Page 40 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

38  INTRODUCING PROVENCE

Average Monthly Rainfall
Rainfall Chart
mm Inches
120 Spring and autumn are
the wettest times, with
4
90 the amount of rainfall
3 increasing as you head
inland. November rain
60 is the most violent,
2
often with storms
30 1 and flooding. Summer
is virtually rain-free,
0 0 causing drought in
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec some forest areas.
Autumn
When summer is over, it is time
for the vendange, the grape
harvest. In the Camargue,
rice is ready to be brought in.
Walnuts are picked and, in the
Maures, sweet chestnuts are
collected. The woods also yield
rewards for mushroom hunters,
while in Vaucluse and the Var
truffles are harvested from oak
woods and sold on the market
stalls, notably at Richerenches.
The hunting season begins
in November. Small birds, such
as thrushes, and ducks fall A grape picker at work during the autumn harvest
from flight into the pot and
wild boar are bagged, their Féria des Vendanges (second November
feet kept as talismans. Sheep week), Nîmes (see pp136–7). Fête du Prince (Fete Nationale)
are brought down to their An enjoyable combination of (19 Nov), Monaco (see pp94–8).
winter pastures. wine, dancing and bullfights. The second smallest indepen-
Festival de la Navigation de dent state in Europe celebrates
Plaisance (mid-Sep), Cannes (see its national day with a firework
pp72–3). Yachts from around the display over the harbour.
world meet in the harbour. Fête Festival International de la
du Vent (mid-Sep), Marseille (see Danse (biennial, late-Nov or
pp154–6). Kites from all over the early Dec), Cannes (see pp72–3).
world decorate the sky for two A festival of contemporary
days on the Plages du Prado. dance and ballet with an
impressive programme of
October international performances.
Fête de Sainte Marie Salomé
(Sunday nearest 22 Oct), Stes-
Maries-de-la-Mer. A similar fes-
tival to the Gypsy Pilgrimage
held in May (see pp228–9) with
a procession through the town’s
streets to the beach and the
ritual blessing of the sea.
On the hunt for truffles in the woods of Foire Internationale de
Haute Provence Marseille (end of Sep–early
Oct), Marseille (see pp154–6).
September Thousands of visitors pour into
Fête des Prémices du Riz the city to enjoy the annual fair.
(early Sep), Arles (see pp148–50). Various activities and sports
This festival of the rice harvest are organized with crafts, music
coincides with the last Spanish- and folklore entertainment from Performers at the Festival International de
style bullfights of the year. over 40 different countries. la Danse in Cannes