Provence has been called a bridge between the past and the present, where
yesterday blends with today. This beautiful place lies in the southern part of
France, and is bordered on the east by Italy , on the south by the Mediterranean
Sea, and on the west by the Rhone River. The area abounds with flower fields,
vineyards, orchards, and olive and mulberry groves. Along the seacoast is the
French Rivera and the Ports of Marseille and Toulon. Provence has its own
language and its own customs. The region originally formed part of a Roman
province called Provincia Romana, built in the 120 B.C. It was passed into the
possession of several ancient Germanic peoples, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths,
and the Frankish kings. In 879 AD. the area was incorporated into the kingdom of
Provence, sometimes call Cisjurane Burgundy, and in the 10th century into the e
kingdom of Arles. After being ruled by the house of Anjou from about 1245 to
1482, the region came into the possession of King Louis XI of France, and in
14856 it was annexed to the French Kingdom. Provence was a province until the
French revolution, after which the area was distributed among several
departments. The Greeks and Romans first filled the landscape with cities
boasting Hellenic theaters, roman baths, amphitheaters, and triumphal arches.
These were followed in medieval times by Romanesque fortresses and gothic
cathedrals. In the 19th century Provence's light and landscapes attracted
painters like Cezzanne and Van Gogh. Despite the changes over the years,
Provence will be remembered as the bridge between the past and the present. On
the Garonne River, the great port of Bordeaux, the Capital of Aquitaine, is the
center of the world's most important wine producing areas. It attracts many
visitors to the offices of wine exporters there, most of whom welcome guests.
Bordeaux is a city of warehouses, factories, mansions, and exploding suburbs.
Now the fifth largest city of France is Bordeaux. Bordeaux was for 300 years a
British possession, and even today's it's called the most UN-French of French
cities, though the same has been said of Strasbourg. The local airport ,
Bordeaux Merignac, is served by flights from as far away as London and New York.
A shuttle bus connects the airport with the train station, departing 30 minutes
from 5:30 to 10:00pm, costing $35F one way. Your tour can begin at Place de La
Comedie, at the very heart of this old city, a busy traffic hub that was once
the site of Roman temple. On this square one of the great theaters of France,
The Grand Theater, was built between1773 and 1780. From here you could walk
north to esplanade des Quinconces, laid out between 1818 and 1828, it is the
largest square of its kind in Europe, covering nearly 30 acres. The Musee des
Beaux Arts has an outstanding collection ranging from the 15th to the 20th
century. Works by Perugina, Titian, Rubens, Veronese, Delacroix, Gros , Redon,
and Lhote are displayed. The museum is open from 10 to 6 P.M. and the admission
is 18f per person. The Pont de Pierre, with 17 arches , stretches 1,594 feet
across the Garonne and is one of the most beautiful bridges in France. Ordered
built by Napoleon I in 1813, the bridge can be crossed on foot for a fine of the
port. But for a better view I suggest the tour of the port, which lasts for
about 1 1/2 hours. Toulouse city in southern France, capital of Haute-Garonne,
on the Garonne River and the Canal du Midi. It is a major commercial,
transportation, and manufacturing center, noted for the production of aircraft
and aerospace equipment. Other products are chemicals, clothing, electrical
machinery, and farm implements. Places of interest in Toulouse include the
largest Romanesque Basilica of saint Sernin, which contains the tomb of St.
Thomas Aquinas; the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Etienne; and the church of Notre
Dame la Blanche. The city also contains many mansions in the Renaissance style;
these include the Hotel Felzins, the Maison dePierre, and the Hotel d'Assezat et
de Clemence -Isaure.