Property Provence France

Provence  

The traditional French region of Provence is between the mountains and the sea of southeast France. It runs from the Italian border in the east to the Rhone River in the west and rises into the Alps and includes the Mediterranean coast. While most of the Mediterranean coast of France is part of the administrative region, the coastal area has its own description under the French Riviera.

The Provence region outside of the coast is known for its sunny days, brightly covered fields, wines from the Rhone River Valley and is the gateway to the Alps from the sea. This is where Van Gogh spent many years painting, and many other artists have done the same before and since. Sunflower fields, violets and olive trees carpet the landscape.

The lower Rhone River Valley is located in the western part of Provence and is home to many small cities and attractions. Orange is at the northern end of the area, and lies in the lower Rhone wine growing region. The area produces a variety of white, red and rose wines. Orange is the warmest city in France on an average temperature basis and is one of the most conservative cities in the country. It is known for its Roman architecture with the best preserved Roman theater in Europe.

Avignon lies on the Rhone River south of Orange. It was once the location of the Papal residence and now is a town of cafes, galleries and fashionable shops. Arles is where Van Gogh spent many years painting the magnificent sunflowers, violets, trees and the Rhone River. It is also known for its Roman architecture and ruins and has an excellent cooking school.

Other towns and popular areas of Provence include Chateauneauf-du-Pape, Carpentras and the spectacular sight of Mont Ventoux rising up out of the plains. Farther to the east are the Alps rising to the north. The towns of Gap and Briancon have become popular year round holiday destinations. There is skiing in the winter and the summer has cycling, kayaking and mountain climbing. The eastern portions of Provence can provide access to great skiing and great beaches.

Of course, one of the biggest attractions is the coast, with popular beaches and cities such as Marseilles, Nice and Monte Carlo. The Cannes Film Festival draws stars from around the world, while the casinos of Monte Carlo are always a popular place to spend some time, and money.

Provence is easily accessible from the rest of France and just about anywhere you might be coming from. The TGV runs from Paris to Marseille and has stops in Orange and Avignon. Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) is a major airport in the region and has direct flights from all over Europe. The largest airport in the region is the Nice Cote d’Azure Airport (NCE) in the eastern part of the region. It is the third largest airport in the country and has flights from around the world. There are a number of regional airports located throughout Provence and along the coast, so it is easy to fly wherever you need to go.

Property off the coast is focused on the cities along the Rhone such as Arles, and in the land between the coast and the Alps. There are plenty of reasonably priced apartments and flats near some of the towns and cities. Leaseback properties are also becoming very popular in this part of the country, due to the closeness of the Mediterranean and the large potential for holiday renters. Large and small homes are readily available outside the cities, offering the country life while still being near one of the most popular destinations in the world.