Articles: House For Sale Riviera

Until you pass a few weeks in Provence it is improbable you will progress to see more than a fraction of it's natural treasures.

There are six Departments in Provence:

1) The Bouches du Rhone that runs north south following the river and running out into the Mediterranean through the Camargue, in the southwestern part of the department.
2) The Var that derives its name from the river Var, which long-ago formed the eastern boundary, but which now flows into the Mediterranean at Nice. Toulon is the biggest city and capital of the Var.
3) The Alpes Maritimes is the furthermost east and takes in the celebrated French Riviera coastline and urban centers of Cannes, Nice, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Antibes.
4) The Vaucluse, which is famous for it's fruit and vegetables that are cultivated on one of the most fertile plains in S. France. The Vaucluse includes the cities Avignon, Orange, Carpentras, and Cavaillon
5) The Alpes de Haute Provence.
6) The Hautes Alpes.

The latter 2 are mountainous regions with peaks over 2,400 m. Their climates are dry, arid and both are sparsely populated.

If you merely read the books of Peter Mayle, you would be forgiven for assuming Provence, was restricted to the Luberon, which is by and large in the Vaucluse, but this is also a sparesly populated area with a mountain range that constitutes a sort of boundary between the warm and dry Mediterranean climate of the south and the cooler alpine influence to the north.

If you are looking for the genuine essence of Provence you could do worse than starting your search in the Var.

Take a brief moment to relax, but most importantly don't close your eyes. Look at the glorious ochre shades of the houses, the deep violet of the lavender fields and the profound depth of the perfect blue sky, and experience the inky black shadows as they cool your skin.

Way down the road you will see hills overflowing with olive trees, the "garrigue" - wise old rows of vineyards, and a village shimmering with natural springs, where time appears to slip away slower than water.... as the Var softly makes it's way from west to east, following the green valley of the river Argens.

In the west, there is the region of Saint Maxime and the hills of Sainte Beaume (1147m). "The Water Chateau of Occidental Provence", where Sainte Marie Madeleine arrived to reflect on the world, at the beginning of the Christian epoch. Around her "Balm", her cave, there now blossoms a forest of beech and yew-trees, which is amongst the most beautiful in France.

To the East of the Argens valley is Frejus, the "Pompeii of Provence" which subsequently became an episcopal city, with one of the most beautiful roman amphitheatres in existence.

North of Frejus is the Gorge of Verdun, and whilst technically it is in the Haut Var, it is far too outstanding to dismiss, and is a laudable second to the Grand Canyon in the USA.

As we survey this itineray, the names begin to overspill with history and magnificence : Tourves with its "Chateau of Valbelle" from the 14th century and Barjols, a hill town with 33 fountains ;

In the plain rests Brignoles, the bygone seat of the Counts of Provence and further to the north is Aups, the centre of the Truffle trade, which in turn skirts on Fox Amphoux, a splendid old village perched on a hill.

Back down to the plain and cuddled in pretty woodland is the old Abbey at Le Thoronet, built in 1160 and one of only 3 ancient Cistercian retreats; further down the road is an wonderful Chateau perched on a craggy outcrop defending the village of Entrecasteaux, which in turn leads to Salernes and Tourtour the "Village of the Sky".

The regional centre of Draguignan is the home of the Artillery divisions of the French Army, and as if to make the point more forcefully, a few miles north in the hills, is the largest military training area in Europe.

The Argens valley gives you more reason than ever to simply take your time and lose yourself in the history and natural riches of the countryside of Provence.

Whether you travel by car, train, bicycle, kayak, horseback or just on foot, you'll have good reason to come back and find a
House for Sale Riviera.