In the region of Provence, a geographical region and historical province, southeastern France

 "There are always flowers for those who want to see them." -- Henri Matisse

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(in southeastern France) Provence is a geographical region and historical province that extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

+ Provence was once part of Roman Gallia Transalpina. With the breakdown of the Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Provence was invaded successively by the Visigoths, Burgundians, and Ostrogoths. It came under the rule of the Franks around 536 CE. During the 13th century it was involved in the Albigensian Crusade. It was united with the French crown in 1481. The language of Provence, Provençal, was important in medieval literature, and Provence’s Romanesque architecture was an outstanding cultural achievement of the Middle Ages. The region suffered in the 16th-century Wars of Religion. In 1790, during the French Revolution, it lost its political institutions and was divided into several departments. The historical region of Provence is roughly coextensive with the present-day region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur); its capital is Marseille.
+ With the establishment of Greek colonies (among them Massilia [modern Marseille]) in the area by the beginning of the 6th century BCE, Provence was first oriented toward the civilization of the Mediterranean. In 125 BCE the Massiliots appealed to the Romans for help against a coalition of neighboring Celts and Ligurians. The Romans defeated the coalition but remained in occupation of the region. By the end of the 2nd century BCE, Provence formed part of Gallia Transalpina, the first Roman province beyond the Alps. By the 4th century CE, Arles, a meeting place for merchants, was the seat of the prefecture of all Gaul, and Marseille was the main center of Greek studies in the west.

+ The Romans left behind a legacy of monuments and structures (and some of France's first vineyards). The area is littered with Roman remains, including an amphitheater in Arles, a theater in Orange, bridges including a fine one near Bonniuex, and even whole towns near St-Rémy de Provence and Vaison-la-Romaine.

+ Provence is divided into six departments and stretches from Orange to Nice. Many consider the Luberon in Vaucluse to be the "real Provence." Vineyards and lavender fields are the backdrops that enthralled Cezanne, Van Gogh and Chagall. Particular highlights include Palace of the Popes at Avignon, the Roman amphitheater at Arles and the craft center of Les Baux.

+ It wasn't just the scenery that drew artists like Rénoir, Chagall, Cézanne and Picasso here: it was the light, described by Matisse as "soft and tender, despite its brilliance." The region is home to a wealth of iconic art collections -- and studios where Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Renoir worked.

+ Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque in Gordes, a Cistercian abbey, provides a great shot of the Luberon; The best displays are usually in July and August: