Hidden Provence, France – Part III

3/2013
Aigues-Mortes, a medieval fortified city created by Louis IX (Saint Louis) as his Mediterranean port, represents the rich history of the area. From here, Louis’ ships sailed for the Crusades.
Nowadays, a canal reaches the sea at Le Grau-du-Roi (“the ditch of the king”), a bustling resort. In spring, the Fete of the Sea is a popular event held to bless local sailors and fishermen. On the same day, the Abrivado, the Camargue cowboy festival, celebrates bringing in the wild bulls.
Not far from Vergieres are Roman towns and ruins that make visiting Provence so rewarding. I drove in my trusty Renault Clio www.renaultusa.com to Arles, which is rich in treasures of art and architecture. (Be sure to visit St. Trophime Cathedral). Nimes’ amphitheater is one of 60 still in existence that the Romans built when Gaul was part of their Empire. And Emperor Augustus built the elegant Maison Carree temple as a memorial for his two grandsons. Augustus was the man who defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in Egypt.
Nimes has another claim to fame: the creation of American Levis jeans. While visiting Nimes, a centuries old textile center, Levi Strauss thought of making trousers from the strong cloth, “serge de Nimes,”—for the 1850’s California gold diggers. The cloth was actually imported from Genoa, so the word “jeans” came from “Genes,” the French pronunciation of Genoa. “Denim” came from “de Nimes.”