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The Promised Land: Provence 南法紫色浪漫：普罗旺斯

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Mountains of beautiful cheese, stacks of delicious baguettes, heaps of sun-ripened fruit and vegetables, tender cuts of meat, and lashings and lashings of wine – there’s only one place we can be talking about: France. And if this isn’t enough, this culinary paradise boasts some of the prettiest scenery on the planet. To experience the crème de la crème (best of the best) of what this nation has to offer, head to the southeastern region of Provence.

成堆赏心悦目的起司、一条条美味的法国面包、堆栈的成熟蔬果、片片鲜嫩的肉条、成打的红酒──只有一个地方可能有如前所述的景象：法国。如果以上美食仍无法满足你，此一美食天堂还以有世上的绝佳美景为傲。要体验法国最好的部份，请前往法国的普罗旺斯东南部。

In the south of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, the French Riviera stretches for mile after mile along the Mediterranean Sea. In the north, the terrain rises steeply into the French Alps. Cities range from the cosmopolitan, spirited, sprawling Marseille to the millionaire’s playground of St. Tropez. Historic Arles, scattered with Roman ruins, famously inspired countless artists, including Vincent van Gogh, who lived there at the end of the 1880s, capturing the city’s vibrant colors in hundreds of his paintings.

蔚蓝海岸在普罗旺斯-阿尔卑斯-蔚蓝海岸区的南部沿着地中海绵延数里。普罗旺斯省的北部，地形陡直地延伸入阿尔卑斯山。普罗旺斯有着受多国文化影响的充满朝气、扩张蔓延的大城市马赛，也有百万富翁的聚集地圣多佩斯。罗马废墟散布于历史古城亚耳。此一古城启发了包括文森．梵谷在内等无数的知名艺术家。梵谷于1880年代晚期就定居于此城。他的数百幅画中捕捉了这座古城展现的鲜明色彩。

Provence became home to the Romans during the 2nd century BC, and they built many settlements in the region and defended it against invasion. The Roman legacy can still be seen, as examples of Roman architecture – baths, aqueducts, villas, and so on – are still standing to this day. The Romans had all but left Provence by the end of the 5th century AD, and a period of war and unrest would follow.

罗马人于公元二世纪将普罗旺斯列为帝国的一部份，他们在此驻扎并抵御侵略。罗马的遗迹建筑如澡堂、水道、别墅等现在仍然可见。罗马人在公元五世纪末时离开普罗旺斯时，一段战事与动乱紧接着于此发生。

Today, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur attract tourists from across the globe. With wonderful weather, fabulous food, and its own unique Provencal culture and people, even the least romantic traveler will fall in amour (love) with the region.

今日的普罗旺斯-阿尔卑斯-蔚蓝海岸区吸引来自世界各地的旅客。好天气、美食、普罗旺斯的独特人文风情，使最不浪漫的旅游者也会爱上此地。

Vocabulary

单词发音

promised land 期望中的乐土或安乐境界 a longed-for place where complete satisfaction and happiness will be achieved

mountain [ˋmaʊntn] n. 堆积如山的东西；（欧洲共同体）过剩的堆积如山的食物；大量[（+of）] a huge amount

baguette [bæ`gɛt]〔尤指法式〕n. 长棍面包

heap [hip] n. 堆积[C][（+of）]; 许多[P1][（+of）]

cut [kʌt] n. 一块，（尤指）肉片 a part that has been cut from a main body

lashing [ˋlæʃɪŋ] n. 大量的〔食品或饮料〕Britin formal large amounts; lots

Cote d’Azur 蔚蓝海岸区

French Riviera [͵rɪvɪˋɛrə] 蔚蓝海岸; 里维耶拉（法国Nice与意大利La Spezia之间地中海岸著名避寒地）

Mediterranean [͵mɛdətəˋrenɪən] Sea 地中海

range [rendʒ] v. 处于某范围内〔包括这个范围的上下限〕

cosmopolitan [͵kɑzməˋpɑlətn] adj. 世界性的，国际性的

spirited [ˋspɪrɪtɪd] adj. 活泼的；生气勃勃的

sprawling [ˋsprɔlɪŋ] adj. 蔓生的；不规则地伸展的

Marseille (法国城市)马赛

St. Tropez (法国小镇)圣多佩斯

Arles 雅耳

settlement [ˋsɛt!mənt] n. 殖民地；新拓居地 a newly colonized region

invasion [ɪnˋveʒən] n. 入侵，侵略

aqueduct [ˋækwɪ͵dʌkt] n. 沟渠；导水管

all but 差不多, 几乎 very nearly

fabulous [ˋfæbjələs] adj.【口】极好的

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Naturally, Provence provides everything you’d expect from a trip to France, from fine dining and fine art, to Pétanque and Pâtisserie. But the colorful region also stands out for its rolling fields of lavender, varieties of rosé wine, and gorgeous provincial towns.

