When God created the sun, the earth, the mountains and the seas, and put them in place, he realized that a little of each remains. So he gathered the bits together to make a paradise and so was born Provence.

This popular saying reveals the essence of Provence. This area can be divided into two parts Provence, strictly speaking, and the French Riviera. These are two worlds, two universes which constitute all the lushness of this region and its complementarity. In the one hand, there are mountains, lavender, olive trees and vivid villages.

Historically, Provence was named after the "provincia romana" established in 118 B.C. by the Roman. But Provence enterred in ancient history with Massalia foundation by the Greeks settlers coming from the city of Phocea in 600 B.C.

Mediterranean climate is one of the most pleasant. Actually, the sun is shining about 300 days a year, the sea and the Mistral whistling refresh the heat of summer and make the winter warm.

Landscapes of Provence are very varied. There are four main components which are the coastal Provence, the Alps, the rhodanienne Provence(Camargue) and the hinterland. In A year in Provence, Peter Mayle has described the Luberon area (where there are many Most Beautiful Villages of France such as Gordes, Menerbes, Roussillon, Lourmarin, Venasque and Ansouis ): Wild flowers, thyme, lavender, and mushrooms grow between the rocks and under the trees, and from the summit on a clear day the view is of the Basses-Alpes on one side and the Mediterranean on the other”. Nature can also be wild, in the deep compact and beautiful Canyon of the Verdon.

There are plenty of great restaurants in Provence. Mediterranean cuisine is tasty and harmoniously combines fresh vegetables, fishes, spices and herbs. Provence is also one of the main region of wine producers in France with famous vineyards such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise and Gigondas without forgetting the typical Pastis - Ricard. Let's also mention olives and olive oil, truffles, lime, nougat and Calissons d'Aix as succulent food specialties.

Provence is a land of culture and arts. There are plenty of festivals such as opera festival in Aix-en-Provence, museums, festivities. Historical monuments (Palace of Popes in Avignon or in Aix en Provence) and charming villages as Gordes or Les Baux de Provence which inspirate Cezanne, Van Gogh and many others.