Provence
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What is Provence?
Provence is a historical and cultural region in southeastern France. It includes the French départements of Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Var. It is nearly coextensive with the present-day region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
Provence was oriented toward the Mediterranean civilization with the establishment of Greek colonies in the area by the beginning of the 6th century BCE. The Romans occupied the region in the 2nd century BCE, calling it Provincia, from which the name Provence is derived.
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Where is Provence located in France?
Provence is a historical and cultural region in southeastern France, encompassing the départements of Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Var. It aligns closely with both the former province of Provence and the modern-day region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The region is bordered by Italy to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the regions of Occitanie to the west and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to the north. Marseille is its capital.
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What is Provence known for?
Provence is a historical and cultural region in southeastern France roughly coextensive with the modern region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It is known for its Mediterranean coastline and hilly hinterland.
Provence is also known for agriculture, with specialized irrigation for fruits, vegetables, and wines. The Côtes du Rhône vineyards in Vaucluse are well-known for wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Flower crops like lavender, roses, and jasmine are significant for the perfume industry in Grasse.
Tourism concentrates on the coastal belt east of Marseille, especially along the Côte d’Azur, with resort towns like Le Lavandou and Saint-Tropez. Inland sites, such as the Écrins and Mercantour national parks, are also increasing in popularity.
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What is the climate like in Provence?
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in France has a Mediterranean climate along the coast, but the cold, dry mistral wind from the north can cause sudden cold spells in much of the region during the winter. Annual precipitation is close to the national average but varies considerably from year to year. The southern Alps dominate the region, rising sharply from the coast along the Côte d’Azur. Plains such as Comtat, Crau, and Camargue lie to the west and are drained by the lower Rhône River.
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What are some traditional foods or dishes from Provence?
Provence, in the south of France, boasts a rich culinary tradition shaped by its climate and geography. Traditional dishes include bouillabaisse, a complex seafood stew originating from Marseille, made with various fish, shellfish, tomatoes, saffron, herbs, garlic, and olive oil. Another signature dish is ratatouille, a vegetable stew with tomatoes, squash, and herbs, mirroring the region's garden bounty.
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How has the culture or history of Provence influenced its art and architecture?
Provence's culture and history have significantly shaped its art and architecture. The establishment of Greek colonies oriented the region toward Mediterranean civilization, later followed by Roman influence, which is evident in the Romanesque architecture featuring grand, simple designs and ashlar masonry.
In the 12th century, Provençal cities flourished through trade, fostering troubadour poetry and Romanesque architecture. The Avignon school of late Gothic painting emerged during the "Babylonian Captivity" (1309–77), blending Italian and Flemish influences. The papal patronage attracted artists, establishing the Italian pictorial tradition in Provence. After the popes' departure, Avignon and Aix remained artistic centers, with Flemish influences later reaching Avignon.
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Provence, historical and cultural region encompassing the southeastern French départements of Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Var. It is roughly coextensive with the former province of Provence and with the present-day region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur.
With the establishment of Greek colonies (among them Massilia [modern Marseille]) in the area by the beginning of the 6th century bce, Provence was first oriented toward the civilization of the Mediterranean. In 125 bce the Massiliots appealed to the Romans for help against a coalition of neighbouring Celts and Ligurians. The Romans defeated the coalition but remained in occupation of the region. Thus, by the end of the 2nd century bce, Provence formed part of Gallia Transalpina, the first Roman provincia beyond the Alps, from which the area took its name. By the 4th century ce, Arles, an important meeting place for merchants, was the seat of the prefecture of all Gaul, and Marseille was the main centre of Greek studies in the west.
With the breakdown of the Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Provence was successively invaded by the Visigoths, Burgundians, and Ostrogoths. The region came under the rule of the Franks in about 536 and was subsequently ruled by their Merovingian dynasty, though it was not integrated with the rest of France.
The great Carolingian rulers made Frankish rule effective in Provence, but, after the collapse of Carolingian rule, Provence formed part of a series of kingdoms set up between France and Germany: the first kingdom of Provence from 855 to 863; the second kingdom of Provence from 879 to about 934; and Burgundy-Provence, the kingdom of Arles, which was nominally attached to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. By the end of the 10th century, a local dynasty (which had led the region’s defense against invasions by the Muslims) dominated the area and had acquired the title of count of Provence. With the end of this dynasty in 1113, the house of Barcelona gained the title, and Provence was ruled by the Spanish from Catalonia for more than a century.
In the 12th century, Provençal cities flourished from trade with the Levant and set up autonomous governments called consulates. At the same time, the civilization of the province—in which a language close to Latin was spoken and of which troubadour poetry and examples of early Romanesque architecture were among the outstanding cultural achievements—was at its height.
The Albigensian Crusade of the early 13th century, in which the Roman Catholic church suppressed the Cathari sect of southern France, introduced into Provence the influence of the papacy and northern France (although Provence, not being a stronghold of the Cathari, escaped devastation). The popes acquired Comtat Venaissin (in northern Provence, along the Rhône River) in the early 13th century and took up residence in Avignon from 1309 to 1377. Northern French influence in Provence dates from 1246, when Provence passed to the Angevin ruler Charles of Anjou, brother of King Louis IX. The province was at first subordinated to the Italian interests of these Angevin counts of Provence, who were also kings of Naples, but their reign witnessed the development of many of the region’s characteristic political institutions, notably its Estates (assembly), which had the power to approve taxes and to help govern the province in times of disorder in the late 14th century.
In 1481 Provence was willed to the king of France, and its union to the crown was effected on the condition that Provence keep its administrative autonomy. From the 16th to the 18th century, however, control by the king grew. In 1673 the généralité of Aix was established as the seat of an intendant (royal governor), while the Estates of Provence were not convened between 1639 and 1787, until just prior to the French Revolution.
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With the Revolution, the province completely lost its own political institutions and in 1790 was divided into the départements of Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, and Basses-Alpes (now Alpes-de-Haute-Provence). (The département of Vaucluse was added after the annexation of Comtat Venaissin in 1791 and that of Alpes-Maritimes with the annexation of the countship of Nice in 1860.)
The region comprises the Mediterranean coastline of southeastern France and its immediate (predominantly hilly or mountainous) hinterland. Provence is mostly Roman Catholic, though there are sizable Protestant enclaves around Marseille and in Vaucluse around Lourmarin and Merindol. Repatriated émigrés from North Africa have greatly increased the number of Jews in Provence. Occitan continues to be spoken in the Comtat Venaissin.