Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

INTRODUCING PROVENCE  41

THE HISTORY OF

PROVENCE

Few regions of France have experienced characterize the region were a desperate
such a varied and turbulent history as attempt at defence. The papacy dominated
Provence. There is evidence, in the form of the 14th century, and the magnificent
carvings, tools and weapons, of nomadic palace the popes built in Avignon remains
tribes and human settlements from today. The arts flourished too, especially
300,000 BC. The introduction of the vine, under King René in his capital of Aix. After
so important today, can be credited to his death in 1480, Provence lost its
the Phoenicians and Greeks who traded independence and its history became
along the coast. Perhaps more crucially, enmeshed with that of France. Religious
Provence was the Romans’ “Province” and war took its toll and the Great Plague of
few regions of their vast empire have Marseille killed tens of thousands in 1720.
retained such dramatic buildings; the A beguiling climate and improved
theatre at Orange, the arenas of Arles and transport in the 19th century began to
Nîmes, the Pont du Gard and the imposing attract artists and foreign nobility. Tiny
trophy of La Turbie are all testimony to fishing villages grew into glamorous
past Roman power. Riviera resorts. The allure remains for
The Middle Ages proved a stormy period millions of tourists, while economic
of feuding warlords and invasions; the investment means it is also a boom area
many fortified hilltop villages that for the technology industry.

A 16th-century map of Marseille and its harbour
Detail of an illuminated 13th-century manuscript showing a troubadour playing to a royal audience