Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Travel guide - Provence

Provence

Romantic Provence, intoxicating sea of ??lavender flowers

Provence is located in southern France, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the hilly areas inland, with the large River Phone in the middle However, many historical towns have amazed the world with their beautiful sunshine and blue skies since ancient times.

Since its birth, Provence in southern France has carefully kept its secrets. It was not until the arrival of the Englishman Peter Mayle 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 ups and downs, 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, the biggest advantage of Provence 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 fields in his Toyota, over the white limestone Mont Ventoux that looks like snow even in summer, and through the vast expanse of gold. 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 lush lavender fields, 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 hidden in the heart of a loved one who can never hold his hand.

The harvested haystacks were rolled up into 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 in 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 ancient stone alleys and small squares, today's trend-creating photographers and romantic figures are exhibited.

The 6 Impressions of Provence, a paradise that will make you forget everything

Every year, millions of people flock to Provence and the C?te d'Azur in southern France, wanting to see in person the beautiful scenery that is difficult to describe in the album. And the incredible leisurely and gorgeous life in novels and essays. If traveling is to get rid of the shackles of life, Provence will make you forget everything.

1. Beach

The Provence coast surrounding the Mediterranean Sea is called Riviera. In 1887, the poet praised it under the name of "C?te d'Azur". Since the 18th century, it has been the most fashionable vacation destination for royal families, aristocrats, wealthy businessmen and celebrities. When the north is covered by thick ice and snow, they fly south like migratory birds and gather at the beach to enjoy the warm sunshine, air and luxury. A flashy life, this style and fame continues to this day. In fact, the beaches of the C?te d'Azur are not naturally beautiful. Bounded by Antibes, there are sandy beaches to the west and gravel to the east, so they need to import sand for filling. However, under the deliberate management of the hotel operators, the beaches are very beautiful. clean.

2. Sea of ??Flowers

The most famous flowers that decorate the Provence mountains are lavender and sunflowers. The quality of lavender in Provence is the best in the world, but it is difficult to get close to the sea of ??purple flowers, because most of them are distributed in remote mountainous areas. During the blooming period in July, the fragrance of the flowers is astonishing, and the sunflowers that compete with the sunshine in southern France bloom all over the mountains and plains. Flower fields occupy the mountains unbridled and unrestrained. These bright colors are the true symbol of Provence.

3. Delicious food

For France, the kingdom of food, the biggest advantage of Provence is its rich agricultural products and its reputation as a 'French farm'. The biggest feature of Provence cuisine is its large amount of food. Using five major items: seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, spices and garlic, it is unique in French cuisine for its freshness, lightness and health. Finally, coupled with the characteristic of Provence's sunshine, Provence has become a paradise for gourmets.

4. Art

The bright colors of Provence inspired artists from the 19th to the early 20th century, including Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and Marti. Charles, Chagall and others all started another stage of their artistic lives in Provence, and the hedonistic atmosphere of the C?te d'Azur has also attracted countless writers to make pilgrimages, such as American writer Fitzgerald, British writer D.H Lawrence, French writer Herbert Xue Li, Nietzsche and others, and of course, don't forget Peter Meyer who pushed Provence to its peak with "A Year in Provence", these creators use color or literary talent to depict the different customs of Provence.

5. Celebrations

The number of activities in this area is truly dizzying, from the Nice Carnival in February of the first year to the Menton Lemon Festival, July to August The Avignon Arts Festival, the Opera Festival in Ohongy, and even the Lavender Festival in the Provence Mountains in August. Summer in Provence is particularly lively, with music activities happening everywhere, such as the Jazz Festival in Antibes, music performances in the old town of Cannes, and fireworks shows on the sea. It seems that only lively and colorful large-scale activities can echo this unrestrained atmosphere. years.

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 farmland water conservancy and building settlements, left many unique features The ruins of the style include complete ancient city pools, arenas, round arches, fountains, or ruined stone pillars and lost mosaic wall decorations. Another feature is the medieval monastery. The square monastery made of local marble has a unique The beauty, white columns and round arches restore the most simple and simple style of religion.

Transportation Tips: How to get to Provence

Train

Take the TGV at Gare de Lyon in Paris

Paris has different train stations, connected to Trains from different regions. The train station to arrive in Provence from Paris is Gare de Lyon. The type of train you take is the French TGV fast 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 not clear. 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.

