Provence
Provence is a former Roman province and is now a region of southeastern France, located on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to the Italian border. It is now part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d´Azur. The traditional region of Provence comprises the départements of Var, Vaucluse, and Bouches-du-Rhône in addition to parts of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes. Provence is so named because it was the first Roman province outside of the Italian region.
Provence Location
Provence is a former Roman province and is now a region of south-eastern France, located on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to France´s border with Italy. It is now part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d´Azur (PACA). The traditional region of Provence includes the departments of Var, Vaucluse, and Bouches-du-Rhône in addition to parts of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes.
Provence Landscape
The Riviera is bathed in blue - the blue of the sky and sea with its glamorous resorts Saint-Tropez, Cassis, Bormes Mimosas, Saint Raphael, Nice and Cannes. Inland features its perched villages, the Verdon Canyon, the Ventoux mount, the Alpilles and further along the coast the unique Camargue ( Arles, the Baux de Provence, the Saintes Maries de la Mer) and its wild horses and flamingos. The Luberon - made famous by Peter Mayle - with its fields of lavenders, and architectural splendour of Avignon.
Provence Weather
In the spring, the weather can be very changeable with sunny days mixed with partial cloud and showers. However, when it rains it pours. Fortunately, the showers are usually brief. Beware the Mistral wind, blowing down the Rhone Valley, which can rage for days!
Summers can be very hot although evening temperatures will drop. A haze can persist in the early mornings but the sun quickly burns it away. There are days of glorious sunshine.
During Autumn (Fall), storms can spring up and be quite fierce in the mountains. Many days of sunshine with less haze and pleasant temperatures.
Along the coast Winters are mild, and the sun will be shining brightly still! Snow rarely falls at lower levels but the mountains above 1500m will be covered during the middle of winter.
