Living on the Côte d'Azur - Aix-en-Provence and Avignon
You'll be dancing sur le pont d'Avignon with your home
in Provence
The Attractions Of Owning Property In Provence by :
Cecil Jones
France is the world's number one tourist destination, and within this
country of wondrous natural beauty one of the most-visited regions is
the area of southeast France known as Provence.
The classic region of Provence, as named by the Romans, was a huge area
that stretched west from the current Italian border near Nice to
Marseille at the mouth of the Rhône. Nowadays when we refer to Provence
we generally exclude the Mediterranean coast, now called the Côte d'Azur
(or Côte Varoise near Saint-Tropez), and think of the area that
stretches north of the coast a 150 kilometers or so to the vineyards and
rolling countryside, dotted with tiny villages, in the area around
Aix-en-Provence and Avignon.
Provence offers a number of unique attractions not only for a tourist
but also for those who would like to buy property and settle down here.
A Mediterranean climate featuring more than 300 days of sunshine per
year is a major drawing card. Whether you enjoy swimming at nearby
seaside beaches or hiking in the hills, the climate of Provence offers
numerous advantages for those who are physically active and enjoy the
out-of-doors. And even with its well-deserved reputation for warm and
sunny weather, major ski resorts in the Alps are only a drive of two
hours or less from most parts of Provence.
While Provence is best known for its warm-weather attractions, many
visitors especially enjoy visiting in the winter, when there are few
tourists and the days are bright and sunny with mild temperatures. If
you purchase property and take up residence in Provence, you will not
have to worry about heavy heating bills in the winter, for even in the
coldest month of the year the temperature during the day ranges from 3°
to 15° degrees centigrade (37° to 59° Fahrenheit).
Provence is also rich in history. Well before the arrival of Caesar's
legions in the first century BC, Greeks and Phoenicians fishermen and
traders established villages along the coastline. The region got its
name when it became a province of the Roman Empire. Many antiquities
from the Roman era remain, as do churches, monasteries and cathedrals
dating back to the Middle Ages. Many villages still have their original
ramparts constructed in medieval times to ward off invaders.
While it is best known for its countryside attractions, in recent
decades Provence has evolved into one of the most sophisticated regions
of France, thanks partially to the fact that many Europeans and North
Americans rent seasonally or have purchased homes here. Marseille,
France's second largest city, is a major port and features world-class
boutiques, as do Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, both of which are
university towns. Orange, north of Avignon, and Aix are also famous for
their summer opera festivals, and Avignon for its world-renowned theatre
festival in July. Aix hosted a major Cézanne exhibition in the summer of
2006 that drew visitors from all over the world.
If you fancy life in a small village set in the vineyards for which the
region is famous, there are many picturesque localities that beckon in
Provence. Travel magazines rhapsodize about the constellation of
villages perchés in the Luberon region east of Avignon. Each of these
hilltop villages - Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste and Roussillon, to name
only a few - seems more charming than the last. Equally seductive are
the towns and villages of the Alpilles area south of Avignon, among them
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (many of Van Gogh's paintings were created near
here), Eygalières and Les Baux-de-Provence. Provençal villages are
especially enjoyable to visit when the weekly open-air markets are
taking place.
In addition to its beautiful countryside and vivid colors, which drew
many of the Impressionist painters here, Provence is also renowned for
its herbs and its aromas. In the springtime, take a walk in the
countryside and you can breathe in the fragrances of thyme, rosemary and
lavender. In the spring the apple and cherry trees are in full bloom.
One of the most enjoyable times to visit Provence is in autumn, when the
annual grape harvest is underway and the vines are just beginning to
take on their fall colors.
During any time of the year you can enjoy the fine food and drink for
which France and this region are well known. Restaurants abound
everywhere in the region, ranging from sidewalk cafés to family-run
village restaurants that routinely offer regional cuisine of a level
that would be awarded high marks by restaurant critics in other
countries. For fine dining there are numerous Michelin-starred
establishments, among them Bistro d'Egaylières at Eygalières, and the
famed L'Oustaù de Baumanière at Les Baux-de-Provence.
With all of these attractions it is no wonder that Provence is a
must-see destination for anyone who visits France. And for the visitor
who is interested in establishing a residence or owning a vacation home
in France, Provence should be at the top of locations to consider, both
in terms of an enjoyable lifestyle and a sound investment that will
appreciate in value.
About The Author
Cecil Jones is a Philadelphia attorney, businessman and dedicated
Francophile. He is the CEO of Just France Sales,
www.justfrancesales.com, a
United-States based company whose mission is to help people seeking to
buy property in France and the South of France.
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