Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It largely corresponds with the modern administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and includes the departments of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as parts of Alpes-Maritimes and Vaucluse. The largest city of the region and its modern-day capital is Marseille.
Aix-en-Provence, or simply Aix, is a city and commune in southern France, about 30 km (20 mi) north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is the subprefecture of the arrondissement of Aix-en-Provence, in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The population of Aix-en-Provence is approximately 145,000. Its inhabitants are called Aixois or, less commonly, Aquisextains.
Provençal is a variety of Occitan, spoken by people in Provence and parts of Drôme and Gard. The term Provençal used to refer to the entire Occitan language, but more recently it has referred only to the variety of Occitan spoken in Provence. However, it can still be found being used to refer to Occitan as a whole, e.g. Merriam-Webster states that it can be used to refer to general Occitan, though this is going out of use.
Instituts d'études politiques, or IEPs, colloqually referred to as Sciences Po, are ten publicly owned institutions of higher learning in France. They are located in Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Paris, Rennes, Strasbourg and Toulouse, and since 2014 Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Their vocation is the study and research of contemporary political science. All students at the IEPs study a curriculum that is highly practical and broad-based, focusing on the full range of the social sciences across law, economics, finance, and management. These schools are considered as some of the most selective in France, mainly because they are the place where many political and business leaders are trained.
Lourmarin is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called Lourmarinois.
Almond paste is made from ground almonds or almond meal and sugar in equal quantities, with small amounts of cooking oil, beaten eggs, heavy cream or corn syrup added as a binder. It is similar to marzipan, but has a coarser texture. Almond paste is used as a filling in pastries, but it can also be found in chocolates. In commercially manufactured almond paste, ground apricot or peach kernels are sometimes added to keep the cost down.
Joseph Étienne Frédéric Mistral was an Occitan writer and lexicographer of the Provençal form of the language. He received the 1904 Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of the fresh originality and true inspiration of his poetic production, which faithfully reflects the natural scenery and native spirit of his people, and, in addition, his significant work as a Provençal philologist". Mistral was a founding member of the Félibrige and member of the Académie de Marseille.
Le Tholonet is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Tholonétiens.
Pays d'Aix Football Club, also known as Aix FC is a French association football club based in the city of Aix-en-Provence. The team was founded in 1941 as a merger of Football Club Aixois and Union Sportive Aixoise football clubs. Their best result was playing in French Division 1 in the 1967–68 season, where they finished bottom. Four years later they were further relegated to third level. They spent the following four decades playing in lower level amateur levels. In 2014, the club was renamed from AS Aix to Pays d'Aix FC to mark a rupture with the club's complicated past. As of the 2019–20 season, Pays d'Aix currently play in Provence Départemental 3 in the tenth tier of the French league system.
Jean Joseph Marius Diouloufet was a Provençal poet.
The thirteen desserts are the traditional dessert foods used to celebrate Christmas in the French region of Provence. The "big supper" ends with a ritual 13 desserts, representing Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles. The desserts always number thirteen but the exact items vary by local or familial tradition. The food traditionally is set out Christmas Eve and remains on the table three days until December 27.
Philippe Solari was a provencal sculptor, of Italian descent, a contemporary and friend of Paul Cézanne and Émile Zola. He acquired French nationality in 1870.
Provence (Provençal) wine comes from the French wine-producing region of Provence in southeast France. The Romans called the area provincia nostra, giving the region its name. Just south of the Alps, it was the first Roman province outside Italy.
The Church of St. John in Aix-en-Provence, situated at the corner of rue d'Italie and rue Cardinale, is a Gothic Roman Catholic church, the first in Provence. It was built in the 13th century, mostly in the 1270s.
Joseph-Marius Ramus (1805-1888) was a French sculptor.
Joseph Cabassol (1859–1928) was a French lawyer, politician, and banker. He served as the Mayor of Aix-en-Provence from 1902 to 1908.
The Union of Aix, founded in 1382, was a confederation of cities of Provence. It supported the party of Charles of Durazzo against the Capetian Louis I, Duke of Anjou during the unrest that followed the capture and death of Queen Joanna I of Naples, Countess of Provence. The resultant civil war finally ended in the defeat of the Union of Aix and the recognition of Louis II of Anjou as Count of Provence, along with the cession of Nice to Savoy.
The Cross of Provence is a monument located on the western end of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France.
