Provence

Provence, region and former province of France, embracing the lower Rhone River (including the Camargue) and the French Riviera. The chief cities are Nice, Marseilles, Toulon, Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence (the historic capital). It is a sunny and picturesque region, famous for historical associations and its fruit, vineyards, and olives. It was the first transalpine Roman province (hence the name), and later it became an independent kingdom (879–933), finally passing to the French kings in 1486.

See also: France.