Page 97 - OCEAN BLUE - SPRING 2016

MIRROR MIRROR

T he scenery and the light drew artists like Renoir,
Chagall, Cézanne and Picasso here. The light was
described by Matisse as “soft and tender, despite
its brilliance.” Glittering seascapes and fiery
sunsets make a trip around Provence feel like you are living in
an impressionist painting. And with its rich artistic legacy, it is
not surprising that the region is home to a wealth of iconic art
collections, as well as the former studios of Van Gogh, Cézanne
and Renoir.

The Romans also left behind a magnificent legacy of monuments,
structures and buildings including France’s first vineyards and
amphitheaters in Nîmes, Arles and Orange, the magnificent
Pont du Gard aqueduct and entire towns near St-Rémy-de-
Provence and Vaison-la-Romaine.

One can stroll the countryside visiting Roman historical sites
or visit the town’s museums and markets gamboling about the
quaint streets among fabulous fountains or even relax with the
locals in the town’s celebrated spas. At dusk the cafe terraces are
inundated with people from all walks of life sipping pastis or
a local rosé before heading off to enjoy three-hour dinners of
slow-cooked Daube de Boeuf a La Provençale.

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