Interweaving purple dreams and immersing yourself in the romantic lavender garden

Lavender seems to be a hymn specially written for Ropewangs, telling it in detail The Provence region is filled with endlessly beautiful colors and fragrances. From the original wild lavender scattered all over the mountains and plains to the lavender flower fields that have been carefully cared for and cultivated now, lavender has always been closely related to the lives of people in this area. Here, whether in the fields or hills, there is a charming lavender, and it shares all the beauty and fragrance with everyone who comes here, and shares this sea of ??purple flowers full of romance and infatuation. From spring to autumn, Ropewang invites you to embark on this more than a century-old lavender trail at any time. Get ready to ignite your spark of adventure and joy.

Provence in early summer is the kingdom of lavender. A large field of lavender swaying in the wind interweaves a purple dream, and Provence’s rural scenery and bright sunshine. It has always been a source of inspiration for many painters and writers. You can bask in the leisurely life of living in the mountains, get rid of the dust of the world, and return to your innocent heart!

Get to know lavender

Lavender blooms in July

The scientific name is Lavandula Species

English Lavender

Although lavender is called a grass, it is actually a small purple-blue flower. Common lavender grows upright, with opposite leaves. The shape can be slender oval or needle-shaped with a large leaf area. The flowers bloom like spikes at the top of the stem, and the most common color is purple.

The lavender in Provence is mainly divided into three categories

Native lavender (True Lavender, Lavandula Angustifolia), also known as British lavender, has the best quality and is mostly used To make high-end perfumes and spices, small and delicate plantings are often used. The leaves of this kind of lavender are thinner and the flower spikes are shorter.

Spike Lavender (Spike Lavender, Lavandula Latifolia), also known as mint lavender, has wider leaves, longer flower stems and flower spikes.

Hybrid lavender (Hybird Lavender, Lavandula Lavandin) is a hybrid of the above two species and is cultivated in large quantities. Most of the lavender in Provence flower fields now is this kind.

Smell: Light and clear, with a woody floral aroma.

Transportation overview and itinerary suggestions in Provence

Transportation overview

Meandering all the way from Provence to the C?te d'Azur, passing through mountains, villages and ancient cities to the ferry to the blue sea and blue sky A fake paradise, this route intertwined with simplicity and luxury has exuded unique charm for two hundred years, attracting countless tourists to visit regularly like migratory birds. Now MOOK will take you to the secrets of France with the most convenient public transportation. garden.

Connect trains and buses

Using public transportation is the most important item for self-guided travel. Of course, if you can travel by yourself, it will definitely be more free and comfortable, but first, be warned Your French road signs are not very consistent with the logic of Taiwanese people. You may get the wrong direction even on the highway, let alone in the countryside and mountains like winding trails. Another troublesome thing about driving is that the cities in Provence are quite small, and most of the streets remain the same size as in the Middle Ages. If you are not familiar with the road conditions, you may go crazy looking for places. Therefore, it is recommended that you make good use of public transportation to make your travel smoother.

Trains can stop at larger points, and smaller points are connected by buses

If travelers mainly stay in big cities, they can choose trains. Although the main railway lines in southern France are inferior to those in the north, Not very dense. For small villages, you need to rely on bus connections. The main stopping places of the train from north to south are Avignon, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, Nice, and Monaco. You can choose these places as the focus of your stay, and then travel from this area to nearby villages. On the one hand, there are intensive train services between these cities, and on the other hand, the services provided by the surrounding transportation facilities, hotels, restaurants, etc. are also relatively complete.

Use more one-day tours arranged by locals

Although the transportation facilities are perfect, there are not many flights in the more remote mountainous areas, and the French's 'weird' design sometimes It makes you confused. For example: buses and ferries are not publicly operated, but are owned by different private companies. Therefore, the appearance of the buses is somewhat different. They often look like large luxury air-conditioned buses chartered by travel agencies; or, they are clearly parked. At the same pier, ferries arriving at the same place also have different appearances and fares. To avoid mistakes, you can sign up for a half-day tour or a full-day tour arranged by the local travel agency or passenger service center, so that you can go deep into the authentic and charming mountains of Provence. You can obtain relevant information from your hotel or tourist service center.

