Provence

The Provençal landscape

Provence... This word evokes vacations, the sweetness of life and the charm of the pretty villages in the South of France.
In terms of geography, Provence, located in the South-East of France, extends from the Alps to the Mediterranean, in the west, it is delimited by the Rhône.

This landscape consists of peaceful hills where you can hear the cicadas singing, fields of olive trees and fruit trees, garrigue and scrub that blossom with thyme and rosemary.
In Terre d'Argence, the soil is clay and dry, the vines grow on a soil composed of sand and rolled pebbles (sandstone), typical of the Costières de Nîmes region.

An art of living

Provence is much more than a geographical area... The country of Pagnol and Alphonse Daudet is also a sweet way of life, a particular atmosphere, that of the South, and that of the South. Here, you can have lunch on the terrace even in December, which makes it a privileged destination all year round, even in winter !
In summer, the sun can be strong, the hottest hours are an invitation to relax and nap.
Provence rhymes with petanque in village squares, aperitifs at sunset, conviviality over a drink or a generous dish. Here we take the time to live !

The climate in Provence

A land of sun and stone, Provence has the singing accents of the South of France. The characteristic markers of noon are present: the cicadas, the sun, the Mistral, of course !

It is said that the sun shines here 300 days a year. This omnipresence of the Sun is partly due to the Mistral, this cold wind coming from the top of the Alps.
The legend says that when he starts to breathe, he starts to breathe in a cycle of 3 days: 3 days, 6 or 9 days !
In winter, it can be violent and some say it makes you crazy !
But the Mistral also chases away the clouds, and this is what allows us to have a blue and pure sky almost all the time. It offers an unparalleled and often desired light, our landscapes have also inspired many painters and poets, such as Van Gogh and Frédéric Mistral.

In summer, it is the sun destination par excellence! The guest rooms, cottages and hotels in Terre d'Argence welcome you for a moment out of time.

The traditions

Provence has always affirmed its identity through a language - Provençal - and an important cultural heritage, of which costume is a part. Wearing the Provençal costume during a particular event is a custom that is passed on from generation to generation. At each votive celebration, women get together to prepare. It will take them several hours to put on all the layers of traditional clothing and to do their hair 'Beaucairoise'. To find out more, click here !

What do we eat in Provence for an aperitif ?

The cuisine here is generous. We put a lot of garlic, and herbs from our hills (thyme, sage, tarragon, rosemary...). The vegetables that grow in Provence allow us to compose many tasty and gourmet recipes:

- panisses (homemade chickpea fries, a specialty from Marseille)
- local olives (picholine for example, crunchy green olives from the Gard)
- bull sausage
- to spread : cod brandade (specialty from Nîmes), tapenade, anchoïade, tomato caviar
- pissaladière (pie or pizza made with anchovies)
- zucchini flower fritters (in season)
- grilled peppers marinated in local olive oil and garlic

There are many other Provençal recipes, all you have to do is come and taste them !

What are we drinking ?
Wines from Costières de Nîmes, Alpilles or Clairette de Bellegarde
or pastis, well dosed !
If you want a non-alcoholic drink: water flavored with thyme, rosemary or lavender