Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure is a administrative area of the French Republic, in South-east. It is often indicated by the acronym PACA or Paca (Gentilé '' Pacaïens '') but this artificial name is disputed by part of the inhabitants. Its name in Occitan Provençal is ˈawˈkɔstɔ D aˈzyʀ , writing Provènça-Aups-Costa d' Azur (traditional standard) or Prouvènço-AUP-Costo of Azure (Standard mistralienne).

It is bordering on the Italy from which it is separated by the the southernmost Alps. In north, it close with the area the Rhone-Alps and in the west with the Languedoc-Roussillon of which the the Rhone mark limit. PACA is bathed in the south by the Mediterranean. Provence-Alp-coast of Azure gathers six departments resulting from the provinces of Ancien Mode of Provence and from the Dauphiné. Part of the Vaucluse is resulting from the annexation of the Comtat Venaissin during the revolutionary period and the major part of the the Alpes-Maritimes of the fastening of the Comté of Nice to the France during the Second Empire. The logo of the district council points out these four areas by taking again their old blazon in certain publicities.

Administration

See also: District council of Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure

Policy

See also: Political of the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure

History

See also: History of the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure, Unloading in Provence

Colonized already by the Greeks, the area belonged to the transalpine Roman province called Provintia Romana , and, subsequently, Napolitaine, from where drift its current name, of Latin Provintia .

The area was successively inhabited by various Germanic tribes like those of the Ostrogoths, the Burgondes and the Francs. In the year 879 apr. J. - C., the area was incorporated in the kingdom under the name of Provence (sometimes called Burgundy Cisjurane or Cisjurásica) and then, at the 10th century, integrated into the kingdom of Arles.

At the beginning of the 12th century, it was subjected to the jurisdiction of the Counts de Barcelone under the reign of Pierre II of Aragon. Subsequently, it lost any autonomy, remaining subjected to the house of Anjou which controlled of 1245 to 1482 until the reign of Louis XI of France and was definitively annexed in 1486.

Provence remained a province until the French revolution, moment when it was divided into several departments. At present, its territory belongs to the administrative area of Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure.

Geography

See also: Geography of the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure

The geography of the area the Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure is characterized by its great diversity and the clear division of its territory.

Provence-Alp-coast of Azure is populated of 4,7 million inhabitants. The territory is not immense: 31.400 km, i.e., 5,8% of the national surface. It is one of the most beautiful and varied territories Hexagon, full with contrasts, even in its population unequally distributed: dense on the coast, rare in mountain. Provence is the area of France the most equipped with animal species and vegetable. The Mediterranean climate makes grow a fauna and a flora diversified since its territories more in north until those of the west. Close to the littorals, the vegetation is mainly made up of pine forests, maquis, garrigues and holm oaks. Mediterranean softness also makes it possible the area to specialize in certain economic activities such as the culture of the vine and the production of wines (in particular the rosy ones) as well as the culture of the lavender and of the olive-trees, productions which made known throughout the world its traditions and all that relates to its tourism. More in north, one finds an area with an Alpine climate and his taïga of mountain as vegetation before this one does not disappear at a certain altitude. The area thus knows at the same time heat and freshness with two climates (Mediterranean and mountain), which advantages are hardly distant of a hundred kilometers.

Provence-Alp-coast of Azure counts 963 communes. It is an area very urbanized with a population of 4,5 million townsmen (90% of its population) who reside in his four large metropolises, Marseilles, Nice, Toulon and Avignon and in the many medium-sized cities of more than 20.000 inhabitants. Its natural environment and cultural makes of it the first area of reception for the French tourists, the second for the foreign tourists and the French pensioners fortunate.

Transport

Economy

Tourist saving in Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure.

Provence-Alp-coast of Azure is the first area of France for the reception of the French tourists and the second for the foreign tourists.

