A Coeur de Boeuf Tomato - Flavors of Provence

The tomato of Provence is the Coeur de Boeuf Tomato or Beef Heart, so named because it looks like the heart of a cow.  These things go huge, and are delicious.  Julia Child would call them `tomatoey`.  Very rich flavor, like most of the flavors of Provence.

Café Life in the town square

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There is nothing like sitting in a café in the town square, and suddenly the church bells start to chime, and you are glad to be alive and glad to be in Provence.

St. Jean de Malte Church

This is a hugely historic church.  It was originally located in an olive grove outside the walls of Aix-en-Provence, in a priory belonging to the Knights Templar.  You can even see the Maltese Cross of Knights Templar over the door.  During the French Revolution, it was converted to a military storehouse, and its paintings and treasures were plundered.  It was then converted back to a church.

The famous Blessing of the Calissons takes place in this church.  The Calisson is an almond cookie, and it was distributed as Holy Bread as a protection against the plague.  Today the Calisson is one of the epicurean delights of Provence.

The Wine Store

Provence is known for its rosé wines.  Other wines are grown there, but the climate is best for rosé wines.  Some really good table wines are inexpensive in Provence, and for the sunny warm clime, the pink rosé wines go perfectly with any meal.

Baby Carriage in the Street

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With a vine canopy for an awning, a woman walks by a baby carriage on the sidewalk.

Antique Ice Cream Vendor Cart

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This was a street vendor's cart that sold ice cream on the streets of Provence back in the day.  I don't know the year of origin, but I would suspect it to be in the late 1930's.

An Apartment Building in Aix-en-Provence

These are images of an apartment building in Aix-en-Provence where one can stay while taking French lessons in France.  This gives you the true feeling of living in a Provencal city.

Life is (so) Good

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La Vie est si Belle -- Life is So Good is the name of a shop in Provence.  It describes the life in Provence in general.  It is SOooooooo good!

Buildings in Downtown Aix-en-Provence

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These buildings are located in downtown Aix-en-Provence.  The bottom are shops and commercial and the other stories are walk-up apartment buildings.

Fish Market on Market Day

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These pics were snapped on Market Day of the fish market in Aix-en-Provence.  The mackerel in the foreground in the lower pic and the salmon in the upper pic looks particularly enticing.  Seafood is a major food group in Provence, with the Mediterranean so handy.

Church Street

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On a quiet Sunday morning a mother walks her child to church in a sunny narrow street of Provence.

On the Road to Eyragues

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I snapped this picturesque village on the road to the village of Eyragues, with the beautiful plantane trees overhanging the roadway.

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.

Market Day

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It's very exciting to be in the village or town on market day.  Almost everything under the sun is sold.  Here is a small sampling.

Glanum Roman Ruins

Site Archeologique de Glanum is near St. Remy-de-Provence.  At the heart of the magnificent Alpilles mountains, the archaeological site at Glanum features the remains of an important Roman settlement that prospered from the 6th century BC to the third century AD. This fascinating site includes the ruins of both civic and religious edifices and is unique in Provence.

This is the view from the road, however there is a whole village under excavation.  Admission is 7.50 euros.  It is well worth seeing.

The Merry-Go-Round

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You still tend to see merry-go-rounds or carousels in the village squares in France.  There is a particular fine two storey one in Aigues-Mortes.  This one is closed for the evening.  It is in St. Remy-de-Provence.

Lavender For Sale on Market Day

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From a distance, I thought that this was a basket of sausages being offered for sale on market day.  It turns out to be lavender tied in traditional cloth print fabric of Provence.  It is a treat for the eyes and a treat for the nose as well.

Fountain in the Square

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Almost every square has a fountain in Provence.  For many of the houses, it was the only source of running water a hundred years ago.  The richer the city, the more ornate was the fountain.  This one has gargoyles are the four corners and the fountain consists of four streams.

Hotel de Ville, Aix-en-Provence

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The facade of the edifice of the Hotel de Ville, (city hall) in Aix-en-Provence is absolutely stunning.  The architecture is quite majestic and beautiful.

I'd like to by a vowel please

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I think that ppt might be petite or small.  However, I found this cute little bar and cafe in old Aix-en-Provence.

Plants in a Rustic Quaint Window

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I love the rustic shutters and the plants in the window.  They crammed more potted flowers by suspending them on the bars.  

Irises of Arles

Vincent Van Gogh painted in Arles and in St. Remy-de-Provence.  One of his most famous paintings is of the irises.  This iris was photographed near St. Remy-de-Provence, which is the birthplace of Nostradamus.

The Train Station in Aix-en-Provence

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I love the round clock cupola on the train station in Aix-en-Provence.  This is perhaps the only public building in Aix-en-Provence that doesn't have the classical French look to it.

Street View - Aix-en-Provence

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Once you hit Aix-en-Provence, the architecture changes.  Somehow it has the feel of Paris rather than Provence.  This is a street view as you drive toward Centre-Ville or downtown.  It does look Parisian.

Traditional Provencal Fireplace

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The traditional Provencal fireplace is different from North American ones.  It is not really closed in.  The fire is a lot more personal and open.  The masonry walls of the fireplace extend to hold a huge big wooden beam as the mantle.  This is a relatively small fireplace.  Usually they are larger.