PROVENCE PHOTO TOUR
Provence is situated in the south of France which is known as the “Midi”. The French affectionately refer to this region as “Midi” because it is the french word for noon which is the sunniest time of the day in France and this is the sunniest part of France. Within this region Provence is situated in the southeast of Midi with Avignon to the east, the Italian border to the west and the Mediterranean to the south.
Provence itself is split into 6 departments known as Alpes Maritimes, Bouches du Rhone, Vaucluse, Alpes de Haute Provence, Var and Hautes Alpes. The Bouches du Rhone and Vaucluse are departments to the west that are bordered by the Rhône River. The majority of Provence has a Mediterranean climate, typically hot dry long sunny summers and mild winters with minimal snow.
Numerous famous painters in the world came to Provence in the 19th and 20th centuries because of the clarity of the light and the climate. The Mistral winds create a special quality of light that removes dust from the atmosphere, greatly increasing visibility.
Paul Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839 where he lived and worked most of his life. He painted many local landscapes, particularly Montagne Sainte-Victoire that featured frequently in his work.
Van Gogh lived in Provence for a little more than two years gaining his fame as a painter largely as a result of the subjects that he painted there.
Auguste Renoir visited Cannes, Saint Raphael, Beaulieu and Grasse but eventually settled in Cagnes-sur-Mer in 1907. He purchased a farm in the hills where he built a new home with a workshop within the grounds where he continued to paint until his death in 1919. His home is now a museum.
Henri Matisse first visited St. Tropez in 1904. He settled in Nice in 1917 where one of his addresses was situated next to a flower market and overlooking the sea where he gained inspiration for his paintings. He is buried in Cimiez.
Claude Monet visited Juan-les-Pins, Beaulieu, Villefranche, Menton, Bordighera, Monte-Carlo, Nice and Cannes. It was here he was inspired to paint a number of seascapes of Cap Martin, near Menton, and at Cap d’Antibes.
Provence is traditionally well known for its wine production. The majority of the wines produced in Provence are rosés. Bandol is famous for red wines using the most characteristic grape of the region mourvèdre. White wine is produced solely in Cassis.
Popular near Marseille is a traditional liqueur of Provence called Pastis that is flavoured with anise with a 40–45% alcohol by volume. Before serving this liqueur it is diluted with water which turns it a cloudy colour.
A form of boules that is called Pétanque is a very popular sport played in towns and villages all over Provence. In July and August every year the french countryside is abundant with spectacularly beautiful looking and smelling purple lavender fields.
Conversation
bonjour = hello (used during the morning and afternoon)
au revoir = goodbye
bonsoir = good evening (used after 6pm)
bonne nuit = goodnight
bonne soirée = have a good evening
à plus tard! = see you later!
à demain! = see you tomorrow!
bonne journée! = have a nice day!
bon weekend! = have a good weekend!
s’il vous plaît = please
merci = thanks
merci beaucoup = thank you very much
vous parlez anglais? = do you speak English?
vous parlez français? = do you speak French?
je ne parle pas français = I don’t speak French
je ne parle pas très bien français = I don’t speak French very well
je parle un peu français = I speak a little French
je parle très mal français = I speak French very badly
pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît? = could you speak more slowly, please?
pourriez-vous me l’écrire, s’il vous plaît? = could you write it down for me, please
pourriez-vous répéter cela, s’il vous plaît? = could you please repeat that?
je comprends = I understand
je ne comprends pas = I don’t understand
Depending on numbers partners and family are welcome to come and enjoy the sights and atmosphere of Provence while the photo tour group are out shooting, then rendezvous back at the hotel at night. Guided sightseeing tour of Provence or specific themes such as a gastro tour arranged for partners if required. Non workshop participants “TOUR-IN-TANDEM” will be charged a lower fee.
Experience nature at its best … Never miss a shot again …
Learn Photography in a Great Location … Be Tutored … Have Fun !
For more information about this Provence Photo Tour choose from the following.
Overview
Itinerary
Gallery
Prices,Dates,Booking
Client Testimonials
Clients On Location
Images Taken By Clients
E: stillsphototours@googlemail.com
M: (+44) 07974 175 338