Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

36  INTRODUCING PROVENCE

PROVENCE THROUGH THE YEAR

Provence is at its prettiest in spring, when the region. To entertain the thousands of
flowers bring livelihoods to perfume-makers holidaymakers, July and August are filled with
and pleasure to passers-by. It can also be music festivals. Come autumn, vineyards turn
surprisingly cold as this is when the Mistral to copper and the grapes are harvested.
blows its strongest. Snows blanket the mountains from December
Summer fruit and vegetables are both and skiers take to the slopes. Throughout the
abundant and beautiful, filling the local year, every town and village celebrates with a
markets. The midsummer heat is added to by fête, often with traditional costume and lively
the fires of St Jean and the Valensole plains are activities. For information, contact the local
striped with lavender, the indelible colour of tourist office (see p237).

March May
Festin des Courgourdons (last Fête des Gardians (1 May), Arles
Sun), Nice (see pp88–9). Folklore (see pp148–50). The town is
and sculpted gourd fête. taken over by the gardians or
cowboys who look after the
April Camargue cattle herds.
Procession aux Limaces (Good Pèlerinage des Gitans avec
Friday), Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Procession à la Mer de Sainte
(see p102). The streets are lit with Sarah (24–25 May), Stes-Maries-
shell lamps and a parade of de-la-Mer (see pp228–9).
locals dressed as disciples and Festival International du Film
legionnaires recreate the (two weeks in May), Cannes (see
entombment of Christ. pp72–3). The most prestigious
Printemps de Châteauneuf-du- annual film festival.
Pape – Salon des Vins (early April), La Bravade (16–18 May),
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (see p168). St-Tropez (see p228).
Women in traditional costume at the Feria Spring wine festival displaying Fête de la Transhumance
de Paqûes in Arles products of local wine growers. (late May–early June), St-Rémy
Fête de la St-Marc (end April), (see p144). Celebrates the
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (see p168). ancient custom of moving sheep
Spring Wine contest. (The year’s vintage to higher ground for the summer.
By the time March begins, is blessed on the 1st weekend Grand Prix Automobile de
lemons have already been in August.) Formule 1 (weekend after
harvested and the almond Feria de Paqûes (Easter), Arles Ascension), Monaco (see p98).
blossom has faded. Pear, plum (see pp148–50). Arletans turn out The only Grand Prix raced on
and apricot blossom brightens in their traditional costume for public roads laps up an
the landscape and the first a feria. The farandole is danced impressive 3,145 km (1,954 miles).
vegetables of spring are ready to the accompaniment of the Feria (Pentecost), Nîmes (see
for the markets: asparagus, beans tambourin drum and galoubet pp136–7). The first major
and green artichokes known as flute to mark the beginning of bullfighting event of the year
mourre de gats. By May, fruit the famous bullfighting season. takes place at Les Arènes.
markets are coloured with the
first ripe cherries and
strawberries of the year.
Southern mountain slopes
warm to the sunshine and come
alive with alpine flowers but the
northern slopes remain wintery.
Broom turns hillsides deep
yellow and bees start to make
honey from the sweet-smelling
rosemary flowers. Flocks of
sheep begin the journey of
transhumance up to the
summer pastures, and on the
vast plains maize, wheat and
rape push their way up through
the softening earth. Thousands of sheep parade through St-Rémy during the Fête de la Transhumance