Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur (PACA)

The Cote d’Azur is known as the ‘French Riviera’ and is the famous playground for the rich and famous, with Saint-Tropez, Antibes, Cap Ferratt, Cannes and its Film Festival, when all the hotels are full of ‘stars’. Avignon is one of the most fascinating towns in the south of France. The Palais des Papes is the dominant feature of Avignon and the Pont St-Benezet, known by children the world over from the song sur le Pont d’Avignon . The Camargue, well known for its small white Arab-type horses, ridden by traditional gardians, a community who play their part in keeping Camargue traditions alive. Members of the gardian brotherhood demonstrate their horsemanship each April in the Arles arena.

Provence is bounded by the Alps and Italy to the east and the Rhone River to the west, with the Mediterranean Sea providing its southern border. It has very varied topographical features, ranging from fertile plains in the Rhone valley to mountains in the east (notably Mont Ventoux, the Luberon range and the Alpilles) to marshlands ion the south (the Camargue)

Probably the most popular region of France with its olive trees, fields of lavender and sun drenched beaches, remote mountain plateaux and dramatic river gorges. The book, “A Year in Provence”, caused the area to be inundated by Brits, which of course had a notable effect on house prices in the area. It is undoubtedly the weather that attracts people to the Mediterranean in the first place, the idea of sunshine all year round is very attractive and the fact that the Mediterranean Coast is said to be one the healthiest areas to live with the lowest mortality rate in the whole of France.

The Principality of Monaco is nestled between Nice and Italy. Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Arles are other cities of importance in Provance. Marseilles is by far the largest city in Provence, being the principle city of both the ‘Bouches-du-Rhone’ department and the ‘Cote d’Azur’ region, however, the chef-lieu (capital city) of Provence is in fact the second largest city, Aix-en-Provence, which is north of Marseilles, more centred in the region.

The climate of Provence is typically Mediterranean, warm and dry. However, the legendary Mistral is a strong, cold wind from the north that occurs mostly in the winter and spring. The higher regions of Provence get snow in winter. Temperatures can be as high as 44 degrees Celsius.

The climate in Provence results from the combination of three factors, high annual daylight hours, limited snow and rain etc., in the winter the Mistral drives out the clouds after short but intense downpours, and significantly dry annual weather.

It rains only 30 to 50 days in the plain, but more in the Alps (it rains more than 70 days in London by comparison). The annual average temperature on the coast is 15.1 degrees C in Marseilles to 17.3 degrees C in Menton, (compaired to 16.5 degrees C in Barcelona, 18 degrees C in Tunis, and 10.2 degrees C in London). During the coldest month, the temperature in the day is from 11 degrees C to 14.8 degrees C on the coast (8 degrees C in London).

The Mediterranean Coast is probably of the most easily accessible parts of France, from all parts of the world, and with the expansion of budget flights from other European countries and the French high speed train, (the TGV stops in Montpellier, with good rail connections to all main towns). It is also very easy to travel to Italy and Spain by road.

Of course, the areas attraction is shared by many and around 25 million tourists visit the area every year, with the population being quadrupled each summer, which could be a problem to you, unless of course, you want to let property to tourists. Campsites are dotted along the coastline, along with hotels and self-catering properties and all the resulting traffic.

Many remains from the Roman times can be seen in Provence, including Arles, monuments listed as World Heritage Sites since 1981, Glanum, near Saint Remy de Provence, Orange, Vaison-la-Romaine.

Much rose wine is produced under the Cotes de Provence appellation, using some of the typical grapes of southern France, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. It is often at its best young.

Provencal is the adjective used to describe things originating from this region.

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