Articles: Villa For Sale France

Until you spend a few weeks in Provence it is unlikely you will get to see more than a fraction of it's natural treasures.

There are six Departments in Provence:

1) The Bouches du Rhone that ranges north south following the river and pouring forth 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 once 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 includes the renowned French Riviera coastline and cities of Cannes, Nice, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Antibes.
4) The Vaucluse, which is famous for it's fruit and vegetables that are grown 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 largely in the Vaucluse, but this is also a sparesly populated area with a mountain range that forms a sort of limit between the warm and dry Mediterranean climate of the south and the cooler alpine influence to the north.

If you are looking for the real substance of Provence you could do worse than beginning your search in the Var.

Take a brief second to unwind, but most importantly don't shut your eyes. Look at the glorious ochre tints of the houses, the deep violet of the lavender fields and the immense 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 overloaded with olive trees, the "garrigue" - wise old rows of vineyards, and a village shimmering with fountains, where time appears to trip away slower than water.... as the Var softly makes it's way from west to east, chasing the green valley of the river Argens.

In the west, there is the neighborhood of Saint Maxime and the hills of Sainte Beaume (1147m). "The Water Chateau of Occidental Provence", where Sainte Marie Madeleine came to contemplate on the human race, at the outset of the Christian epoch. Around her "Balm", her cavern, there now blooms a forest of beech and yew-trees, which is amongst the most scenic in France.

To the East of the Argens valley is Frejus, the "Pompeii of Provence" which later became an episcopal city, with one of the most exquisite 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 important to dismiss, and is a worthy second to the Grand Canyon in the USA.

As we observe this itineray, the names begin to brim over 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 lies Brignoles, the historical 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 spectacular old village perched on a hill.

Back down to the plain and snuggled 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 remarkable Chateau perched on a craggy escarpment 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 base 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 bequeaths you more cause than ever to simply take your time and immerse 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
Villa for Sale France.