Self-guided travelers should try to avoid overweight luggage

This is definitely not an alarmist. If you are catching trains, squeezing buses, and finding your way in Provence with large and small bags, you will definitely be miserable. The romantic and freedom-loving nature of the French people is reflected in the "disorganized" nature of public facilities. Most train stations do not have escalators or elevators, and lockers are often out of order. There are no signs in English, and passers-by cannot speak English, so they only pack lightly. Convenience allows you to travel freely.

South France itinerary suggestion table

Stay location extension area transportation mode

Suburbs around Avignon (Lüberhon, Gouhede, etc.) Participate in Avignon A day trip to Saint-Remy takes about 45 minutes by bus and the fare is 35 FF (francs).

Arles takes about 20 minutes by train and the fare is 35 FF.

Marseille Aix is ??40 minutes by train or 30 minutes by bus.

Cannes-San Rafa takes about 25 minutes by train and the fare is 32 FF.

Saint Tropez takes about 50 minutes by ferry from the port of San Rafa, and the round-trip boat costs about 100 FF, or you can arrive directly by ferry from the port of Cannes (9:30 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) Go, return at 18:30, ship fee 100FF).

Nice Monaco takes about 25 minutes by train and the fare is about 22FF.

Taking the train from Antibes takes about 25 minutes and the fare is about 26 FF.

Monton takes about 35 minutes by train and the fare is about 28 FF.

Local Bus Guide

When traveling in Provence, you will definitely use the bus. Under normal circumstances, the bus stops are near the train station, especially the slightly larger ones. Cities such as Avignon, Cannes, Nice, etc., but there are also bus stations located slightly further away, such as Aix, Marseille and other cities.

The biggest difficulty in finding a bus stop is that it 'doesn't look like a bus stop'. Often the bus stop is right in front of you, but what looks like a bus stop is actually a parking lot because it is privately owned. The operators voluntarily set up joint ticket centers or offices, so don’t be suspicious when you finally see a place with advertisements and a service counter at a bus station.

Recognize the word 'Pieton'

The signs on French roads are for cars, not for people. This means that if you see a huge sign that says 'Ville', 'Gare', etc., you will think that the next town or station is nearby, which guarantees that you will reach exhaustion. These signs are all to guide drivers. It is said that it is quite common for French people to drive their own cars, and all traffic The equipment is all designed with drivers in mind, so when looking for roads, you must know that 'Pieton' means pedestrians. For example: 'Pieton Gare' is a shortcut to the station for pedestrians, 'Pieton Entree' is a pedestrian intersection, and only The word 'Pietons' means it's dangerous here, don't go near it.

It is recommended to use a variety of means of transportation

In fact, to visit the beautiful coastline of the French Riviera, taking a bus is the most authentic way. There are cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other. Just around the corner, there is a surprising scenery and wonders, especially the coastline from Nice to Monton.

The most interesting way to reach Monaco is to take a helicopter. Although the whole journey does not take more than 10 minutes, you can enjoy the high-rise buildings built on the cliffs from the air. There is a helicopter company in Nice that packages a one-day round trip to Monaco, which includes the cost of a taxi to the airport and a helicopter ride. It is recommended that you choose to take a helicopter on the way out and a train or bus on the return trip, which costs about 400 FF.

1. Les Phoceens Bus Company

Address: 2, Place Massena 06000 nice

Telephone: 04-93-85-66-61

Cities traveled: Nice-Antibes-Cannes-Saint-Rafa-Aix-Marseille.

Fares: Nice-Aix: 133FF. Nice-Marseille: 140FF. Nice-Marseille (April-June): 150FF.

Contact information for various locations:

Aix: Gare Routiere/Tel: 04-42-27-82-54

Antibes: 8, Pl de Gaulle／Tel: 04-93-34-15-98

Cannes: Phoceens CTM-Square Merimee／: 04-93-39-79-40

Marseille: Gare Routiere／Phone: 04-91-50-57-68

Nice: Phoceen Cars-2, Place Massena

2. Ligne 100 Bus Company

Telephone ：04-93-85-64-44／04-93-85-61-81

Cities passing through: Nice (Nice-Gare Routiere)-Monaco-Monte Carlo-Monton ( Menton-Gare Rotiere).

Helicopter

Heli-inter

Tel: +33-04-93-21-46-46

City via: Nice -Monaco, one way 400FF/round trip 725FF.

Nice-Cannes, one-way 400FF/round trip 780FF.

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