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PROVENCE: GEOGRAPHY MATTERS
“Provence” has more efficacy as a "brand" than as a place. One rarely if ever hears any residents of the Vaucluse say that they live in "Provence." The word is heard frequently in its adjectival form: provençal.
As geography, the term "Provence" suffers abuse. The French consider contemporary 'Provence' to take in three administrative department:
- Vaucluse
- Bouches-du-Rhône
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Confusion pops up due to the administrative region PACA: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
When "Provence" is employed for the department of the Var (Toulon, St, Tropez) or the department of the Alpes-Maritime (Côte d'Azur) or even the five departments of the Languedoc-Roussillon, it is the "brand" asserting itself.
This is a regional distinction that Peter Mayle buys into 100% in his book Provence A-Z. In fact, if Mayle had been 'geographically-correct,' his iconic best seller would have been titled "A Year in the Luberon."
The Luberon and the Comtat Venaissin, referred to as the “Comtat,” are the two large regions within the Vaulcuse,
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ST REMY DE PROVENCE: CHATEAU DE ROUSSAN INVITES NATURE INSIDE ITS ANCIENT WALLS WITH THE POETIC WORKS OF FRANCOISE VERGIER
Entering the Château de Roussan through an alley of soaring plane trees, the austere edifice of this historical monument, which dates to the last half of the 16th century, is in full view. Captain Bertrand de Nostredame, the brother of Nostradamus, … Continue reading
ART AS EXTREME BEAUTY: THE OUTRAGEOUSLY FEMININE MARBLE SCULPTURES OF BARBARA SEGAL AT THE DOMAINE DALMERAN IN PROVENCE
Art as “extreme beauty” in all its acute details is the theme evoked by the translucent marble sculptures of lingerie and dresses by Barbara Segal whose sumptuous creations marry her mesmerizing childhood memories of elegant tissues and garments with a … Continue reading