 |
Candied Fruit - A truly Provencal speciality
From Apt to Carpentras, candied fruit fruit and confectionery are at the heart of the region’s traditions. A local speciality, which probably evolved from the need to preserve the region’s abundant fruit harvests, candied fruit are made using techniques developed from earlier practices whereby the juice of the fruit is gradually replaced by sugar. Today, you can buy both the hand-made and the manufactured product.
The story goes that Mrs de Sévigné, a 17th century marchioness of Paris and famous woman of letters, fell in love with Provence and baptised Apt the Chaudron à Confiture (jam cauldron). Whether there is any truth to the story or not, the undeniable fact is that the Apt basin has been renowned for its candied fruit for centuries. Cherries, apricots, strawberries, and peaches are all candied in the same way: the fruits are plunged some ten times in boiling syrup for anything from one to several months. The end product is a Provencal fruit gorged with sugar that is ready to be dispatched to eager consumers all over the world.
The market leader in Apt is a company called Aptunion, which is open to visitors and sells candied fruit in its on-site shop.
Richaud and Le Coulon are confectioneries situated in Apt town. Both specialise in the hand-made product and have recently broadened their range to include more exotic fruits such as pineapple and oranges.
Sugar also plays a leading role in Carpentras. Ever since the papacy of Clément V, fruit humbugs have been the town’s culinary symbol. A combination of sugar and natural fruit flavouring, these hard, pointy sweets are immediately recognisable by their white stripes. The colour of each sweet depends on its fruit flavour: green for apple, red for cherry, orange for mandarine, and yellow for lemon. You simply cannot fail to spot them wherever you go in the town’s bakeries or sweet shops.
Hôtel Crillon le Brave
Hotel and restaurant in a village
At the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains and Mont Ventoux is a charming and historic place in a location close to the heart of Paul Cézanne. Former meeting sites in this centuries old commune - a presbytery, stables and a school - have been renovated, restored and converted into beautiful lodges. This is an ideal Provençal base from which to explore the local markets, medieval villages, antique dealers, lavender fields and artist studios. Other attractions include an abundant and fragrant local cuisine as well as unforgettable Rhône wine-tastings, featuring Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. ...Read more
 France, Crillon le Brave
Le Mas des Herbes Blanches
Hotel and restaurant in the country
Watermills, windmills, dry stone bories, landscapes flooded with light, sunsets that prompt heartrending sighs… The incomparable charm of Luberon, to which so many artists succumbed - Marc Chagall, Serge Poliakoff, Vasarely… - , will be greatly appreciated in this magnificent Mas, positioned around a swimming pool, when the sun heats the white stone… How gentle is a swim in the land of Chagall and the crickets… ...Read more
France, Gordes
Le Phébus & Spa
Hotel and restaurant in the country
Located between Roussillon and Gordes, Le Phébus is a dry-stone walled farmhouse where the rooms overlook the tranquil waters of their private swimming pools. It is a jewel of a hotel and the perfect place to take shelter when the mistral is blowing across the prairie of southern France. This is the ideal base to explore the Luberon and then recharge your batteries in the Carita spa. The traditional cuisine breathes new life into ancient Provencal recipes and offers a superb “soupe au pistou”, a regional vegetable soup with garlic and basil. ...Read more
France, Gordes
Prieuré d'Orsan
Hotel and restaurant in a park
Former monastery, and listed historical monument, the Prieuré d’Orsan invites you on a journey back in time, far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world - no phones or television. Nestled in a wood at the end of a valley in Berry, this charming hotel has 7 spacious, inviting rooms, each one tastefully decorated. They all boast breathtaking views of the Orsan Gardens, a veritable architectural gem inspired by medieval tapestries and illuminations. Extending over 15 hectares, there is a harmonious blend of orchards, herb gardens and symbolic landscape creations (cloister, labyrinth…). This is the place to unwind and recharge your batteries where the master of the house skillfully cultivates the art of receiving well. ...Read more
France, Maisonnais
Book Your Hotel Check availability online for a night or a stay
Central reservation office (United States)
 +1 800 735 2478*
Calling from another country ? Click here
|
|
|
