1. By: Crystal Seitz

2. Cuisine Cuisine of this region emphasizes seasonings such as herbs and garlic. Boeuf en daube is a beef stew with vegetables being mainly served as a gratin, in salads or stuffed with meat. Bouillabaisse is a popular fish soup that is commonly found in Provence. Aïoli, a mayonnaise garlic sauce that is known as a local specialty. This area is mainly known for its dry, fruity rosé wines.

3. Cuisine Pictures Aïoli (garlic, mayonnaise sauce) Bouillabaisse

4. Major Cities Avignon is a cheerful town of cafés, art galleries and fashionable shops. Marseille, France’s oldest city, is a bustling port with a lively local atmosphere. Aix-en-Provence, a university town filled with students offers tree shaded streets and 17th century mansions. The harbor town of St. Tropez is long famous for its glamour and beauty.

5. La Provence

6. The Provençal Flag

7. The Traditional Costume Lace cap, a flat straw hat, with a black velvet choker with a cross attached, a Provencal printed cotton scarf tied just so around ones shoulders, a white cotton lace shirt, with a floral printed over shirt, a cotton printed skirt and apron, white cotton tights, black shoes, lace gloves to carry and a straw basket.

8. Points of Interest Draguignan: a very historic old town and museum, including an allied military cemetery. The valleys are carpeted with lavender and the fields are filled with the sunflowers and olive trees that Van Gogh loved to paint. La Camargue was a place famous for white horses and regional cowboys.

9. Points of Interest Allied military cemetery in Draguignan, France A valley in La Provence, France White horses from La Camargue

10. Extra Facts Many great French writers and artists have come from, or lived in, Provence. The language of Provence may be found difficult to understand for outsiders; many people here speak French with a strong regional accent. In the eastern side of the region, towards Nice and the Italian border, local dialects and culture are much closer to Italian.