Things Provençal
Here you will find out about unusual 'trucs' from Provence that will put you in a Provençal frame of mind ready for your vacation:
Tomettes - traditional hexagonal shaped terracotta floor tiles
Pétanque - is a game normally played on hard dirt or gravel where the goal is , while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground, to throw hollow metal balls to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet ('piglet') or jack. The game originated in La Ciotat , Provence
and is played by about 17 million people in France.
Cigale - (cicada) are the symbol (and sound) of Provence. They appear near the end of June and are not heard after mid September. The cigale 'song' ( only males are heard) a strident rasp, is a sexual call. The 'song' is produced in the hollow of the stomach by the rapid retraction of muscles. Below 22°C the muscles producing the sound loose their elasticity and for this reason males are silent during rain or after sunset.
Pastis - is an anise flavoured spirit drunk as an apératif, from Marseille. Pastis is usually diluted with water before drinking , consumed cold it is a refreshing drink on hot days.
Pointu- a traditional small fishing boat from Marseille and Cassis
Bories - are dry stone huts some dating back to the 13th century typically seen in the Luberon. Farmers and shepherds built borries as shelters and for storage in fields with stones found nearby.
Mas - a traditional Provençal farmhouse. Rectangular in shape the house is always orientated south to offer protection against the mistral which blows from the north. Because of the mistral there are traditionally no windows facing north, while other windows are narrow to protect against the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter.
Santons - are small hand-painted , terracotta nativity scene figures. In a traditional Provençal crèche there are 55 individual figures representing various characters from Provençal village life. The first santons were created in Marseille by Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764 - 1822)
Calanques - a long series of narrow steep inlets in the cliffs of the coastline between Marseille and Cassis. Originally formed by a series of rivers flowing into the sea which were later flooded by the sea.
Garrigue - a typical landscape of Provence. A low soft leaved scrubland or chaparral found on limestone soils . Consisting of juniper and stunted holm oak trees with wild lavender, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Aioli - a thick white emulsion made with olive oil and garlic served warm with potatoes, vegetables and cod.
Calissons - a traditional almond shaped sweet from Aix-en-Provence.Calissons are made from melon and orange candied fruit together with ground almonds and covered in a thin layer of white icing.
Provençal (language) - historically the language spoken in Provence, a dialect of the Occitan language. It is closely related to Catalan and there are several regional variations. It was widely spoken until the 20th century . Today it is still taught in some schools and universities but only spoken regularly by a small number of people.
Fougasse - Traditional flat bread with holes from Provence. Modern versions are flavoured with olives and herbs.
Tomettes - traditional hexagonal shaped terracotta floor tiles
Pétanque - is a game normally played on hard dirt or gravel where the goal is , while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground, to throw hollow metal balls to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet ('piglet') or jack. The game originated in La Ciotat , Provence
and is played by about 17 million people in France.
Cigale - (cicada) are the symbol (and sound) of Provence. They appear near the end of June and are not heard after mid September. The cigale 'song' ( only males are heard) a strident rasp, is a sexual call. The 'song' is produced in the hollow of the stomach by the rapid retraction of muscles. Below 22°C the muscles producing the sound loose their elasticity and for this reason males are silent during rain or after sunset.
Pastis - is an anise flavoured spirit drunk as an apératif, from Marseille. Pastis is usually diluted with water before drinking , consumed cold it is a refreshing drink on hot days.
Pointu- a traditional small fishing boat from Marseille and Cassis
Bories - are dry stone huts some dating back to the 13th century typically seen in the Luberon. Farmers and shepherds built borries as shelters and for storage in fields with stones found nearby.
Mas - a traditional Provençal farmhouse. Rectangular in shape the house is always orientated south to offer protection against the mistral which blows from the north. Because of the mistral there are traditionally no windows facing north, while other windows are narrow to protect against the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter.
Santons - are small hand-painted , terracotta nativity scene figures. In a traditional Provençal crèche there are 55 individual figures representing various characters from Provençal village life. The first santons were created in Marseille by Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764 - 1822)
Calanques - a long series of narrow steep inlets in the cliffs of the coastline between Marseille and Cassis. Originally formed by a series of rivers flowing into the sea which were later flooded by the sea.
Garrigue - a typical landscape of Provence. A low soft leaved scrubland or chaparral found on limestone soils . Consisting of juniper and stunted holm oak trees with wild lavender, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Aioli - a thick white emulsion made with olive oil and garlic served warm with potatoes, vegetables and cod.
Calissons - a traditional almond shaped sweet from Aix-en-Provence.Calissons are made from melon and orange candied fruit together with ground almonds and covered in a thin layer of white icing.
Provençal (language) - historically the language spoken in Provence, a dialect of the Occitan language. It is closely related to Catalan and there are several regional variations. It was widely spoken until the 20th century . Today it is still taught in some schools and universities but only spoken regularly by a small number of people.
Fougasse - Traditional flat bread with holes from Provence. Modern versions are flavoured with olives and herbs.
