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Whether it's cruising the cliff-top roads, sunbathing on the beaches or browsing for goodies at the weekly market, Provence and the Côte d'Azur sum up the essence of France – sexy, sun-drenched and irresistibly seductive.Food
Wherever you end up in Provence, you certainly won't go hungry. Food is a central part of French life, but in Provence it becomes an all-consuming passion. Dominated by the hallowed ingredients of Mediterranean cooking – olive oil, wine, tomatoes and garlic – the region's cuisine is guaranteed to be a highlight, whether that's savouring a simple bowl of soupe au pistou, tasting olive oil on a farm, or indulging in a full-blown bowl of bouillabaisse on Marseille's harbourside. Bon appetit.
Lyrical Landscapes
Provence and the Côte d'Azur are made for explorers. One of the joys of travelling here is touring the back roads and soaking up the stunning variety of landscapes: fields of lavender, ancient olive groves, cliff-top roads, maquis-cloaked hills and even snow-tipped mountains. It's home to Europe's deepest canyon, oldest road and highest pass, all a dream come true for drivers – and then there's the Mediterranean itself, a bright mirror of blue reflecting back craggy cliffs, white beaches and endless skies. Take your time – getting there is half of the fun.
Art Aplenty
It wasn't just the scenery that drew artists like Rénoir, Chagall, Cézanne and Picasso here: it was the light, described by Matisse as 'soft and tender, despite its brilliance'. Whether you're gazing over a glittering seascape or watching a fiery sunset in the hills, a trip around this corner of France feels like stepping straight into an impressionist canvas. And with such a rich artistic legacy, it's no surprise that the region is home to a wealth of iconic art collections, not to mention studios where van Gogh, Cézanne and Rénoir worked.
The Sea
Two thousand years ago, Provence was part of Roman Gaul, and the Romans left behind a fabulous legacy of monuments, structures and buildings – not to mention some of France's first vineyards. The area is littered with Roman remains, including amphitheatres in Nîmes, Arles and Orange, the magnificent Pont du Gard aqueduct and even whole towns near St-Rémy-de-Provence and Vaison-la-Romaine.Factor in a collection of prehistoric sites, medieval abbeys, elegant churches and art deco buildings, and Provence begins to feel like a living history book.
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