The lovely Provençal landscapes and elegant cities of today still hold many remnants of the ancient past, and the justly famous Roman monuments should be seen in the context of their Gallic and Greek backgrounds. The Iron Age peoples were famed for their fearsome warriors, and the cult of the severed head is evident in sanctuaries and statuary. Roman triumphal arches celebrate the success of the formidable military machine of the Roman Army over these opponents. Huge public monuments were absorbed into later defensive structures and therefore survive amazingly complete - some of the amphitheatres and theatres are still in use today for bull-fights and music festivals.

This exceptionally beautiful region of France is also famed for its fine food and wine, and the colourful rolling landscapes of Van Gogh.