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The mountain range
known as the Alpes is very spectacular end to end; the Swiss and
Austrian Alps are known for their alpine beauty, the northern
French Alps are well known for their famous Tour de France
venues, but the southern French Alps, or Maritime Alps, have
gone relatively unknown.
This is probably
due to their location; they sit almost entirely in the region of
Provence. These mountains dominate almost all of Provence and
are a large influence on the life in this wonderful region, but
it is the lifestyle of the people, the charm of the villages,
and the beauty of the coast that give Provence its well deserved
reputation. Although these mountains sit merely as a backdrop
to the fabric of Provence, they are most certainly deserving of
our awe and respect. Tall, rugged, remote, beautiful, and most
important, laced with small winding roads climbing and
descending the cliffs, valleys, and gorges of these wild and
wonderful mountains.
Actually, one does
not ‘visit’ Provence; one is seduced, taken in, and absorbed by
her warm luxurious light-bathed towns and landscapes.
Hillsides pulsing with the scent of wild thyme and rosemary;
fields of purple lavender juxtaposed with seas of graceful
sunflowers undulating with the uninhibited caress of the wind;
or vast barren rock outcroppings of the most amazing shades of
rose and terra-cotta; these are just some of the natural visual
riches of the countryside behind France’s Côte d’Azur. Of
course, reveries of Provence inevitably turn to food and wine;
bikes tucked away for the evening, we’ll spend a good portion of
time at the table delighting in dishes made from local produce
prepared in age-old country ways.
 The
Tour de France often challenges these roads and their cols. The
climb up Mont Ventoux is considered one of the most difficult
and revered of the Tour. The Col de la Bonette is the highest paved
pass in Europe. The Col d'Allos, Col de la Cayolle, Col de Vars,
and the Col d'Izoard, are major climbs in many of the hardest
stages of the Tour de France. Impressive climbs, yes, but still
it is the myriad of small roads with little or no traffic that
make this one of the greatest cycling areas in Europe.
It is no wonder that the abundant palette of
Provence’s wild and natural beauty has attracted and inspired
the great artists of past and present. It is nearly impossible
to escape a transformation of heart.
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