History and Geography, too

"La Provence, un paradis terrestre ! Dans un pays où le soleil est roi, au royaume de la lavande, du thym et du romarin venez goûter aux délices de la vie au bord de la mer, ou bien de la montagne ..."

Yes, Provence is warm and full of sun. It's fragrances of lavender, thyme, rosemary, mimosa and cypresses amongst the many riches of the earth, carry you away into the many delightful villages and towns on the Mediterranean coast and the inland mountains and valleys to share everyday traditions with the native people.

The cigale's chants hypnotise you with a melody which sounds different when sung at night than during the day. And the delicacies and specialty dishes will never let you leave the region even once you have returned home. They will call you back !

"Provence" is not a make believe land from a story book. It's a real region in the south eastern part of France where people - just like you and me - live, love and laugh.

"Provençal" is not a six-month fashion. It's a lifestyle of warmth and goodness of the heart, which carries on tradition from generation to generation.

In Provence, people take the time to breath all the fragrances of herbs and flowers that surround them in the rich lands they live on and provide them. They take pride of carrying on centuries of folklore and traditions through their savory "cuisine", embellished arts, and creative handcrafts. They take the time to continue to create the authentic fabrics and designs of their ancestors which can be used to make so many different products and ever so to share these with YOU - the World!

Provence is the southeast corner of France next to Italy. It has a Mediterranean lifestyle and, on the coast, the highest-priced real estate in the world. Well-to-do Parisians and foreigners have summer places here; many of the picturesque villages have become artist colonies. But small-town life in the interior still goes on with the opposite of parisian bustle: at the gentle, peaceful pace of the countryside.

Provence is so called because it was a Roman province (provincia) from back when Caesar conquered Gaul, and the name stuck. Provence is famous for its Roman architectural ruins, fields of lavender, hearty cooking, and leisurely, sun-drenched quality of life.

Specialties of Provençal artisans are botanically & agriculturally - based products such as perfumes, cologne, essential oils, soaps, 100% pure cotton fabrics, gourmet preparations & jams made from the ingredients of their local harvests, pottery & porcelaine (especially Faïence from the town of Moustiers), and small clay figurines called santons. These "little saints" represent Provençal villagers going about their daily lives baking, spinning, gossiping, and so forth.

The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), the part of France which goes from Bandol to Menton, is a land of contrasts: On the coastline one can find sandy beaches, pebble beaches, mountains plunging into the sea.

In Nice, for example, the temperatures can vary from 4°C minimun in January to 30°C in summer. The sea temperature can vary from about 15°C in winter to about 26°C in summer.

The altitude can vary, too, from the sea level to 800m-2600ft on the coastline (Esterel, Maures mountains), and to more than 2000m (6560 ft) in Pre-Alps, just about 70km from the coast.

As far as the vegetation goes, you will find oaks, pines, mimosa forests, but also the "garrigues", as well as palm trees, eucalyptus, olive trees, orange and lemon trees and exotic plant like cactus, agaves. The coast and its busy towns such as Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Toulon, St Tropez contrast with the quiet inland villages. With a total of roughly 300 sunny days per year, the French Riviera truly is the Land of the Sun.

Rolling hills covered in magnificent fir trees. Roman ruins. Fragrances of lavender, jasmine, rosemary, and thyme. Golden warm sunshine on red clay rooftops. Fields of incendiary sunflowers. Cloudless blue skies that hug the Mediterranean. Constellations. Mistral winds with cigales and birds. The game of "Pètanque". Quench your thirst with Pastis. Enjoy a game of Cards - "La Belotte". Climb up into the clouds of the Alps. Stroll in the wet sand along the beaches. Ballad among the grazing sheep. Be in rhythm with nature and surrender to the intoxication of Provence. Experience the romance, simplicity, and peace of provençal life. Is it any wonder that Mistral, the poet; Giono, the writer; Pagnol, the film director; and ...of course Cezanne, Van Gogh, Manet, and Picasso created great works of art while surrounded by the essence of Provence?

These are just a few historical and geographical thoughts to leave you with. Now come on in and browse through our store. Come back again and find some more - "of Provence" and "from Provence".