La Provence Verte - A hidden jewel in the heart of Provence
La Provence Verte lies tucked away from the summer crowds between the Verdon, La Sainte-Baume and La Sainte-Victoire. The 'Green Provence' includes 37 communes that make up one of the most beautiful regions of France. This region of the Var lies on a plateau about 300 metres above sea level and has stunning and abundant vineyards, miles of pine forests and medieval hillside villages, is particularly quiet even in the height of summer.
The area around Brignoles lies halfway between the Gorges du Verdon, the deepest gorge in Europe, to the north and the beautiful sandy beaches around Hyeres to the south, including Fort Bregancon, the French President's summer residence. The contrasting Provencal cities of Aix-en-Provence and Nice lie to the west and east, respectively. Staying in a holiday home in this area makes the perfect base from which to explore the uniquely varied and interesting destinations in this the heart of Provence.
The Lac de Sainte Croix is just one of the beautiful lakes where you can enjoy water sports, including white water rafting, canoeing and fishing. Walking and cycling enthusiasts will find many mapped routes, from easy to very difficult. Around this area in late June and July, you can appreciate the aroma of lavender fields stretching before you for miles, and delight in having locally produced lavender honey with your croissants for breakfast.
Restaurants in the area serve wonderfully delicious and aromatic Provencal cuisine; they vary from inexpensive intimate restaurants owned and run by husband-and-wife teams, to L'abbaye De La Celle owned by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. For anyone who appreciates quality wines, you can visit the many local wine domains.
This area has some truly superb golf courses, which are usually quiet and within easy reach by car. Golf de Barbaroux is undoubtedly one of the best courses in the region. This championship course, the only one in Europe designed by American golf architects Pete and PB Dye, is now ranked in the top twenty in France.
The area is not only rich in history, but also culture, the whole month of August being dedicated to music (especially jazz) and theatre, with performances taking place in every village in La Provence Verte.
The Counts of Provence chose the ancient Roman town of Brignoles because of the perfect climate and beautiful countryside. This area enjoys 300 sunny days each year, where summers are warm and dry and the skies are clear and blue even in the winter. In this the heart of the region you can immerse yourself in the true Provence and experience its culture, cuisine and magnificent landscape. This variety and richness encourages many visitors to return year after year.
Written by Dawn Daneshmend - Owner of Property 93989 in Brignoles, France
