Provencal Living Book

With its houses built of rough or cut stone or rendered and washed with color, there is simplicity and honesty about the vernacular architecture of Provençe that lures people from all over the world to this most acclaimed and frequently visited region of France. Provençe is often described as being human in scale as well as Virgilian—having a classical poise and balance where proportions and values seem right. Its homes and houses certainly fit this description. Stone, tile, and timber combine harmoniously, creating nostalgia for a simpler, rural way of life anchored by the sense of permanence that old houses bring. Rural domestic architecture evolved from the purely practical considerations of local building materials and as a defense against people and the elements. These traditions continued and outside influences and architectural fashions were slow to move south. Today, these pictured farmhouses, townhouses, and village houses and their gardens command worldwide famous price values that would astound their previous owners.