Winds of Provence

The winds of Provence, the region of southeast France along the Mediterranean from the Alps to the mouth of the Rhone River, are an important feature of Provençal life, and each one has a traditional local name, in the Provençal language.

The most famous Provençal winds are: The Provençal names for the winds are very similar to the names in the closely related Catalan language: Traditional compass roses in Provence (see illustration, which shows Midi, or the South, at the top) have the names of the winds by the points of the compass.

Jean Vialar, Les vents régionaux et locaux, 1948, réédité par Météo-France en 2003

Mistral wind blowing near Marseille. In the center is the Chateau d'If.
Compass rose of Provençal winds. South (Midi) is at the top.