Articles: Villa For Sale France

Until you spend a few weeks in Provence it is unlikely 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 ranges north south pursuing the river and disgorging 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 largest city and capital of the Var.
3) The Alpes Maritimes is the furthest east and includes the legendary 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 grown on one of the most prolific 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 studied the books of Peter Mayle, you would be forgiven for assuming Provence, was limited 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 limit between the warm and dry Mediterranean climate of the south and the cooler alpine influence to the north.

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

Take a brief moment to unwind, but most importantly don't shut your eyes. Take in the glorious ochre shades of the houses, the deep violet of the lavender fields and the profound depth of the pure 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 hamlet shimmering with natural springs, where time seems to steal away slower than water.... as the Var softly makes it's way from west to east, traveling along 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 came to ponder on the human race, at the outset of the Christian epoch. Around her "Balm", her cave, 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 on became an episcopal city, with one of the most picturesque 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 significant to discount, and is a worthy second to the Grand Canyon in the USA.

As we observe this itineray, the names begin to well over with history and richness : 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 borders on Fox Amphoux, a stunning old village perched on a hill.

Back down to the plain and nestled 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 marvelous Chateau perched on a rocky escarpment defending the village of Entrecasteaux, which in turn leads to Salernes and Tourtour the "Village of the Sky".

The jurisdictional 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 leaves you more cause than ever to just take your time and lose yourself in the history and natural wealth 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.