It is probably with Paris the most well known
part of France everywhere in the world.
It is also one of the longest lived in by human people. In the
Cote d'Azur is one of the most ancient prehistoric site, nearly
half a million year of age!!! And the city of Marseilles is celebrating
this year (1999) the 2 600 th Anniversary of its creation by
Phaenicians!!!
In the greek period, Nice had the name of Nike ( meaning victory,
not running) and is nearly as old as its sister port of Marseille
!
You can imagine how proud we are of this long brilliant and ancient
history behind us.
Provence is the southern part of France,
the most sunny, and it is no wonder it is considered as the Europe's
play ground. (See its place in Europe)
I will try to introduce it to you in a more
accurate way.
It is a very contrasted place, with freezing cold sometimes in
winter, and insufferable warm temperatures in summer. It rains
more than in Great Britain, but only in a few weeks lapse of
time instead of 300 days a year!!
Our rolling hills region is deep baked in sun in summer, and
it is the most vivid image people can have , these silvery hills
vibrating in the sun. But there are also forests and green valleys
in Provence
You also find beaches, world wide known villages such as St tropez,
but also little unknown ones, that we like best, because they
are ours only, all of them displaying wonders, like these lovely
and hill-perched villages over Nice in the churches of which
you can admire extraordinary paintings ...if you find the key
of the church .
People are less open than we can imagine,
they were mainly peasants, living with invading hordes for centuries,
and now with superficial tourists who sometimes treat them only
as nice pictures.
But make them feel that you really love their place, and they
will be the most charming and warm people.
They will open their heart and souls to the ones who, like them
love this region, and will display treasures to show you their
area from inside.
In Provence-Shop, it is our aim too, to show you the different
facets of the best we can produce.
I like to tell again that in such a traditional
region, the deep taste for well done work is still living among
our crafstmen, they are the sons of hundreds generations of skilled
workmen, and very proud ot these ancestors.
You will never find in our pages anything coming from a factory,
everything has the very special signature of a single man or
woman loving his work, and doing it in the most perfect way it
can be. For you, we looked for these genuine craftsmen: santon
maker , perfumer,
cabinet maker
, poter,
olive
wood carver , etc..
There are so many things to tell about Provence, that here, I
only threw some ideas. You will find this little chronicle improved,
or modified according our feeling, so you will have a more accurate
idea of Provence..
To contact us
Toll free number
1-866-841-2188
or: 781-431-0443