Take the train to the Provence
Provence: a thousand different scents
Sunshine, mountains and the smell of lavender; that’s Provence in a nutshell. But it also has a rich history, encapsulated in the form of some of Europe’s best-preserved Roman remains, which you’ll find in Orange, Arles, Nimes, Vaison-la-Romaine and several other locations. At one time, Avignon was where the Pope lived long ago, and Gordes is the village des Bories (dry stone huts).
Provence was and continues to be a favourite among all sorts of artists. Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Cézanne and the author Daudet have immortalised this magnificent region.
Its nature is very varied: the wonderful Gorges du Verdon, the Calanques (inlets) between Marseille and Cassis, the marshland, the wild horses and pink flamingos of the Camargue and the imposing Mont Ventoux. From the top of its 1,912 metres, the Géant de Provence enthrals everyone and represents the ultimate challenge for any cyclist worthy of the name.
Provence gastronomy, meanwhile, is made up of a huge range of tastes and smells. You could start with a pastis, enjoy a bouillabaisse in Marseille, bite into a saucisson d’Arles, forget about your diet with some calissons d’Aix sweets and wash it all down with one of the delicious wines Provence has to offer. So, are your bags packed?
