"When
the sun, the earth, the mountains and seas were created
and put in place, a little of each remained
so the bits were gathered together to make a paradise
and so was born Provence."
The
history of Provence began with the Ligurian Princess Gyptis, who in the sixth
century B.C. received the territory of what it is now Marseilles as a gift for
her marriage with the Phoenician, Protis. So began the region 's first period of
prosperity.
Due to the Roman conquest in the second century B.C., Provence came to be known
as the Provencia Romana, which was later shortened to Provence. Under Roman
administration, the region's economic and artistic life exploded. The towns of
Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Orange, Vaison la Romaine and Fréjus still boast the
magnificent remains of arenas, amphitheatres, spas, and villas.
The fall of the Roman Empire in 410 A.D. was followed by a rather somber period
until the Kingdom of Provence was formed in 855 A.D. The Middle Ages, with its
various political influences, saw the advent of the troubadours who sang the
beauties of Provence in their local Oc dialect throughout Europe.
In 13O9, the pope Clement V settled in Avignon, to avoid conflicts in Italy and
Provence gained further economic and cultural standing.
After being attached to the French Crown in 1482, Provence suffered difficult
times. Religious wars swept the region in the sixteenth century. The terrible
plague of the early eighteenth century claimed over 100,000 victims.
The French Revolution(1789) then came to Provence, but divided the region.
Marseilles contributed its name to the Republic 's national anthem, while other
citizens of Provence backed the monarchy.
It
was the nineteenth century that brought a new era of splendor to Provence. The
railway was developed and maritime exchanges with distant locales prospered.
The
protection of the Provençal dialect was organized by the Félibrige Foundation.
The Provençal almanac was put together by Mistral, Aubanel, Roumanille, and the
entomologist, Fabre.
From 1950 to 1980, the region’s population exploded on the Mediterranean coast
around the Rhône. However, inland Provence suffered from a mass rural exodus,
which caused much of this area to remain an idyllic and peaceful country
setting.
Today, due to its favorable geographic
setting, Provence attracts more and more national and international visitors and
investors. The Provence/Cote d’Azur area has become one of the most dynamic
economic zones in France, with a rate of unemployment that is well below the
national average.
When
we picture this little corner of paradise all of our senses are awakened. To the
eye, it's a symphony of colors: the muted tones of landscape, the blues of sky
and sea, the lavender blossoms, the ubiquitous white limestone, as well as the
ochre-colored houses with their multicolored shutters.
To
the ear, Provence is a symphony of sounds: the joyful humming of markets, the
clacking of pétanque balls , the whirring of the cicada's son, and the
whistling of the mistral.
Thoughts of dining in Provence evoke long, leisurely meals eaten under the shade
of a tree, with simple yet beautiful table settings accentuating good food made
from the freshest ingredients. A thousand smells, a thousand tastes overcome
you: lavender, linden, olive oil, "aïoli", fresh fish, Provençal
basil soup (Pistou), as well as the regional wines and the unforgettable pastis.
With all it has to offer, this enchanting countryside is a study in delightful
contrasts. Bathed in a wonderful light through time immemorial, it is no
surprise that many visitors are drawn to discover "l'art de vivre" in
Provence.
