From the day of its birth, Provence in the south of France has discreetly kept her secrets until the arrival of Englishman Peter Mayle. In Mayer's writing, "Provence" is no longer a simple geographical name, but represents a simple and carefree, easy and lazy lifestyle; a kind of favor and shame, see the flowers blossom and fall in front of the court; to stay and go without intention, look at the sky clouds rolled clouds of leisure mood. Nowadays, millions of people flock to Provence and the C?te d'Azur in Southern France every year to see the scenery that is hard to describe in picture books and the unbelievable leisure in novels. If traveling is about escaping the shackles of life, Provence will make you forget all about it.
The best time of the year in Provence is summer. The sky is so blue and clear, the air is like freshly chilled lemonade in your lungs, and the deepest part of your heart is like a clear spring that flows through you, making you want to sing and whistle. The lavender on the hills is so ecstatic that the bikes, cows, and girls' skirts are filled with bouquets of deep purple and light blue flowers, and the whole valley is filled with the strong scent of ripe grass. The lavender and sunflowers spread out in the field in neat rows, stretching into the distance, with an apple tree slanting at the edge of the field and a few small brick houses with yellow walls and blue wooden windows not far away. The sunlight on the lavender bouquets is a golden glow of bluish purple.
Freedom of color compels artists to create inspiration, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Chagall and other great painters, are Provence into the new record of art; American writer Fitzgerald, British writer D.H Lawrence, French writer Aldous Huxley, German poet Nietzsche and so on have come to the pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims, Peter Mayle, who brought Provence to its peak with "The Years of Mountain Dwelling", was one of them.
Provence, France, in search of elegant love
Provence, France, was famous for its knightly love in the 12th century. When we think of France, we immediately say "Romantic"! In fact, the etymology of the word "Romance" has been associated with the legend of chivalry from the very beginning. The love of a noblewoman was the starting and ending point of all the knight's activities. In this era where love has become as simple and fast as instant noodles, and where a change of heart is faster than a change of face, couples who are destined to join hands in marriage should go to Provence for their honeymoon trip, and follow the elegant love of knights, so that their love may really last forever.
Besides the romantic love legend, the scenery of Provence region is more attractive. There are passionate cities of Marseille and Nice, as well as gentle and elegant university towns of Aix and Avignon, and small medieval villages that have escaped the changes of the century. Deserted gorges, neat fields, pristine mountains... all of this is surrounded by less than 150 square miles of Provence. You'd be hard pressed to find anywhere that blends the past and present as seamlessly as Provence. In Auranges, you can sit in a Roman-era amphitheater and watch a play; in Arles, you can while away an afternoon in a cafe at the Place du Forum, with a mesmerizing view almost indistinguishable from the one Van Gogh painted a century ago.
Three romantic places in Provence
One, the land of lavender
With the popularity of a "Lavender", many romantic girls are obsessed with that kind of flower language "waiting for love" purple flowers, and even a lot of "nymphomaniac! "Lavender" is the hometown of many romantic girls, and there are even a lot of "florists" who have traveled a long way to Provence, the hometown of lavender, to look for its fragrance.
The famous lavender viewing places in Provence are the Roubelon Mountains and the Schmierer Mountains.
1. Luberon mountains (Luberon) Cernanque Abbey flower field is the region's most famous lavender ornamental sites, but also the book "Mountain Years" story background, known as one of the most beautiful valleys in France. There is a 12th-century abbey on the hill, and in front of the Abbey of Senanque there is a large field of lavender flowers in different colors, planted by the abbots of the house.
2. Simiane-la-Rotonde (Simiane Hills) Simiane is a very characteristic hill town, on top of which stands Rotonde, a castle built between the 12th and 13th centuries, surrounded by a large field of lavender flowers. Standing in the town of Smyrna, you can see fields of purple flowers everywhere, spreading endlessly.
Two, Marseille and Ifo Island
Marseille's fame is more or less attributed to the "Marseillaise". It is on the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest city in France. Here there is no Parisian prosperity, but there is the most fascinating scenery along the Mediterranean coast: water and sky blue, and there is no interval between people, standing on the coast, but as if standing in the middle of the water. The city's Notre Dame de Jardin, the fortress of St. Jean, and museums are all worth a visit.
