Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

22  INTRODUCING PROVENCE

The Natural History of Provence

A fascinating array of insects, birds, animals and flowers
flourish in the varied habitats available in Provence, from
the Mediterranean to coastal wetlands, rocky gorges and
the remote peaks of the Alpes Maritimes. The area has the
mildest climate in France: hot, mainly dry summers, and
warm, mild winters near the coast. In early spring the
myriad flowers are at their best, while numbers of unusual
birds are at their highest in late spring. Many of the wilder
areas have been made into reserves, often with routes
marked out for exploration.

Mont Ventoux’s The Luberon (see pp174–6) is a
lower slopes are huge limestone range, rich in
flower-covered orchids, such as this military
in the spring orchid. It is also a hunting
(see p164). g ground for birds of prey.round for birds of prey.

Orange
Les Alpilles’ limestone ridge (see p145) attracts birds
of prey, including Bonelli’s eagles, Egyptian
vultures and eagle owls, as well as this more Carpentras
mild-mannered bee-eater.
Avignon
Vaucluse
Rhône

Arles
Bouches-du-Rhône
and Nîmes

The Camargue, at the delta of the river Rhône,
is one of Europe’s most important wetlands
(see pp140–41). Water birds that thrive here include Marseille
purple herons and the greater flamingo. Lizards,
such as this ocellated lizard, can also be seen.

The Côte Bleue is
rich in marine life,
such as octopuses,
in the deeper waters.
The Montagne Ste-Victoire is
a limestone range that attracts
walkers and climbers. It was one
of Cézanne’s favourite subjects.

The Plaine de la Crau is 50,000 ha (193 sq miles) of stony Les Calanques (see p157) are narrow inlets are narrow inlets
plains and steppe-like grasslands southeast of Arles, home bounded by cliffs. The rocky slopes are
to birds like this hoopoe, and the rare pin-tailed sandgrouse. home to woodland birds such as owls.