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Roman Provence  The essence of this part of Provence was created on canvas by Cezanne and Van Gogh, but the Greeks and Romans created much of their subject matter. The Greeks introduced the ubiquitous vine, the Romans fruit trees - and an advanced infrastructure of villa, forum, amphitheatre and aqueduct, much of it in working order, as visitors to Nîmes, Arles and the Pont du Gard can vouch. In more recent times cities such as Avignon with its Pope’s palace and Aix en Provence with its fountains and leafy boulevards have become the great cultural centres of the area, whilst the bustling port city of Marseille is the commercial capital. They enjoy a hinterland of sunbaked mountain scenery, interspaced with vineyards and fields of lavender, notably in the much prized Lubéron, contrasting with the great marsh delta of the Camargue, at the mouth of the Rhone, with its dashing white horses and black fighting bulls. Places of Interest The Provencale landscape of Mt Ste Victoire and Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding countryside, made famous by Cézanne and Van Gogh; Nîmes, Arles and the Pont du Gard for examples of Roman architecture as well as the Roman city of Avignon with its bridge and Pope’s Palace; Sports and Leisure Tennis courts at most towns and villages in the area; walking; riding. Provence - Riding centres at Joucas, near Menerbes and Avignon; windsurfing and swimming at the Lac de la Bande; canoeing at Fontaine de Vaucluse; cycle hire in Menerbes and Avignon; Avignon Drama Festival. |