Provence - one large beautiful garden
Provence cooking is referred to frequently like 'la cuisine du soleil' - the cuisine of the sun.
With a favourable climate, wonderful cuisine and rich produce, there is nowhere like it. In the summer you can see Provence at it's best, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and courgettes ready for the local dish - Ratatouille!!
In this area's cuisine you can taste the sun, olive oil, the cold rose wine, warm little tomatoes, traditional pastis, bouillabaisse, fruits like peaches, cherries and four different types of strawberries without forgetting the vegetables - a perfect wonderful blend of tastes and perfumes of Provence.
Provence gastronomy is very different to the rest of France's cuisine. You have influences from the Mediterranean creating recipes, which are spicy and hot, and plenty of seafood. Garlic, olive oil and olives are the produce that are used most, along with the vast amount of herbs, which are obvious in the regions' recipes.
Provence has a sunny climate with mountains in the north and Cote d'Azur in the south. There is a range of terrain in the Provence area and most of it is covered with olive trees and vineyards.
The main towns are Marseilles, Aix en Provence and Toulon.
Var
Var has 430km of beautiful coastline, wonderful seafood and good wine. The land is rich with vineyards, olive trees and Ancient towns and Provencal markets. With a purple carpet of lavender as far as the eye can see, this area nestles perfectly between the mountains and the sea.
Between the Mediterranean coast and the spectacular Verdon Canyon, we see mountainous villages, vast forests and the scent of wild herbs in the air.
La Cadière d'Azur
Nestled on a side of a cliff, this small medieval village offers a panoramic view that takes you all the way to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
It has narrow streets thriving in history, and between these busy streets, a butchers shop, cafés, restaurants, a grocers, a fishmonger, a bakery and local craft shops.
Inside the village you will discover the Church of Saint André, built at the beginning of the 16th century on the ruins of a church from the 12-century. It's bell tower prides itself on having the oldest bell in the Var region dating back to 1458 and the iron clock in the village has been telling the time since 1551.
You will also find the remains of three old majestic gateways - Saint Jean's gateway in the middle, which dates back to the 16th century, has an old wooden door spiked with enormous nails, that can still be seen today; Mazarine is in the east, and Colle in the west (Colle translates to hill in Provençal).
If you ever have the chance - go to La Cadière d'Azur - it is a beautiful area which has motivated many artists and painters. It does not have a vast amount of tourists and it is only a stone's throw from the beach.
www.ot-lacadieredazur.fr
www.vardestination.com
www.tourismevar.com