Knopf Guide: Provence (Knopf Guides)

"Dont go to Provence without it." -- Peter Mayle, Author or A Year in Provence

Clear blue skies and undulating fields of lavender...this is Provence. With its picturesque villages, warm climate and fertile countryside bordered by snowcapped Alps and the cool mediterranean, Provence has bewitched travelers and inspired painters like van Gogh, Cezanne, Renoir and Picasso for years. Today, the warmth of its people,the beauty of its landscape and the quality of its cuisine continue todraw even the most well-traveled visitors back and back again.

Dicscover the delights of Provence, including the rich Roman culture of the pont de Gard in Nimes, the Theatre Antique in Orange, and the Thermes de Constantine (Roman baths) in Arles. Walk to the hilltop town of les Baux or through Avignon's enormous Palace of the Popes. Visit Cezanne's home, the antique stores in Aix-en-Provence, and Chateau d'If in Marseilles, where Duman imprisoned his famous character,the Count of Monte Cristo. Attend the bullfights in Arles and sample the delicious Provencal cuisine. Marvel at the breathtaking vistas of the Cote d'Azur and discover the beauty, light and vibrant color that, as writer-actor Dirk Bogarde observed, "one never suspected could exist in nature."