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Regions of France : Provence - Alpes - Côte D'Azur |
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| From the sparsely populated French Alps and national parks to the
stylish resorts of the Riviera and Côte d’Azur, the region pulls in more
European visitors during the summer than any other in France. And Provence,
does it really need any introduction other than its name?
But like Chanel’s little black dress, it never goes out of fashion, because it has transcended fashion and become one of the great classic holiday destinations. If your holiday or travel tastes are for beaches, glamour, Roman and Greek history, tucked away villages, nature reserves, skiing, water activities, rambling or simply touring through the uncrowded countryside, this region has it in spades. You could spend a lifetime of holidays here and still not scratch the surface of possibilities. However, one word of advice if you’re a first time visitor and a confirmed sandy beach baby: the sandy stretch of beaches peters out just after Juan Les Pins - from then on it’s mostly fine shingle or pebbles. Skiing in winter and water sports in summer – the resorts are busy all year Digne les Bains is famous for its fossils and lavender festival in August Mexican influences in Barcelonette and ramblers’ routes in the Verdon valley The Carlton, the Film Festival, La Croisette – it has to be Cannes Glamour and Cannes go hand in hand. There is no other town on the Cote d’Azur which personifies all things French, glamorous and glitzy in the eyes of the world than the little resort town of Cannes – and the reason for this is, of course, the Cannes Film Festival.
That’s not to say that Cannes wouldn’t have been glamorous without the festival. Cannes has the typical glamour you’d expect from any other French Riviera town; luxurious villas with sweeping view of the Cote d’Azur; well-heeled vacationers swishing by in fancy cars; lush bodies tanning topless on the beach; and expensively-dress dressed men and women promenading along the boulevards. Like most of the Riviera, Cannes is where the rich people of the world go for a fashionable holiday, with the toys, baubles and arm-candy to match. Even the retirees here are a bit more dashing then their dumpier counterparts in the north; the wrinkles better concealed, the clothes a little tighter, the hair dyes a little brighter!
The Musée Matisse and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice Nice has a distinct culture due to its unique history. The local language Niçard is still spoken by a minority and there are strong Italian and Corsican influences as well as Provençal. Niçard is sometimes regarded as a Provençal dialect. La cuisine niçoise is the local food culture, which includes pissaladière a pie with onions and anchovies paste , socca, a kind of pancake made from chickpea flour; bouillabaisse, a fish soup, farcis, vegetables stuffed with breadcrumbs; and salade niçoise, a tomato salad with green peppers of the "Corne" breed, baked eggs, tuna or anchovies and olives. In the recent decades Nice, as the rest of France, has received immigrants from other parts of the world, mainly Northern and Western Africa as well as southeastern Asia, which has further enriched the cultural life of the city.
Antibes, Villefranche sur Mer and the bizarre world of Monaco
An independent state at the west of the Côte d'Azur, the Principality of
Monaco is the playground of Europe’s celebrities and idle rich. They are
drawn by the sun, glamorous lifestyle and, most importantly, tax-free
income, not to mention being in close proximity to one of the world's most
publicised and famous Royal families. Many of the elite have made the
principality their home, with true 'Monagasques' making up only about 15
percent of the population of this tiny country that is jam-packed with
opulence, wealth and the world's most expensive real estate. As anyone who
has seen the legendary Grand Prix will know, Monaco and its capital
Monte-Carlo aren’t as good looking as its sleek residents and visitors; most
of the buildings are unattractive monstrosities, and the tiered urban jungle
is cut off from the shoreline by sweeping roads: the roads on which Formula
1 racing cars screech during the annual Grand Prix in the second week of May
each year. If its open spaces you are seeking, go elsewhere (apart from a
few ornate parks); likewise, if your wallet is light, stay away, unless you
want to try your luck at filling it in Monaco's landmark Roccoco Casino.
Stunning Aix en Provence captures the spirit of Provence Marseille may well be the dominant metropolis of Provence but
Aix-en-Provence, just 15 miles (24km) inland, is arguably the cultural and
tourism capital of the province. Historically and socially the two cities
are, however, at odds. Aix (pronounced "Ex") is a stunningly beautiful
university town whose riches are based on agriculture and academia rather
than on heavy industry. The residents of Aix are sophisticated, regarded by
their counterparts in Marseille as being snobbish on a par with Parisians.
