Provence Virtual Tour
To view an interactive map of the cities featured in this virtual tour, click on the blue link below:
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Provence has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Greek sailors from Asia Minor began arriving along the coast in the 7th Century B.C., establishing depots (emporia) for trade with local inhabitants. The first permanent Greek settlement was Massalia, established at modern-day Marseille around 546 B.C. by colonists from Phocaea (now Foça, in modern Turkey) who were fleeing an invasion by the Persians. Massalia became one of the ancient world's major trading ports. The Phocaeans also established colonies at Nicoea (now Nice), Tauroentum and Rohanousia (Arles), and at Cannes.
The Ligures, a Celtic people probably from Asia Minor, began to enter Provence around the 4th Century B.C. In the 2nd century BC the people of Massalia appealed to Rome for help against the Ligures.
In 8 B.C. Emperor Augustus built a triumphal monument at La Turbie to commemorate peace in the region, and he began to Romanize Provence politically and culturally. Roman engineers and architects built monuments, theaters, baths, villas, fora, arenas and aquaducts, many of which still exist.
Please join me on a video tour of this beautiful and diverse region in the south of France.
Map Courtesy www.avignon-et-provence.com/
Isle sur la Sorgue
View from the Top
Avignon
The first video is set to moving classical music and features a tour of the Papal Palace.
The second video is a walking tour of the city.
Palais des Papes, Avignon, France (Palace of the Popes)
Avignon devient la résidence des papes en 1309, et le palais est construit entre 1335 et 1352 sur une protubérance rocheuse au nord de la ville, surplombant le Rhône, sous les pontificats de Benoît XII et Clément VI. Le choix de cette protubérance rocheuse permis aux concepteurs de donner de la hauteur à l'ensemble de manière à le rendre plus impressionnant et à ce que l'on puisse le voir de très loin. Il est ainsi visible du sommet des Alpilles (Bouches-du-Rhône).
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Roman Provence
Many of the same towns seen in this virtual tour already existed in those days, and their splendid ruins are still very much in evidence.
From Roman walls and amphitheaters to aqueducts and defensive towers, Roman Provence is very much "alive".
St Remy de Provence
Nearby are the well-preserved ruins of the Roman town of Glanum.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence 2002
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence ist eine Stadt in Südfrankreich, im Département Bouches-du-Rhône, der früheren Provinz Provence. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence ist der Geburtsort von Nostradamus, einem Arzt und Autor von Prophezeiungen des 16. Jahrhunderts.Der Maler Vincent van Gogh wurde hier 1889-1890 in der Psychiatrie des Klosters Saint-Paul-de-Mausole behandelt.
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Glanum...Roman Ruins
Great images, although the modern rock music may not be the best accompaniment!
Salon de Provence
Salon was where Nostradamus lived much of his life.
Aix-en-Provence
Global Treasures AIX-EN-PROVENCE Ais De Provenca France
GTR-DVD-1214 - Hot springs once inspired the Romans to settle in a valley below the Celtic Oppidum that they had just destroyed. However, today's Aix-En-Provence and its numerous lanes offer far more than simply water. Aix is one of the most beautiful cities in France and its numerous fountains and majestic squares highlight the city's unique ambience and romantic character. Indeed, more than forty spectacular fountains cool down this ancient town in the hot months of summer when both foreign and French tourists visit the city. Nearly all of its splendid buildings and wonderful avenues date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the Golden Age of Aix-En-Provence. As a centre of education and fine art this elegant city continues to be a rich source of creative inspiration. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.
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Aigues Morte
Global Treasures AIGUES - MORTES Provence, France
GTR-DVD-1151 - One of the most well preserved mediaeval fortifications in Europe surrounds the small town of Aigues-Mortes along the western periphery of the Camargue in the south of France. In the 13th century King Louis The Ninth was in search of a suitable location for a harbour on the Mediterranean that would serve both trade and military purposes. The Aigues-Mortes region was far from ideal as it was a swampland on which it was almost impossible to build, however, the orders of the King had to obeyed! The seventeen hundred metre long town wall consists of ten gates and five defensive towers, a true masterpiece of mediaeval architecture. King Louis The Ninth and his army embarked from Aigues-Mortes to conquer the Holy Land for Christianity and in 1246, two years before the king's crusade to Egypt, the town's inhabitants began to prepare the machinery of war for this great adventure. However, the crusade was unsuccessful, the king having been taken prisoner. Even so, this was not to be his final military expedition and following his liberation and return to France he was encouraged to mount a new crusade in 1270, one which he did not survive. The harbour also suffered a terrible fate: it silted up! Thus the town's inhabitants experienced a difficult period in their history. But thanks to its splendid town wall Aigues-Mortes still manages to capture the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.
