Olive oil
A whole world revolves around this emerald nectar, much like the world of wine. There are stars, challengers, vintage vintages... in short, a perfect analogy with the wine industry. Different olive varieties are used to produce oils with very heterogeneous tastes that will reveal their quintessence in many preparations. Salonenque, Grossane, Béruguette or Aglandau, Verdale or Picholine are just some of the names you'll come across in the Alpilles' many olive-growing estates.
The wine
The other major product to have obtained an A.O.C. Baux-de-Provence label is vin des Baux, produced in a small area of eight communes: les Baux-de-Provence, Eygalières, Fontvieille, Mouriès, Maussane-les-Alpilles, le Paradou, Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, covering some 350 hectares. The Camargue is not to be outdone in wine production, with a number of fine estates, even if the vineyards are now giving way to rice cultivation. Here too, producers work with top-of-the-range grape varieties.
Provençal fabrics
Cotonnades, Indiennes, Provençal fabrics have an undeniable charm and will remind you of your stay in the region for a long time to come. You'll find plenty of stores selling shirts, dresses, scarves and bed linen, but you can also visit the only two historic factories still in operation: Souleiado (Tarascon) and Les Olivades (Saint-Étienne-du-Grès). Today, all production of authentic Provençal Indiennes is concentrated in the region.
The santons of Provence
If there's one symbol of Provence you'll want to pack in your suitcases, it's the santon. From miniature terracotta figures to large dressed santons, there's no shortage of choice. But you should know that, according to some santon makers, the real santon is the one that measures seven centimetres. Originally a religious object, they are also a reminder of a society that no longer exists. You'll find them in many stores, and several museums are entirely devoted to them.
