If you are taking a trip to the South of France in September, why not attend the Harvest Proclamation festival. The traditional event marks the beginning of the Côtes du Rhône grape harvest. The Harvest Proclamation takes place in Avignon and this year is one of many events celebrating the 700th anniversary of the Pope’s arrival in Avignon.
The festival includes the Procession of the Bacchic brotherhoods, which begins from the Rue de la Republique and the Saint Agricol church and continues Notre Dame des Doms catherdral. There are events for children taking place in the Rocher des Doms gardens. These gardens are also where the 14th Proclamation will take place. There is also a free wine tasting session for the public as well as a market presenting stalls from the Avignon Halles market.
The Harvest Proclamation finale is at midnight, after a free concert. Experience a real taste of Provence tradition by visiting the Ban des Vendanges.
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Amongst the many delights to experience when visiting Provence are the markets. Any day of the week you will be able to find a market in a nearby town. These markets usually take place between 8am and 1pm and tend to be open air. When browsing the stalls you will come across fresh local produce, some of which will be specific to that region of France. Peruse the selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables that are on offer, along with cured meats, fish, cheeses, herbs and spices. Some markets have stalls that also sell goods such as table linen, clothes, shoes, flowers, books and some even trade in antiques and artwork.
Markets in Provence are not just about picking up your weekly shop; they are much more than that. These markets are an integral part of the daily life in Provence. People do not rush around manically like we are used to in UK supermarkets. The community is brought together and wander around at a leisurely pace.
Vendors are generally very friendly and helpful. Many travel between markets so it is not unlikely that you will see the same faces if visiting a different market on another day. Provence is known for having some of the best markets in France. It is enjoyable to simply sit in a nearby cafe and watch the people going about their weekly shop and chat to each other. Visiting a Provence market is a must when on holiday as you need to experience it firsthand.
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Forget social networking sites, why not socialise the Provence way with a fun and relaxing game of pétanque.
The game of pétanque originated in Provence and is now played all over France. It is popular particularly during the summer months and is a similar game to bowls. Pétanque can be played by two, four or six players who are split into two teams. Each player begins the game with 3 boules and the aim is to hit or get as near to the jack (a smaller wooden ball) as possible. The game ends if either the jack gets knocked out of play or when no team members have any remaining boules. Teams receive one point for each boule that is nearer to the jack than the best placed boule of the opposition. The team who is the first to collect thirteen points wins.
Pétanque is a cheap game to play and attracts players of all ages. It is a very sociable game that brings whole villages together. The French writer Marcel Pagnol poignantly describes how, “Pétanque has a specific rhythm, though it’s a slow one. Pensively we drink a glass of pastis, we bend the knees, the ball goes up in the air with a long curve, it falls on the ground and rolls with a gentle screech to the place where it stands still”.
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One of the major attractions to tourists of visiting France is the broad range of foods that are available there. France is renowned for producing delicious wines and cheeses and local produce is very influential on the cuisine of each different region. Provence food is generally very healthy with plenty of fish, vegetables, fruit and olive oil. When visiting Provence, the markets in Lorgues, on Tuesdays and in Le Muy on Thursdays and Sundays, are a fantastic way to sample fresh foods that you can cook yourself.
Areas of France which border on to other countries such as Germany and Italy tend to eat food that is influenced by their neighbours. The same goes for regions which have a high population of North African immigrants.
When eating out, the best approach to choosing restaurants is to take note of where the locals eat. You will then be more or less guaranteed to have an authentic and enjoyable meal. Because there is such a vast array of food to choose from there is something for everyone.
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