Aix was founded in 122 BC by the Romans and became the capital of Provence,
then an independent country. The famous King René of Anjou (1409-80) ruled
during this period. He was well known as a patron of science and the arts
and was very popular for his love of wine and festivities. After the union
of Provence with France and until the Revolution, Aix remained the judicial
and administrative headquarters of the region. The town has been the
inspiration to many great writers and painters including Guigou, Stendhal,
Mistral and Zola. Most famous of all is undoubtedly Paul Cézanne, who was
inspired by the Provence countryside to produce his masterpieces, some of
which can be seen in his hometown at the Musée Granet, in the Quartier
Mazarin. Visitors can also call at his studio close to the town. Aix
possesses a wealth of superb architecture that has been carefully preserved
and restored. Walking through the Cours Mirabeau and the Rue Gaston de
Saporta visitors can admire the private mansions with their sculptured doors
and windows and the intricate ironwork on the balconies. On the Place des
Martyrs de la Résistance is the ancient Cathedral and in the neighbouring
archbishop's palace is the Musée des Tapisseries.
Cosmopolitan sureness in sprawling Marseille France's second largest and most ancient city is Marseilles. It was conquered by the Greeks and Romans respectively and it is littered with ancient sites and artefacts. Other than its colourful old harbour, the city does not have much appeal in the way of architecture. It is characterised by acres of slumlands and has a reputation for having a very active crime underground. Marseilles is, however, very down to earth and lacks the pretension of most other French cities. The outgoing, friendly people are a cosmopolitan bunch, although about a quarter of the population are North African by descent, and they eschew the style and image consciousness of the rest of the Cote d'Azur.
Roman Arles is the gateway to the Camargue Arles sits on a low hill where the Rhône River branches in two parts to the sea. The town dates back to the 7th century BC and is best known for its amazingly well-preserved Roman arena, Les Arènes, (which is still used and can seat 20,000) in the heart of the city, but there are also many other interesting Roman and medieval ruins. The sites are unique in that they are integrated into the houses and buildings of the town, rather than sitting apart as they do in other towns. The palatial 17th-century Hôtel de Ville, on Arles' central Place de la République, was inspired by Versailles. Its vast entrance hall is built on top of Cryptoporticus du Forum. This vast, dark, dank and wonderfully spooky underground gallery was built by the Romans, possibly as a barracks for public slaves. Across the Place de la République is the Cathédrale St-Trophime whose doorway is one of the most magnificent examples of 12th-century Provençal stone carving in existence. The centre of Arles is truly medieval in character, with its narrow streets winding between the ancient buildings. Van Gogh spent a year in the city in 1888 and produced almost 200 paintings of the town and surrounding area during one of his most prolific periods. Arles is a rather sedate town with little to offer in the way of excitement. Its busiest time is during the Saturday market. see also Saintes Maries de la Mer - Camargue
Serre Chevalier has more than 60 pistes and facilities for all levels of skiers Outdoor pursuits including canoeing, riding, sailing and mountain biking Italian influences at Briançon one of the highest towns in Europe Sand and sun at St Raphaël and Roman remains at Fréjus Beautiful people and shiny yachts in St Tropez Undeveloped sandy beaches and the perfume of Provence on the Iles d’Hyères Wild scenery Apt and the bizarre springs at Fontaine de Vaucluse The great Papal Palace at Avignon covers 15 km2
Situated on the River Rhone, Avignon is famed for being the Vatican of the
14th century; six successive Popes resided here from 1309 making it one of
Europe’s largest and most important cities of the time. The papacy retreated
back to Rome in 1378, but this was just the beginning of a battle between
the Italian capital and Avignon for control of the Church's riches and
power. Altogether Avignon was the seat for nine Popes, until the last, Pope
Benedict XIII, fled into self-exile in 1409. Without the Pope, the city went
into a decline that has been exacerbated ever since by floods, fire, the
plague and the Le Mistral, the harsh wind that whistles down the Rhone
valley in winter. Avignon supposedly was named by the Celts who gave the
area the name 'Avenio' or 'the town of violent winds'. Despite all this,
Avignon has one of the best-preserved centres in France. Piercing the
skyline are the beautiful spires of the Palais des Papes, and along the
cobbled streets are countless richly decorated buildings, ancient churches,
and spectacular monuments and museums. Imposing medieval walls, built in
1403 by Pope Benedict, enclose the old town. The yearly Avignon Festival
draws performers and art enthusiasts from all over France every July.
Despite the huge influx of tourists, which double the town’s population of
100,000, this is a wonderful festival and a must-see for anyone in the area.
A city of art and history, Orange is outstanding for its exceptional
historical heritage. As soon as you come inside the gates you will find
yourself in the midst of Roman civilization with the Arch of Triumph (three
arches) standing majestically over the city. |
The Riviera - strictly speaking stretching from Menton on the Italian
border to St Raphaël, down in the département of the Var - has pretty much
ballooned in most peoples’ minds to encompass most of the Côte d’Azur. 
The Added Attraction of the Festival 
Suitehotel Cannes Centre
Residence
Nice Fleurs
Fairmont
Hotel Monte Carlo
Citadines
Aix Jas de Bouffan Apart Hotel Aix-en-Provence
Rome
et St Pierre Hotel Marseille
New
Hotel Arles Camargue
Express By Holiday Inn Avignon
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