 Life in the hills surrounding Marseille
The pine-clad hills and coastline around Marseille are a world away from the noise of the city. The Blue Coast, la Côte Bleue, is a rugged landscape whose remarkable scenery remains relatively untouched.
In the hills off the Côte Bleue, villages like Le Rove once depended on goat farming to make a living. The goats were used in the production of the distinctive local cheese, la Brousse du Rove, which is still made today.
The smell of pine, herbs and lavender fills the air but, as with much of the Provençal countryside around Marseille, the landscape is in great danger. Devastating forest fires regularly scar the land. In these fires the pine trees burn easily and the winds fan the flames, increasing the destructive force. Local volunteers are attempting to remedy the situation by using traditional techniques like stone-wall terracing and by planting fire-resistant trees like olive and oak. The size of the task ahead is enormous but all the locals are keen to preserve the area's natural beauty.
Links
Provence
A tourist guide with general information on the region, in both French and English.
Provence
More information on the countryside and flora and fauna around Marseille. In English and French.
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