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Aigues Mortes
Aigues Morte: una piccola città sulla foce del rodano, la camargue. Une petite ville sur le embouchure du rhone, le camargue. A small town on the mouth of the Rhone, the Camargue. Eine kleine Stadt auf der Mündung der Rhone, der Camargue. Una pequeña ciudad sobre la desembocadura de la Ródano, la Camargue
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Arles
Global Treasures ARLES Provence, France
GTR-DVD-1142 - A beautiful fountain with an Egyptian obelisk graces the Place De La République in the heart of Arles, an historic and charming small town in the south of France. Next to the City Hall is the Romanic Saint Trophime Cathedral with its splendid church porch that dates back to the 12th century. The town's Amphitheatre is the region's greatest building that has survived from the time of the Roman Empire and it is also the most important arena in the former Gallic colony. Three watchtowers that date back to the Middle Ages were left in tact by archaeologists as a reminder of the fortifications of the beautiful amphitheatre. Arles and its magnificent cathedral soon became one of the Romans' most favoured towns and was referred to as 'Little Rome in Gaul' when more than twenty thousand spectators witnessed savage gladiatorial battle in its Amphiteatre. Today Arles is closely associated with the name of world famous Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh. He completed around four hundred paintings in the town. A visit to Arles is like travelling back in time but with all the unique atmosphere of the present. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.
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Nimes
Global Treasures NIMES Provence, France
GTR-DVD-1135 - For almost two thousand years an imposing Roman amphitheatre has dominated the French city of Nîmes. Prior to the Romans the Celts established a settlement in Nîmes. During the rule of Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus the city grew in importance. The Arena was once the setting for gladiatorial battles but today it is matadors who fascinate their audiences during the Whitsuntide Féria. The amphitheatre was built in around 70 A.D. Nîmes, or "Nemausus" as the Romans named their colony, developed into an important centre. In the 2nd century A.D. emperors Hadrian and Antonius Pius ordered the construction of two further splendid buildings, thus the town was enriched by fine architecture. In contrast to the famous Roman Arena at Arles the Nîmes replica of the Colosseum still contains some well-preserved sections of the highest floor, the Attika. Today the beautiful view from the most highly elevated seats of the Amphitheatre extends across the rooftops of the picturesque old town of Nîmes and its two thousand years of glorious history. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.
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Attractions in Nimes
Nimes: Tour Magne and Jardin de la Fontaine
Nimes: Tour Magne and Jardin de la Fontaine. The Jardin is the site of the spring that brought Nime to life before the aqueduct was built, and the tower is a roman structure to commemorate the location of the original (pre Roman) gallo-celtic hill settlement. One sad fact is that the Tour Magne was massively damaged in 17thC, nearly to the point of collapse by an idiot who read a Nostradamus prediction too literally. Apparently, the Monuments of Nimes concealed Gold and Silver. If you interpret that metaphorically, it might explain the great wealth of Nimes today thanks to the tourism to see the monuments.
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Guidebooks to Provence
Provence and Cote D'Azur (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Amazon Price: $15.30 (as of 12/30/2009) 
Top 10 Provence & Cote D'Azur (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE)
Amazon Price: $9.60 (as of 12/30/2009)
The Rough Guide to Provence and the Cote d'Azur 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/30/2009)
The Rough Guide to Provence & the Cote d'Azur
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Fodor's Escape to Provence
Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 12/30/2009)
Markets of Provence
Fabrics of Provence
Marché Provençal Provence Imprimés Tissus Projestes
Pour comprendre ce qu'est un Projestes, il faut lire le texte, (GB et FR), sous l'avatar. http://www.dailymotion.com/Projestes Cliques sur [+] pour avoir le texte en entier ;-) To understand what is a Projestes, read the text, (GB and FR) under the avatar. http://www.dailymotion.com/Projestes Click on [+] for the full text ;-) Marché Provençal Provence Imprimés Tissus Etoffes market printed fabrics Projestes Hands Conceptuel Art Video Contemporain Moderne Contemporary Modern Gesture France Phone Téléphone Mobile Love Heart Blog Web
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Driving Through Provence
Provence: lavender land
The Provence region is one of my favorites in France. The sun is shining regularly and the landscape is gorgeous: just remember the lavender fields and the fields with sunflowers and the impressive Mont Ventoux. Last but not least: history is everywhere. The Romans set foot in this region 2000 years ago and their presence is still very clear. This is the region Vincent van Gogh became a very famous painter. The movie dates from 1991.
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The Provence of Peter Mayle
A Year in Provence
Amazon Price: $9.36 (as of 12/30/2009)
Toujours Provence
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/30/2009)
Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 12/30/2009)
Provence A-Z
Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 12/30/2009)
Ready to Go Yet?
If this site has inspired you, you may want to go ahead and book your flight!
Orbitz can get you some great deals on airfare AND hotels. What are you waiting for?
Allez~y en Provence!
Comments? Questions?
Please take a moment to sign the guestbook and share your thoughts on my virtual tour of Provence!
A bientot!
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Reply
- a_willow a_willow Sep 14, 2008 @ 1:48 am
- Love it! Wanna go there! :)
Have to collect some more money, though!
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Reply
- vbright105 vbright105 Sep 13, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
- Very visual and informative piece! I enjoyed it.
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Reply
- sirkeystone sirkeystone Sep 13, 2008 @ 8:00 pm
- I saw all those Twitter updates and just had to see it! A very well done video tour. I wish I had more time to explore! Thanks for a beautiful lens!
by TankDog
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