The Lifestyle of Provence

house provence vines bastide

Community, not work, is at the center of Provençal life. Nowhere is that more obvious than during meals, when friends and family come together to share dishes which are simple, healthy and robust in flavor. This unrushed life allows each and everyone to be in touch with themselves, and could be called true living.

Most of the good life is spent outdoors -- the earth, its bounty, its cycles and its scents, permeate not only the senses, but every aspect of one's life. The products of the fertile land find their way to one's plate at every meal, delivering health naturally, without calculation.

Farmers get up and go to sleep with the sun, yet in the middle of a hard day's work in the fields, big gestures, loud talk and laughter can be seen and heard from afar. Social conventions are kept to a minimum, and everyone enjoys having their friends stop by unannounced to tell the latest story or share the latest joke -- larger than life. A gathering of friends constitutes an event, so out comes the red wine and toast with tapenade.

outdoors provence table village square cafe

Walk into a Provençal home, and the rustic wooden furniture, the unpretentious ceramic on the colorful tablecloth, the clay vases, all come together to make you instantly feel at home. The fashion-proof, simple but functional objects exude elegance, demonstrating that good taste can be casual. This laid-back refinement is delivered naturally and infuses all Provençal social interactions, from jovially greeting each other at the market to entertaining friends at supper.

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