Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Administrative region in southeastern France
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is a region in southeastern France that stretches from the Mediterranean coast to the Alps, covering six departments. Marseille serves as the capital and main economic hub, linking coastal areas, mountains, and urban centers across the territory.
The territory took its present administrative form in 1970, bringing together Provence, the French Alps, and the Côte d'Azur. Each area carried influences from antiquity, the Middle Ages, and later centuries into the new structure.
Markets in towns and villages sell local olive oil, lavender, cheese, and herbs that reflect farming and coastal traditions. Summer festivals fill squares with music and dance rooted in rural and maritime customs passed down over generations.
Airports in Marseille and Nice link the area with many European capitals, while trains and buses connect coastal towns with mountain villages and urban centers. Travelers can move between sea, mountains, and cities depending on season and interest.
The Verdon Gorge between Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var forms the deepest canyon in France, with rock walls over 2,300 feet (700 meters) high. Many visitors focus on the coast and miss this inland landscape.
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