Travel for Kids: Provence, France



france

		Provence


		Provence is a marvelously varied landscape – from the salt marshes of the Carmargue and the blue Mediterranean ocean, to limestone mountains and caves, rocky plateaus, fields of lavender and olive trees. Plus Roman ruins, charming villages, and the historic city of Marseilles. Your kids will enjoy exploring all the nooks and crannies of Provence.


			Marseilles

			Arles

			The Camargue

			Luberon

			Vaison-la-Romaine


			Shopping –

			Have fun shoping for those small hand-painted clay figurines, called "santons" to put in a creche at Christmas. These charming figures depict daily life in traditional fashion, farmers, peasants, fishermen, tradespeople. They are incredibly detailed – a dentist pulling a tooth, a man playing a cello, an artist painting at his easel, ladies knitting. At Christmas time, les santons are a lovely reminder of Provence.



			Provence is chock full of good food, and this is one place where you'll want to leisurely sip an aperitif, take a cooking lession or visit a Rhône vineyard, but kids may be more interested in playing boules or exploring prehistoric caves. Here's a family tour that offers the best of both for kids and adults:

			Classic Journeys

Camille and the Sunflowers
Laurence Anholt

"Where Camille lived, the sunflowers grew so high the looked like real suns…" One day, Vincent, a painter, comes to live in Arles, and Camille, the postman's daughter, becomes his friend. A bright story that will delight little ones. (Picture book)

Visiting Vincent van Gogh
Caroline Breunesse

Visit van Gogh in Arles – his yellow house on the corner, his bedroom, the postman and his wife, the wooden drawbridge over the river, vase of sunflowers. (Picture book)

My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle
Marcel Pagnol

Warm-hearted, humorous memoir of a Provencal childhood. Joys of boyhood hunting expeditions in the mountains, seemingly-endless summer holidays, and 10 year old Marcel, exploring the thyme and rosemary-scented hills above Marseilles. A great read aloud. (Chapter book)

The Truffle Hunter
Inga Moore

Adorable story of Martine, a truffle hunting pig who can't find truffles (a French delicacy), until she meets a wild boar in the forest. Charming illustrations. (Picture book)

(More children's books on other France pages)

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