And a production of the Monte Cristo Enchantment pulls the traveler's eye from the ancient bustle of Marseille to the slightly lonely island of Ifo in the sea, for that is where the Count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned. Ile de l'Ifou is a 20-minute boat ride from the port of Marseille. It's a fun way to explore the island while holding a novel in your hand and following the path depicted in the book.
Three, Cannes
Cannes is a movie festival. With so many world-class stars gathered here, it must be a great place to be. Cannes is only an hour away by car from Marseille. Besides the famous Cannes Film Festival, there are many other local festivals to attract tourists. So no matter when you go, you will come across a good day and don't have to be disappointed that you don't encounter the star-studded spectacle.
If you've read the book A Year in Provence, you'll be longing for Provence in the south of France. Even if you haven't read British author Peter Mellor's description of Provence, you should read his book before traveling to the south of France. Ten years ago, Peter Mellor wrote "The Mountain Years" about his experiences in Provence, which not only hit the bestseller lists in the UK and the US, but also made Provence a popular tourist destination. The book was later honored as the "Best Travel Book of the Year" in the UK, translated into many languages, made into a TV series and adapted into a radio drama. Provence has been famous ever since.
In fact, Peter Mellor has left Provence and returned to live in the United States, but people who have read the book are still coming back in droves to find the couple's former home, the restaurants and towns mentioned in the book.
Much of the story of The Mountain Years describes the people and life in the valley village of Petit Luberon, a small town in Provence. As a result, the region's Cavaillon tourist office has taken advantage of the situation to promote local tourism by offering "Petit Merle's Provence Tours", which take visitors to the towns and villages featured in the book and to try the cuisine appreciated by the author. ......
The small town of Cavillon guards the valley of the Roubelon and is the gateway to the valley's villages and towns. It is best known for its abundance of cantaloupe, and every summer you can come and join the cantaloupe festival and celebrate with the locals. The town's famous pastry store, Chez Auzet, once featured in Peter Mellor's book, is now a thriving little store.
The Cafe-Restaurant de la Gare, mentioned in the book, is now a must-see for travelers. Fans of Peter Mellor's favorite dishes, such as crispy goat cheese salad, braised beef with mushrooms stuffed with tomatoes, cheese platters, baked apples with butter, and French wines, are a must-try.
The small villages and towns of the valley are the quiet towns that Peter Mellor loves. If you have time to explore them all, entering them is like entering the world of The Mountain House Years ......
Top 2 places to see lavender
Lavender is the most famous flower in Provence, and the fragrant oil extracted from the flowers can be made into essential oils, perfumes, herbal teas and other famous products. Every year from July to August, during the summer, Provence lavender bloom in the sun, a large field of purple flowers, dotted with the valleys of southern France, colorful, fragrant, smoky tourists drunk.
Lavender, which is not in bloom, looks like a green rice seedling, but when it blooms in the summer, it starts to blossom purple flower spikes from the top. It also has white and yellow flowers. The two most famous lavender spots in Provence are the Roubelon Mountains and the Smyrna Mountains.
1 Luberon
The flower fields of the Abbey of Senanque, the setting of the book "Les Vallées de la Montagne", are one of the most beautiful valleys in France.
On the hill is a 12th-century abbey, Senanque Abbey, with a large lavender field in front, planted by the abbots and featuring different colors of lavender. The Abbey's souvenir store sells a variety of lavender products, books, postcards and more.
Tourist Service Center
Apt Tourist Office
Address: Place Bouquerie 4, Av. Philippe de Girard 84400Apt
Tel: 33-4-90-74-03-18
Lavender tours
①Lavander 1100
Guided tours to visit the flower fields and purchase products.
Tel: 33-4-90-75-01-42
②Chateau de Bois Lavender Farm
Walking tours of the flower fields, the process of refining essential oils and a souvenir store.
Tel: 33-4-90-76-91-23
2 Simiane-la-Rotonde
Simiane is a characterful hill town, topped by the 12th- and 13th-century chateau of Rotonde, and surrounded by fields of lavender. Everywhere you look in the town of Schmidtmann you can see fields of purple flowers spreading endlessly.