VILLAGES
OF PROVENCE
Orange
Roman Orange was founded in 35BC (later associated with the
fruit!). It was endowed with many Roman monuments which are now
UNESCO world heritage sites – the forum, temple, triumphal
arch and theatre. It was the capital of northern Provence and
was considered to be a miniature Rome.
St. Rémy de Provence
Considered to have the most important Roman excavations in
France at Glanum, St. Rémy de Provence was also the birthplace
of Nostradamas and Vincent van Gogh was treated at the Monastry
St. Paul de Mausole psychiatric centre. A visit to his room, the
courtyard and gardens is quite evocative. ‘The Starry Night’,
‘The Irises’, ‘Hospital at San Rémy’,
‘Olive Trees’ and many still lifes, portraits of the
staff and patients were also painted during his stay there.
Chateauneuf du Pape
A well-known Rhone wine region by wine lovers around the world,
this region covers more than 3,200 hectacres and produces over
110,000 hectolitres of wine per year.
Chateauneuf du Pape translates to ‘The Pope’s New
Castle’ and the region is entirely entwined with papal history
from 1308.
Lovers of Burgundy wines, the consecutive popes of the era promoted
wine-growing around Avignon (near the Pope’s Palace). The
unique combination of sandy, rocky limestone soil, long dry summers
with long hot daylight hours and the mistral wind contributed
to magnificent grape producing conditions.
Wines produced in this region are typically high in alcohol (13-15%),
are predominantly red in variety and age superbly.
A wine lover’s delight.
Les Baux de Provence
In a spectacular position in the Alpilles mountains, Les Baux
de Provence is set atop a rocky outcrop crowned with a ruined
castle overlooking the plains of the south.
Its name refers to its site ‘baou’ meaning rocky spur.
The village was named after the bauxite was discovered there in
1821.
Les Baux de Provence has been dated back to 6000BC because of
its defensive possibilities and was used as a fort through the
ages. The castle was demolished in 1632 as a result of an unsuccessful
protestant uprising against the powerful Cardinal Richelieu. It
is now given over to tourism.
TOURS
IN PROVENCE - FRANCE
Discover
Treasures
of Provence
