Provença

Provença is the Catalan and Occitan name for the historic region in southeastern France, corresponding broadly to the modern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and surrounding areas. The territory encompasses a variety of landscapes, from the Alpine foothills in the north to the Mediterranean coast in the south, including the Camargue delta, the Luberon and Alpilles massifs, and the Côte d’Azur. Its principal urban centers include Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, Avignon, and Arles. The area is known for its mild climate, agricultural traditions, and a long maritime heritage.

Historically, Provence was settled in antiquity by Greek colonists, most notably in Massalia (modern Marseille). It became part of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis and later developed as a medieval county within the Kingdom of France. Provence was incorporated into the French crown in the late 15th century, and since then has been administratively, if not culturally, treated as a distinct region with its own linguistic and cultural traditions, including the Occitan-speaking Provençal heritage.

The Provençal culture is closely linked to the Occitan language and the Provençal dialect. Regional cuisine emphasizes olive oil, herbs de Provence, bouillabaisse, ratatouille, and aioli, while viticulture produces wines such as Côtes de Provence and Bandol. The landscape is famed for lavender fields in the inland countryside, Roman and medieval architecture, and rural villages in the Luberon and Alpilles. Tourism centers on coastal towns along the Côte d’Azur, the Calanques near Marseille, the Camargue wetlands, and historic sites in Avignon and Arles.