Pollarded Plane Trees

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This is a picture of the pollarded plane trees or plantane trees in downtown Aix-en-Provence.  Pollarding is a technique in France where all of the branches are cut off, leaving the big old stumps.  The tree regenerates many many little branches after this treatment.

Plantane Trees Approaching a Village

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As a village is approached under the plane or plantane trees, the amber warning sign in the lower center tells you that the speed is over 60 kilometers per hour and to slow down for the village.

Plane trees or plantane trees lining the roads

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Indicative of Provence are the plane trees or plantane trees lining the road.  They are in Van Gogh's paintings.  They are used as a memorial for fallen war dead.  They are in the village squares.  They are the trees of Provence.

A Massive Plantane Tree Shades a Café

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The trunk of a large plantane tree is visible in the foreground shading the pubs in the background.  This is a street scene in Aix-en-Provence and ironically the green cafe in the background is called "The Irish Pub".

Looking up through the Plantane tree

I was sitting in a cafe, under the plantane tree and I fired this shot.  Its canopy of shade was a welcome relief.  The plantane trees are iconic of Provence.  I was astounded to learn that the trees can be propagated from cuttings.

Plantane Trees

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If there is anything that says Provence, it is the plantane trees (in English the Plane Trees) that line the roadways of southern France.  They are huge trees and create a wonderful shaded tunnel.  Their bark is smooth and looks like desert camouflage.  They are part of the visual landscape of Provence.