PACA

Provence 

The region of Provence is formed by a triangle made by three historical roman cities, Orange in the north, Arles on the west and Cassis on the south-east on the Mediterranean coast.

• Départements:
  Vaucluse, Bouches du Rhône, Alpes de Haute-Provence, Var and Alpes-Maritimes.
  
• Physical composition:

  Comtat Venaissin,
  the Crau
  the Camargue: Arles, Stes Maries de la Mer, Aigues Mortes
  

• Mountains:
  Baronnies:

  Mount Ventoux

  Lubéron

  Ste-Victoire

  Montagnette and Alpilles

   

• Rivers:
  Ardèche, Cèze, and Gard
  Ouvèze and Durance
  
• Vegetation:.

  Olives

  Oaks:

  Pines: Maritime pine, Parasol pine, Aleppo pine

  Other: dark green cypress, Lombardy poplar, almond trees, plane trees, lotus tree

   

• The Garrigue:
  
• Industry:

  petroleum: Berre lagoon

  Electricity: hydroelectric installations on the lower Rhone: Caderousse, Avignon, Vallabrègues and on lower Durance at Jouques, St-Estève-Janson, Mallemort, Salon and St-Chamas produce 3 billion kWh.

  Ochre and bauxite: Ochre: base pigment in paint mined at Apt-Roussillon

  Bauxite: Les Baux

  Oil and Soap:

  Salt: Aigues-Mortes and Salin-de-Giraud:

  Wines

  Vineyards occupy 322 335 acres in southern Rhone valley and Provence.

  Wines from plains : vin ordinaire

  Wines from hillsides : Cotes du Rhone are individual and enjoyable

  e.g.: Chateauneuf-du-Pape warm and full-bodied

   

• Agriculture:

  Carpentras:

  Cavaillon:

  Rognonas:

  Le Thor:

  Rhone valley:

  Cereals:

  Almonds: caladons
  calissons
  Salon
  Montélimar

  Olives:

  Lavender:

  Herbes de Provence:

  Truffles:

   

• Provençal Cuisine

  distinctive ingredients: olive oil and garlic - ail (milder than that of other regions)

  "un poisson vit dans l'eau et meurt dans de l'huile d'olive"

  "à la provençale"

  aubergine, courgette, raw onions.

  ratatouille

  Aioli

  bouillabaisse

• Villes et villages
  Arles

  Avignon • Palais des Papes • Pont St Bénézet •

   

• Histoire: