Aix-en-Provonce - Mazarin-Quarter
First stop of the journey the the busy and noble Aix-en-Provence. The
Mazarin quarter which was founded in the 17th century is dominated by
bourgeois city villas and shows the typical colouring and architectural
elements that can be found all over the Provonce. We also meet the famous
Mistral wind, a chilly wind blowing down the Rhône valley that is
also responsible for a perfectly blue sky. |
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Verdon Gorge
The canyon the small river Verdon has dug into the rock over millions
of years is a natural wonder. Calling it the "Grand Canyon of Europe"
may be a bit exaggerated but does not lack justification. With a length
of 21 km and being up to 700 m deep the Verdon
Gorge is at least one of the largest of its kind in Europe. The street
is winding in countless curves alongside the abyss. At the end of the
canyon the Verdon flows into the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.
The mouth is a highly popular destination and swimming area. |
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Cassis
Only once when ordering a Café Crème I received the warm
milk separately how it is supposed to be in good places. That was enough
of a reason to take a picture of it. Elsewhere you will just get a the
Café Crème with a dash of milk already inside the coffee
while the size of the dash depends heavily on the mood of the waiter.
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Cassis
French laissez-faire? No longer the way it used to be. Like this example
in Cassis prohibition signs are by far not seldom despite the fact that
the French people like making funs of us Germans and our many rules. Apart
from the all over smoking prohibitions also in the child friendly country
of France you will find signs prohibiting playing and noise making in
a remarkable number. However, while the signs in Germany are desperately
seeking for attention with their prominent placing, the French manage
it to place them more discretely and then to ignore them with even greater
nonchalance. |
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Fontvieille - Roman aqueduct
The Provonce is full of remnants from the time of the Romans. This includes
the famous theaters of Orange and Arles, the well - received Antiques
in Glanum, the amazing Pond du Gard, or just a less important aqueduct
near Fontvieille, which was used to transport the water for the operation
of a mill. |
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Les Beaux-de-Provence
Once the counts of Les Baux ruled over large parts of Provence. Meanwhile,
only ruins remain of the castle
Les is Beaux-en-Provence. However, the magnificent view across the
country has remained. The village on the slope was re-prepared, but is
firmly in the hands of tourists. Still worth seeing. However, one should
be good to walk to climb the castle. |
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Fontvieille - Mas de l'Ange
As is known from the television news, France is still a country of farmers,
even if sometimes they have the tendency to dump their products in front
of some parliaments instead of selling them. The French farmers have long
re-discovered for themselves the benefits of direct sales via the farm
shop and hence at every corner one can buy wine, fruits or olive products
like at the farm
Mas d l'Ange. Besides oil and the famous tapenades this farms house
wive is particularly proud of the unique olive jam. |
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Camargue
White horses, black bulls and pink flamingos - that colorful the wildlife
in the Camargue is. Bulls and horses, however, are hardly found in the
wild any longer. Also the flamingos on this picture felt more home in
a Bird Park.
Although this is nothing like the huge flocks of flamingos found in Africa
it remains an impressive and unexpected experience to see them in European
regions.
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Avignon
The massive fortress-like palace the Popes in Avignon build for themselves
is much too large to be confined on a single photo. And then, of course,
there's the remains of Avignon's famous bridge. While singing its tune
over and over again one easily forgets how big the construction, with
its length of about 900 m, was for the Middle Ages. |
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Rousillon
The small village of Rousillon
located on a hill top is glooming in all shades of ocher that one could
possibly think of. In the nearby ocher quarries one experiences an explosion
of colour. Absolutely worth seeing. It even distracts you from the marvellous
view. |
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| More pictures can be found in my Facebook
photo album. |
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