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A Homage to Provence, Home of One of the First Motion Pictures  

Location of numerous Van Gogh paintings and place of the Lumières' 1895 motion picture, Provence is rich with French beauty.

By Will Street

Jul. 25, 2019, 11:30 AM

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Provence has been home to some truly remarkable feats of French and World culture.  Van Gogh painted his famous work "The Starry Night" in 1889 from an asylum room in Saint-Remy-de-Provence looking out of his east-facing window while one of the first projected motion pictures, "L'arrivee d'un train en gare de la Ciotat", was made by Auguste and Louis Lumiere at the coastal town, La Ciotat, in 1895.  Works such as these have had irreplaceable impact on French and world culture and evoke the joie de vivre of picturesque southern France. In love with the region ourselves, we've taken a closer look at our top five destinations of the beautiful province.

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Number 5: Aix-en-Provence

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Joint European capital of culture in 2013 and close to the Montagne Sainte-Victoire where Cezanne painted his two paintings of the landscape in 1882-5 and 1904-6, this lively city of a population of around 141 thousand, boasts cultural attractions such as the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix en Provence and the Place de L'Hotel de Ville at the centre of the city.  With restaurants and bars running throughout the city, plentiful art galleries and a history of past painters such as Aix-born Cezanne who famously professed "painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realising one's sensations," this city is the perfect weekend getaway for any culture-seeking explorer.

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Number 4: Gordes

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A truly picturesque French town, Gordes is situated in the Vaucluse region and close to hills of blossoming purple lavender fields.  2,083 feet above see level at its peak, the city rises to the castle at the top of the rock and includes fascinating collections of characterful old villas.  Frolick through flagrant lavender fields and relax away in old, heritage-packed bars, this town is the perfect retreat for any loving couple.

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Number 3: Arles

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A city famous as the site of a number of Van Gogh's paintings, Arles is situated again in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence and was important during the Roman era in the province of Gallia Narbonensis.  The Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and have attracted waves of tourists for centuries.  The town's ancient history museum, the Musée de L'Arles et de la Provence houses one of the best collection of Roman sarcophagi outside of Rome while the well-known photography festival, Rencontres d'Arles, takes place every year.  From envisaging the settings under which Van Gogh painted his beautiful paintings to exploring ancient ruins, this dynamic and diverse cultural beacon offers everything for your entertainment.

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Number 2: Saint Remy de Provence

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Another setting of a number of Van Gogh's paintings, Saint Remy de Provence is also situated in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence.  This small mountain town boasts ornate fountains and one of the oldest 'Arc de Triomphes", which has existed since Roman times, within the quaint medieval city walls.  Van Gogh was treated here in the psychiatric centre at the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole where he painted his famous "Starry Night" painting and wheat field series and the town was also the residence of the 16th century physician, Nostradamus, whose birthplace is open to visitors today.  Relax, explore and enjoy the plenitude of attractions this town has to offer.

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Number 1: Avignon

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City of the famous 15th century song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon", Avignon is situated on the Rhone river in the region of Vaucluse.  Once the seat of the Pope between 1309 and 1377 and under Papal control until 1791 during the French Revolution, the city's medieval rampants are preserved and about 12,000 people live within the ancient town centre.  The historic area, which includes the Palais de Papes, the Cathedral and the Pont d'Avignon, became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 and showcases some truly breathtaking architectural beauty.  Walk alongside the picturesque 19th century Haussmann facades of the Rue de la République, visit the large number of theatres on offer and join us at zowcha.com who, as they say in the song, "on y danse tous en rond."

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