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- Destinations
- Europe
- France
- Provence
Provence
No other region of France stirs the imagination and stimulates
the senses as strongly as Provence. The soft light and its vivid
landscape of pastel colours have inspired writers and artists from
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Edith Wharton to Van Gogh and Picasso.
The fragrant countryside, redolent with wild herbs, is scattered
with historic fortified medieval towns such as Avignon and
Aix-en-Provence and the ancient Roman towns like Orange and Arles
with their great monuments, arches and coliseums.
Provençal cooking is known worldwide for its contributions to
French cuisine, including Seafood Bouillabaisse, Ratatouille, and
Daube Provençale Stew. Its wines have a poorer reputation, but have
improved considerably in recent years and Provençal rosé is
becoming increasingly popular as a Provence souvenir.
On the coast is the great port of Marseille, a melting pot of
cultures so in contrast to the traditional social landscape of most
French provincial towns. Low-cost airlines and a fast TGV train
from Paris have made Provence increasingly accessible and this,
combined with glorious weather, puts it high on any list of the
world's most desirable destinations.
Information & Facts
Climate
Provence has a Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and
mild winters. Temperatures along the coast tend to be slightly
higher and swimming in the Mediterranean can be enjoyed as late as
September/October. Most rainfall occurs in spring (April to May).
Provence is renowned for the presence of the Mistral wind, a cold,
dry north westerly wind that funnels down the Rhone Valley, often
reaching 60 miles per hour (100km/hr), and is at its strongest and
most frequent during winter and spring.
Language
French is the official language.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can
be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some large hotels,
though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major
credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques,
particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not
accepted.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and
last Sunday in October).