Southern France

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Le Midi
)
Southern France
Le Midi (French)
Lo Miègjorn (Occitan)
Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis, in Bouches-du-Rhône
Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis, in Bouches-du-Rhône
Southern France, based on a split along the 45th parallel
Southern France, based on a split along the 45th parallel
CountryFrance

Southern France, also known as the south of France or colloquially in French as le Midi,[1][2] is a defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,[3] Spain, the Mediterranean Sea and Italy. It includes southern Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the west, Occitanie in the centre, the southern parts of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in the northeast, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the southeast, as well as the island of Corsica in the southeast. Southern France is generally considered part of southern Europe because of its association with the Mediterranean Sea.

The term Midi derives from mi ('middle') and di ('day') in

synonymy has existed since Middle French as well; meridien could refer to both midday and south. The Midi is considered to start at Valence
, hence the saying à Valence le Midi commence ("At Valence the Midi starts").

Geography

The area corresponds in large part to

Continental France and just north of Sardinia, Italy
, may also be included.

Tourism

Notable touristic landmarks include the Roman-era Pont du Gard and the Arena of Nîmes; the Verdon Gorge, in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence; the Canal du Midi, linking Toulouse by to the Mediterranean Sea; and the natural regions of Larzac, Luberon and Camargue. The French Riviera is in southern France's southeastern quadrant. Several towns in southern France are renowned for their architecture and surroundings, such as Roussillon, Ménerbes, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Gordes, Rocamadour, Rennes-le-Château, Les Baux-de-Provence, Lourmarin, Gassin, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Seillans, Crillon-le-Brave and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

Cuisine

Southern France has a cuisine that is different from those of northern France and other Mediterranean countries. The major difference from the rest of France is in the use of olive oil, instead of butter. Local agriculture supplies the olives for consumption as well as cooking, the ducks and geese to make

haricot beans that are used in cassoulet, the sheep whose milk produces Roquefort cheese, tomatoes and melons. To accompany the richer food, the area also supplies much stronger wines, from Bordeaux, Cahors, Madiran, and Languedoc, all of which are washed down with brandy from Armagnac.[4]

Films

The following films are set in southern France:

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-85284-559-9
    .
  2. ^ Passy, Paul (1904). International French–English and English–French dictionary. Hinds, Noble & Eldredge.
  3. ^ Louis Papy, Le midi atlantique, Atlas et géographie de la France moderne, Flammarion, Paris, 1984.
  4. ISBN 978-1800464964
    .
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