Provence

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Provence (Provençal Occitan language: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative list of regions in France of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The traditional region of Provence comprises the département in Frances of Var (département), Vaucluse, and Bouches-du-Rhône and parts of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes-Maritimes. Provence is so named because it was one of the first provinces outside of Roman Italy.

History Provence has been inhabited since ancient times. It was known in ancient times as part of Narbonensis, inhabited by Ligurians and later Celts. The coastal strip was settled by Greeks and Phoenicians from around 600 BC onwards, with Marseille (known by the Romans as Massilia) becoming one of the great trading cities of the Mediterranean. It was progressively settled by the Ancient Rome from the 2nd century BC, eventually becoming a Roman province of the Roman Empire. This gave it its name, from the Latin PROVINCIA (province), as Provence was one of the first areas conquered by Rome outside of Italy. Christianity arrived in Provence very early and the region was already extensively Christianised by the 3rd century AD, with numerous monasteries and churches being constructed. Provence fared badly in the aftermath of the fall of the Roman Empire, suffering repeated invasions: Visigoths in the 5th century, Franks in the 6th century and Arabs in the 8th century, as well as repeated raids by Berber people pirates and slavers. It subsequently passed into hands of the Counts of Toulouse as a fiefdom of the Counts of Barcelona (later Kings of Aragon).

In 973, William I of Provence defeated the Arab pirates based at Fraxinetum at the Battle of Tourtour and took the title Pater Patriae. From 1032 to 1246 the county was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It became a fief of the French Monarchy from 1246, under the rule of the Angevin dynasty. Upon the death of Charles IV, Duke of Anjou in 1481, Provence was inherited by Louis XI. It was definitively incorporated into the French royal domain in 1486. Significant enclaves existed within Provence for many years afterwards: Orange, France remained under the control of the House of Orange-Nassau until 1672; the Comtat Venaissin, centered on Avignon, was under Pope rule until 1791; and Nice and Menton were not added to Provence until as late as 1860.

The now-extinct title of Counts of Provence belonged to local families of Franksish origin, to the House of Barcelona, to the Capet-Anjou and to a cadet branch of the Valois Dynasty.

Geography Provence is bound by the Alps and Italy to the east and the Rhône River to the west, with the Mediterranean Sea providing its southern border. It has very varied topographical features, ranging from fertile plains in the Rhône valley to mountains in the east (notably Mont Ventoux, the Luberon range and the Alpilles), to marshlands in the south (the Camargue).

The Principality of Monaco is nestled between Nice and Italy. Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon and Arles are other cities of importance in Provence. Marseilles is by far the largest city in Provence and the second largest city in France; the principal city of both the 'Bouches-du-Rhône' department and the region PACA (Provence Alpes Côte d'azur), Marseille is also called the chef-lieu (capital city) of Provence.

Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur :
Area: 31,400 km2
Population: 4781000 inhabitants (2001 to 2006)
Regional Prefecture: Marseille

Sights Many remains from the Roman times can be seen in Provence, including:

Arles, monuments listed as World Heritage Sites since 1981.
Glanum, near Saint Rémy de Provence
Orange, France
Vaison-la-Romaine

Culture Much rosé wine is produced under the Côtes de Provence AOC Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, using some of the typical grapes of southern France, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault. It is often at its best young. The other Appellations of Provence are Bandol AOC, Les Baux de Provence AOC, Bellet AOC, Cassis AOC, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC, Coteaux Varois AOC and Palette AOC.

Provençal is the adjective used to describe things originating from this region, as well as being the name of the local Occitan language under its regional variety, Provençal language. Occitan is a Romance language that is part of the Romance dialect continuum that stretches from Italy to Portugal.

Authors who have written about Provence in Occitan language include:

Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
Folquet de Marselha
Bellaud de la Bellaudière
Frédéric Mistral
Robert Lafont
Joseph d'Arbaud
Théodore Aubanel
Florian Vernet
Francis Gag
Max-Philippe Delavouët
Claudi Barsotti
Pierre Pessemesse
Jòrgi Rebol
Enric Espieut

Authors who have written about Provence in French language include:

Alphonse Daudet
Emile Zola
Henry James
Jean Giono
Marcel Pagnol

Authors who have written about Provence in English language include:

Peter Mayle/current resident
Carol Drinkwater

Authors who have resided in Provence include:

Painters of Provencal scenes and landscapes include:

Paul Cézanne
Vincent van Gogh

Music written about Provence includes:

The saxophone concerto Tableaux de Provence (Pictures of Provence) composed by Paule Maurice. Georges Bizet, 'L'Arlésienne'. Darius Milhaud, 'Suite Provençale'

On the culture of Provence see further:Prosper Mérimée, Notes de voyages, ed. Pierre-Marie Auzas (1971)Martin Garrett, 'Provence: a Cultural History' (2006)James Pope-Hennessy, Aspects of Provence (1988)Laura Raison (ed.), The South of France: an Anthology (1985)

See also

Bullfighting
Herbes de Provence
List of dukes, kings, counts, and margraves of Provence
Pastis
Pétanque
Provençal literature
Ratatouille
Saintes Maries de la Mer
Saint Sarah
Sisteron
Santon (figurine)
French wine
Aix en Provence

External links

Free pictures of Provence
Official PACA Tourist Board Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur Tourist Board
Areas of Provence Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office
Art in Provence Contemporary artists of the region Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur shows their work.
Provence for enthusiasts Provence: walking guide; classic yachts; villages; Roman remains; and in classic films.
Provence photos

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Provence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Provence (Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to Italy.

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