different name, such as Brittany. cotriade, pauchouse in Burgundy. I don’t know why, but Provence, especially Marseille, is very famous for its fish soup. Anyone who visits Marseille must not leave empty-mouthed.

The history of fish soup is more than 2,500 years ago. It is said that the Greeks brought it to France. However, even without the guidance of the Greeks, Marseille, located in the Mediterranean Sea, would have created fish soup sooner or later. The focus of bouillabaisse is all kinds of wonderful fish species. When it comes to fish species, the story is long. You'll never get a consistent answer as to which fish should or shouldn't be put in fish soup. What is relatively certain is that there are no shellfish in traditional bouillabaisse, especially mussels, but crabs and lobsters are not prohibited.

This standard is not universal, you may wish to take a closer look at the contents of your own bowl.

How to make and eat: Saute onions, tomatoes, garlic, and fennel in good olive oil, add thyme, Italian parsley and bay leaves, season with dried orange peel, and finally add saffron. Add color before adding the fish. Contrary to our assumptions, cooking bouillabaisse does not take long and must be completed within 15 minutes over high heat (of course this does not include the time to prepare the stock, but is it really necessary to use stock as the base? I'm afraid that's another question) . When eating, the soup and fish are served separately. Place a piece of bread in the bowl and scoop the soup directly into it. It would be perfect if it can be paired with some rouille.

·Garlic chili sauce

The so-called rouille is garlic chili sauce. Its raw materials include garlic, chili pepper, olive oil, bread crumbs and fish stock. Some people like to spread it on bread first, or you can put it directly into the bouillabaisse. No bouillabaisse is complete without garlic chili sauce.

Accommodation in Provence

Accommodation in Provence is quite unique, just like the diverse local life style, ranging from luxury hotels in the city to B&B farms in the countryside, all of which also provide comfort. rest environment and local food.

If you understand French yourself, or can find someone who understands French to accompany you, you may consider staying overnight in a B&B that provides meals to experience the local customs. Some B&Bs also arrange for guests to participate in local activities, such as dining with locals, chatting all over the place, and having fun together under the starry sky. That kind of harmonious atmosphere should be the best representation of the spirit of the global village.

The King Hotel in Aix has more than 100 rooms and has a four-star standard. The King Hotel Herne is one of the most exclusive hotels in the ancient city of Aix, with a four-star rating and quite advanced facilities such as a swimming pool.

The hotel has 134 large and small rooms, and you can see the beautiful garden from every room; the hotel restaurant also serves authentic Provence cuisine. This hotel adopts an American-style management method. Although it feels a little different from the beautiful and simple Provence, it can provide you with a comfortable environment to relax your body and mind after a fulfilling day.

Transportation in Provence

Take the TGV at Gare de Lyon in Paris

Paris has different train stations, connecting trains to different areas. The train from Paris to Provence The station is Gare de Lyon, and the train type you take is the TGV, a French high-speed train with a speed of up to 300 kilometers per hour. The journey takes about 3 hours. To take the TGV, you need to reserve a seat first. Make a reservation at the ticket counter of Gare de Lyon. From the left side of the gate outside the train station, you will see door number '21'. When you enter, you will see a row of ticket counters. Find the word 'International' on it. Just go to the counter. If you use a joint train ticket to make a reservation, you must show the ticket. The reservation fee is 54FF. The conductor will give you a boarding card with a seat number card on it.

Arrive at the station 30 minutes early to find the platform

Entering the train station gate, you can see a huge timetable in the atrium, which indicates the time, frequency, and platform. Usually The platform where the train stops is shown half an hour ago. It is sincerely recommended that you go there early to familiarize yourself with the environment, because the arrangement of the platform is very 'unexpected' and the signs are unclear. Part of the platform is in the station atrium, and part of the platform is in the station atrium. The platform is on the right, and the distance between the two sides is quite far. In addition, the train departure time is very precise. It will be bad if you get the wrong platform.

Recommended itinerary in Provence

1. Famous lavender viewing places in Provence: Luberon Mountains and Schimiana Mountains

The flower fields of the Sault Monastery in the Luberon Mountains (Luberon) are The most famous lavender viewing spot in the area is also the background of the book "Mountain Life". It is known as one of the most beautiful valleys in France. There is a 12th-century monastery on the mountain. There is a large lavender field in front of Senanque Monastery, which was planted by the monks in the monastery. There are lavenders of different colors.

Simiane-la-Rotonde is a very distinctive mountain town. On the top of the mountain stands Rotonde Castle, built in the 12th to 13th centuries, surrounded by A large lavender field. Standing in the town of Shimiyana, you can see purple flower fields everywhere, spreading endlessly.

2. Tour of surrounding small towns

Luberon (Luberon) is the southern region of the Vaucluse Province. The place written in Peter Meyer's "A Year in Provence" is here here. Roussillon is a colorful village, with pink, bright orange and bright yellow houses scattered randomly in the village like angels' toys.

Gordes is a rock villa. There is also a lavender museum in the village of Gordes, with an old-fashioned lavender oil press at the door. The museum displays various utensils used in lavender fields.

Aix is ??the hometown of the painter Paul Cezanne. It has been a university town since the Middle Ages and is also a famous "Fountain City". This is the ancient capital of Roman Provence. The city is famous for its unique cuisine, rosé wine, and the Provence dialect, the language of Tebe.

In Orange, you can sit and watch a play in a Roman-era amphitheater; in Arles, you can spend an afternoon sitting in a café. Every July, the very fashionable Stone Town International Photography Festival is held here. In the ancient stone alleys and small squares, today's trend-setting photographers and romantic figures are exhibited.

Provence Style

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.

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.

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

Provence Wine

If you associate Provence with a plant, tourists from all over the world will choose lavender, but local Most people choose fennel.

A long time ago, Provence was rich in absinthe, which caused hallucinations and addiction. Drinkers often went blind or went crazy because of this wine. Rimbaud was also killed by a drunken poet. A hundred years ago, absinthe was banned. Later, a hermit brewed this fennel wine during a plague. The people of Provence were saved. Since Provence is rich in fennel, every family makes their own wine. Nowadays, the wine sold for export is light, and the ouzo wine brewed by any local grandmother can knock down a cow.

Castle of Pau in Provence

Transportation: Take the bus from Arles Bus Terminal to Marseille and get off at Les Baux. There are 4 buses a day.

Tickets: Pau. Tickets for the History Museum are 6.5 euros

Opening hours: 9:00-20:30 during peak season (July and August); 9:00-19:30 at other times

Introduction: <. /p>

The Castle of Pau refers to the ruins of the ancient city of Pau and Provence (Les Baux de Provence) located near Arles. The city of Pau was once called the "Vulture Clan" by the poet Mistra. The fort guarded by the heroic Pau family later experienced the baptism of countless wars. The castle of Pau was destroyed by war during the reign of Louis XIII. The ruins of the castle from that time are now preserved for tourists to visit. < /p>

At the entrance of the Pau Castle is the Pau Historical Museum (Musée d'Histoire des Baux), which displays historical materials and cultural relics from the castle's heyday. Standing on the top of the castle, look around, the ancient city of Arles, etc. The surrounding scenery is panoramic. It is said that the Valley of Hell (Va d'Enfer) in the north was the place that triggered Dante to write "The Divine Comedy: Inferno".