自然而然地，普罗旺斯满足你对法国之行所有的期待，从美食、艺术，到草地滚球与糕点。丰富多彩的普罗旺斯也以绵延不绝的熏衣草田、各式各样的玫瑰酒、与美丽的小镇闻名。

The best way to see Provence is by car or by bicycle. The place turns purple from the end of June through October when the lavender blooms. Driving on winding roads that pass row upon row of these fragrant flowers, you’ll also stumble upon ancient abbeys and attractive villages. It’s not difficult at all to see why Provence won the heart of many painters besides Van Gogh, including Cezanne, Renoir, Picasso, and Matisse.

欣赏普罗旺斯最好的方法是开车或骑脚踏车。熏衣草于六月底到十月开花时，使普罗旺斯披上紫色的衣裳。在蜿蜒的路上经过一排排芬芳的花朵时，你也将与古老修道院与别具吸引力的村庄不期而遇。因此一点也不难看出普罗旺斯为何能赢得除了梵谷以外，许多画家──包括赛尚、雷诺阿、毕加索、与马谛斯──的青睐。

Soak up Provence this way, and it won’t be long before you come across a vineyard. The vast majority of the wine produced here is rosé. Dry and fruity, it’s the taste of summer, and it is precisely because the grapes grow in so much sunshine that the rosé tastes so good. And in a region so rich in art and architecture, you’ll never be far from a gallery or a château. Traditional crafts are kept alive too, and artisans working on pottery, glasswork, and ceramics mustn’t be missed.

在普罗旺斯逗留一会儿，你很快就会发现葡萄园。大部分于此出产的酒为玫瑰酒。玫瑰酒有着干涩风味与水果甘味。玫瑰酒盛着夏天的味道，且因葡萄在阳光充足的环境下成长，因此玫瑰酒也特别好喝。在有着如此多元艺术和建筑物的普罗旺斯，你会发现画廊与城堡皆近在咫尺。传统的手工艺术在普罗旺斯也一直保存下来，你一定不能错过正在雕塑着陶器、玻璃工艺与瓷器的艺术家。

All in all, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur is bursting with beauty, history, and the French joie de vivre (joy of life). It could be the closest we’ve got to heaven on earth, so raise your glass of rosé and make a toast … “To Provence!”

总的来说，普罗旺斯-阿尔卑斯-蔚蓝海岸区充满了美景、历史与人生乐趣。此地可以说是地球上与天堂最相近的地方。所以请举起你手中盛着玫瑰酒的酒杯，说……「敬普罗旺斯」。

－by Alice Davis

Vocabulary

单词发音

Pétanque  滚球

rolling [ˋrolɪŋ] adj. 绵延起伏的 having gentle rising and falling slopes; undulating

lavender [ˋlævəndɚ] n. 熏衣草

winding [ˋwaɪndɪŋ] adj. 曲折的；迂回的

abbey [ˋæbɪ] n. 大修道院，大寺院

vineyard [ˋvɪnjɚd] n. 葡萄园

château [ʃæˋto] n.（法国封建时代的）城堡; （尤指法国的）别墅，庄园

artisan [ˋɑrtəzn] n.工匠；技工

pottery [ˋpɑtərɪ] n. 陶器

ceramics [səˋræmɪks] n. 陶[瓷]器

burst [bɝst] v.（用进行式）塞满，几乎要胀破[（+with）]

toast [tost] n. 祝酒；敬酒; vt. 举杯为……祝酒

Idiom

片语发音

stand out 突出, 显著 to be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent

row upon row 鳞次栉比; 成排 a lot of rows

stumble upon 偶然发现 to come (across) by accident

soak up 吸收, 摄取 devote (oneself) fully to

Reading Questions

1.    According to the article, what is the main reason why people should visit Provence?

(A)  It certainly has the best food in France.

(B)  It is the only region that produces red meat.

(C)  It produces the creamiest cheese in the nation.

(D)  It offers a variety of interesting attractions.

2.    How is Vincent van Gogh linked to the historic city of Aries?

(A)  He was born in Aries during the 1880s.

(B)  He completed several paintings of the city.

(C)  He is the only artist to be featured in its art galleries.

(D)  He protected the city when it was invaded by Romans.

3.    Where would you most likely find this article?

(A)  In an encyclopedia article about the history of France.

(B)  In a travel guide that covers the top tourist destinations in Europe.

(C)  In a magazine dedicated to the latest trends in French fashion.

(D)  On a website that has information on modern painters in France.

4.    What would be another good title for this article?

(A)  Keeping Your Promises in France

(B)  Seeing France on a Shoestring Budget

(C)  Experience French Culture at its Finest

(D)  Bright Lights, Big City

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