Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

50  I n TR od UCI n g PR o V en C e

René and the Wars of Religion

The end of the 15th century saw the golden age of Aix-en-
Provence (see pp152–3), then Provence’s capital. Under the
patronage of King René, art and culture flourished and the
Flemish-influenced Avignon School was formed. After René’s
death, Provence was annexed by the French king, Louis XI.
Loss of independence and subsequent involvement with
French politics led to brutal invasions by Charles V. The
16th-century Wars of Religion between “heretic” Protestants
and Catholics resulted in a wave of massacres, and the
wholesale destruction of churches and their contents. Detail of the Triptych
René’s favourite château at
Tarascon (see p144) on the
Rhône is realistically painted.
King René, himself a poet,
painter and musician,
was a great influence on
Provençal culture.

Nostradamus
Born in St-Rémy
(see pp144–5),
the physician and
astrologer is best
known for his
predictions, The
Prophecies (1555).

Burning Bush Triptych
Nicolas Froment’s painting (1476) was
Massacres of Protestants and Catholics commissioned by King René. The star of the
The religious wars were brutal. Thousands of Cathédrale de St-Sauveur, Aix, it depicts a
Protestants were massacred in 1545, and 200 vision of the Virgin and Child surrounded
Catholics died in Nîmes in 1567. by the eternal Burning Bush of Moses.

1501 Parliament de Provence created
1434–80 Reign of 1486 Union of
Good King René Retable from Provence with
Avignon France
1425 1450 1475 1500

1481 Charles du Maine, Count of
Provence and René’s nephew, gives
King René Provence to King of France
1496 Military port built at Toulon