Saint-Valentine’s Day, love in Provence

Provence doesn’t have a monopoly on Saint Valentine’s Day. Here, as everywhere, it is celebrated with lots of gifts, tenderness and affection. An ideal opportunity to take your loved one to a restaurant, and Provence offers the ideal venue: Roquemaure, in the Gard, where the town offers a special tribute to lovers.

The tradition of a lovers’ festival has existed for many years. Some historians say that it goes back to the Roman festival known as ‘Lupercales’, held at the end of winter, which was said to be in honour of the god of herds and shepherds but was merely an excuse for organising a ‘love lottery’...

In Roquemaure there is another story. The story of phylloxera. When it destroyed the local vineyards in 1866, the population fell into despair. To ward off their tragic fate, a rich landowner inquired about recovering the relics of a holy protector. This was to be Saint Valentine, who arrived in Roquemaure amidst great pomp and ceremony two years later. The town has once again commemorated the event for the last 18 years. Every year, on the weekend closest to the 14th February - this year the 10th, 11th and 12th February - Roquemaure dresses up in 19th Century costume and the city plays host to demonstrations of former trades, craftsmen, a military camp, procession, “lovers’ fountain” ... and real lovers. Over 20,000 people visit the event every year , which is also known as the ‘Festo di Poutoun’(Fête des Baisers - Feast of Kisses)! Restaurants throughout the region celebrate this special date.

At the Abbaye de Sainte-Croix, in Salon de Provence, the special Saint-Valentine’s menu begins on Friday the 10th. An “anthology” of three or four dishes with a free glass of champagne per person on the weekend preceding the 14th.

At the Auberge de Noves, the name of the menu itself is a real promise: “Un amour de fleur” (Love amongst the Flowers). It will be served on the evening of the 14th and on the following Saturday evening and will include a half bottle of champagne per person. Amongst the dishes on offer: “Pétales de Saint-Jacques à la truffe noire” (Petals of Scallops with black truffles) and “Douceurs et passions à deux” (Sweetness and passion for two!)...

No doubt there will also be sweetness in the dining room and on the terrace, which will be filled with flowers. There’s a special rate including dinner, one night and breakfast so that lovers can make the pleasure last even longer...