    thumb|right|300px|the modern region of provence-alpes-cÃ´te d'azur thumb|right|300px|the historical province of provence (orange) within the modern region of provence-alpes-cÃ´te d'azur in southeast france provence (; provenÃ§al: provenÃ§a in classical norm or prouvÃ¨nÃ§o in mistralian norm, ) is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern france, which extends from the left bank of the lower rhÃ´ne river on the west to the italian border on the east, and is bordered by the mediterranean sea on the south.see article on provence in the french-language wikipedia. it largely corresponds with the modern administrative rÃ©gion of provence-alpes-cÃ´te d'azur, and includes the dÃ©partements of var, bouches-du-rhÃ´ne, alpes-de-haute-provence and parts of alpes-maritimes and vaucluse.le petit robert, dictionnaire universel des noms propres (1988). the romans made the region into the first roman province beyond the alps and called it provincia romana, which evolved into the present name. it was ruled by the counts of provence from their capital in aix-en-provence until 1481, when it became a province of the kings of france. while it has been part of france for more than five hundred years, it still retains a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, particularly in the interior of the region.eduouard baratier (editor), histoire de la provence, editions privat, toulouse, 1990, introduction. ==gallery of provence== file:lavender field and mont ventoux.jpg|mont ventoux and a field of lavender file:marseille hafen.jpg|the old port of marseille. file:france arles place republique.jpg|place republique in arles file:moustiers sainte marie 1.jpg|moustiers-sainte-marie, in upper provence file:provence street.jpg|provenÃ§al country road lined with plane trees file:camargueflamingos.jpg|flamingos in the camargue. == history ==   === prehistoric provence===   the coast of provence has some of the earliest known sites of human habitation in europe. primitive stone tools dated to 1 to 1.05&nbsp;million years bc were found in the grotte du vallonnet near [[roqueb
Provence