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Driving around between the Bouches du Rhône and Vaucluse regions of Provence, it seems as though every road leads to Salon and every journey takes you around its many, many rotaries.
A sprawling modern town, with industrial parks and big retail outlets, Salon de Provence has a small Vieux Ville (old town) on a hill in the center, topped by a 13th-century château built by the Archbishops of Arles. Nostradamas grew up in Salon in the 16th century and lived here most of his life. His home, with a small exhibit about his prophesies, is open to the public. The town has also been a center for the manufacture of “le Veritable Savon de Marseille” since the 15th century. This is a dense, olive oil-based soap that is among the “must have” purchases of Provence. Two small soap-making companies still operate.
But the most important reason to visit Salon is to do some real, everyday shopping. When the charming boutiques and colorful markets pale, you still might want some ordinary shops and a few medium-sized department stores to buy batteries, underwear, disposable diapers and six-packs of diet soda. Salon is central, handy and full of modern stores.
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