Page 29 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

A POR TR AIT OF PROVENCE  27

The tiled roofs are gently sloping and are
influenced by Roman design, with a
decorative frieze (génoise) under the
eaves. The tiles are made of thick, red
terracotta and curved in shape – a double
or triple layer of tiles are set in mortar and
protrude beyond the wall.
Windows are built on three sides of the mas but
none on the north to avoid the Mistral’s full blast.
They are kept small to prevent the winter winds
coming in, but large enough to let light in.
Interlocking clay tiles
form canals, allowing
rainwater to run down
and drain off the roof. The Mistral winds blow so fiercely
that the mas was often built facing
the southeast to minimize the wind’s
impact. Roofs are built low to the
ground, covering the living quarters
and annexes. The gentle slope prevents
the tiles blowing and sliding off.

The walls are Stone ice houses were built near the
rendered smooth mas and used for storage during the
with plaster. winter months. Blocks of ice were cut
and put in the huts, insulated with hay.

Ironwork Bell Towers
Wrought-iron bell towers
have been a speciality in
Provence since the 16th
century. Their light, open
framework allows strong
winds to blow through and
the sound of the bells to
carry for miles. The design
and complexity depends on
the size and purpose of the
building. These examples
illustrate the skills of local Highly ornate The bell tower The Hôtel de Notre-Dame’s
craftsmen across the region. bell tower in Aix of St-Jérôme in Ville bell tower bell tower in
Digne-les-Bains in Orange Sisteron