The extreme diversity of the area is a very strong asset because it allows the practice of the majority of the forms of tourism: balneal and nautical tourism (135 marinas and meadows of 60.000 places, approximately 90 tourist water levels), urban tourism, towns of art and history, rural tourism, the golf (66 golfs and practices, practicable all the year) or linked activities with snow (68 winter sports resorts and centers of ski), etc

The natural heritage is remarkable: 3 national parks, 4 regional natural parks, of natural reserves, etc (Jewel cases 800.000 visitors, Mercantour 500.000 visitors, Port-Cross-country race 500.000 visitors, Porqueroles 1.000.000 visitors).

The same applies to its cultural heritage: 1.800 registered or classified buildings historic buildings, of the festivals in great number of which several of strong international repute (Aix, Orange, Avignon, Antibes-Juan-the-Pines…).

To accommodate the tourists, the area has a high capacity of lodging. The 2,8 million tourist beds accounts for 14% of the park of national lodging. The second home (noncommercial lodging) represents more than three beds out of four. The number of beds in commercial lodging is close to 700.000.

In term of frequentation, 34 million tourists was accommodated in 2006. That represents 8 times the regional population (4,5 million inhabitants). These tourists generated 226 million nights in 2006.

Tourist consumption is estimated at meadows of 10 billion euros. The share of tourism in the regional GDP is of 12,2% (6,6% at the national level). Meadows of 200 communes of the area levy the visitor's tax for an entire amount of approximately 20 million euros. This amount accounts for 19% of the entire amount of France (PACA 2nd rank behind Île-de-France).

Tourist employment fluctuates according to the periods of the year. On average, more 105.000 paid tourist employment is counted (either 7% of the uses of the area according to INSEE). The employee jobs in the “activities characteristic” of tourism are distributed in the following sectors: hotels of tourism, other lodgings (inns of youth, camp-sites…), restaurants and coffees, travel agencies and others (cable cars, ski lifts, thermal activities). Tourism also depend on many indirect employment, for example in the sectors of the BTP, the retail business, transport, etc

Culture

See also: Culture of the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure

The Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure is a very beautiful area with very large population. The Frères Light, which had a beautiful house with Ciotat, in the Rhone delta, carried out there their first works Cinématographique S with those turned to their factory of Lyon: the Arrival of a train in station of Ciotat , the Sprinkler sprinkled and well of others. The first room of Cinema of the history, the Eden, is located at Ciotat. the Eden is always present and is classified historic building. An support group chaired by Bertrand Tavernier is in hand for its rehabilitation. The first public projection of the cinematograph there take place the September 28th 1895. Michel Simon will fall in love with this city and will buy a house become there property of the commune and seat of association “the Friends of Michel Simon”. The Provence knew many other adventures with these precursors of the cinema. The material of Auguste and Louis Light, on arrival of the First World War, was safeguarded in a house of Signes (VAr). Marseilles had its movie studios. Many films were carried out in the cities and villages. The famous Napoleon of Abel Gance was turned in Cinérama, the ancestor of the CinemaScope, in 1927 with the Guard (VAr). In 1935, leaves Toni , realized and turned with Martigues by Jean Renoir, film instigator of the cinema Italian neorealist. the Woman of the baker , of Marcel Pagnol, turned at the village of Castellet, is most known of the years of the Entre-deux-guerres. There remained seven years with the poster with New York. It is in 1946 that Orson Welles, wishing to become acquainted with Raimu, comes to Toulon, birthplace of the famous actor of Provence. He meets Marcel Pagnol which announces to him that it arrives one week too late. Orson Welles will say: It is damage because it was largest of us. The area, since the beginning of the cinema, has a very rich history and the activity in this field continues, by regretting however the deactivation of the studios of Victorine to Nice. Turnings, the festivals, mainly the the Cannes festival, most known universally, make that the area became an essential turntable of the 7 {{E}} art.

Demography

The inhabitants of Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure or PACA are the '' Provençaux, Alpins and Azuréens '' (gentilé the " Pacaïens" is also used but debatable and is discussed by those which name more readily Provençaux or Azuréens even From the Dauphine in Hautes-Alpes, area PACA not having strictly speaking a historical and/or cultural unit).

The departments of area PACA are: the Alp-of-High-Provence, the the Alpes-Maritimes, the Rhone delta, the Hautes-Alpes, the VAr, and the Vaucluse.

See also: Demography of the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure

Notes and references of the article

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