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rovence
is the region of contrasts - the beaches and sophistication of the Cote
d'Azur, fields of lavender, Flamingos, cowboys and the white horses of
the Camargue, Wine and Good Food, Skiing in the Alpes in winter, the
gorges of the Verdon, the gentle air of the Luberon mountains with its
lavender and farms called bastides.
Departments and Main
Towns
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
(04)
- main towns Digne, Castellane,
Forcalquier, Gréoux, Moustiers, Verdon area,
Haute-Alpes
(05) - main towns Gap, Briançon,
Alpes-Maritime (06)
- main towns Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Grasse.
Bouches de Rhône
(13) - main towns Marseille,
Aix, Arles, Stes Maries, Salon, and the Camargue area
Var
(83)- main towns Toulon,
St Tropez, Fréjus, Hyères, St Raphaël,
Vaucluse
(84) - main towns Avignon, Orange, Vaison,
Apt and the Luberon regioni
Wine

When you think of summer you think also of
summer wines and Provence is most famous for its Rosé Wine and produces
half of the Rosé wine in France. 80% of its wine production
is Vin Rosé. Côtes
de Provence is its best known. Other wines of the region are from Bandol
and Bellet. Bandol produces a strong red wine and the vineyards
producing this were first planted by the Romans. Bellet is a small
area in the hills above Nice, difficult to cultivate mechanically and so
the production levels are low. Bandol and Bellet are red, white
and rosé. The Bellet red is little known, does not keep above ten years
but is considered quite delightful.
Cheese
Well with all those hills and herbs it
is not surprising that the cheeses from Provence are produced mainly
from goats and ewes and frequently flavoured with herbs!
Produce

Olives and subsequently Olive Oil
Truffles
Jasmine
Honey - particularly delightful when
produced from the lavender growing areas
Herbs
Lavender
Saffron made from Crocuses
Rice from the Camargue
Melons and lots and lots of other sun
drenched fruit
Almonds
Local Specialities
Bouillabaise
Fougasse
Génépi - an alcholic drink made
from the flowers of the Génépi
harvested in July
Lavender Pistou
Salade Nicoice
Soupe au Pistou
Olive Oil
Muscat de Ventoux
Pefume
  
With flowers in abundance, lavender and
herbs mixed with fruits and summer sun, it is hardly surprising that
perfume production is significant. Just 15 kilometres north
of Cannes, Grasses is the perfume centre of France. Discover the history
of perfume at the Muse
International de la Parfumerie. Chanel - famous for its perfumes
such as Chanel No 5, have their own farm, producing the Jasmine and Rose
de Mai, which are the basis of this perfume. Fragonard, Galimard, Mane,
and Moulinard are all based in Grasse and are the four foremost
perfumeries in France.
à la revisto !
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this Area?
Provence
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