
Provence
Secret Provence Cote d’Azur
You should be a lover like me of France and in specific the South East corner recognized as the French Riviera. If you are not but merely curious, then I hope to give you details that will excite you sufficient to want go to for the initial time or explore a bit deeper.
As you will know, Provence backs on to the Cote d’Azur and the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1975 I went on a company trip (in those days that was some trip by automobile) and I drove via France on my way to Italy to the great town of Bergamo. I was a young man, I had a tiny organization that was growing and I had treated myself to a brand new Triumph Stag Convertible. What a poser I need to have looked like with the top down and steam coming from the radiator. The Triumph Stag was notorious for overheating and 1000 miles was basically a bit too far for a brand new automobile.
Modest did I know what pleasure I was in for on my way. I decided to ‘stop off’ at Nice and Cannes. Back in those days the visitors wasn’t as heavy as it is these days and despite the overheating issues it was a pleasure to drive the 1000 miles or so from house to Nice. This was January and I was wrapped up in heavy coat. I was staggered to see on the beaches that in January folks had been swimming and sunbathing and the girls sunbathing with no top on. This was a revelation coming from England as you may possibly imagine. I went to Italy and drove back through the Dolomites and discovered myself in three metres of snow. Genuinely an area of contrasts.
Because that time, I have been a normal visitor up until 2004 when I decide with significantly pride to purchase a property in Provence. This Genuinely is a tremendous component of the world and with nowadays’s air, road and sea links a really available place and I may possibly say still a really secure place.
Why not come on a journey with me to discover the true delights and the wonders. We will take in the Cote d’Azur with its amazing holiday destination of Nice, Cannes, St Tropez and far more.
We will go to Provence which includes the VAR region, parts of the Verdon with its great gorges and lakes. We will explore the cities and the little towns delving into the delights of food and wine.
If you are looking for an adventure holiday I will show you how to have the time of your life – it may well be Wild Boar Hunting or Ballooning high into the warm air or maybe relaxing in the sun painting.
I will tell you about house, how to rent how to obtain and where to look. I will give you just significantly of knowledge that took me years to accumulate. Go to the four seasons with its great climate. Perhaps you would like to invest Christmas in Provence – let’s have a look.
THE FOUR SEASONS OF PROVENCE
A General View of Provence Cote d’Azur
A TASTE OF HONEY
1. THE FOUR SEASONS OF PROVENCE
SPRING
If you prefer total peace and quietness and couple of folks around…then you should go to Provence to experience the joys of spring.
Simply because of the fairly mild climate blossom seems early; mimosa blossom from the end of January; from early March the pink blossom of the almond trees can be seen in the gardens and from the end of April to June the amazing magnolia. The weather can be quite varied at this time of the year with cold nights and bright sunny days and some welcome rain. As I write this article, it is about 15 degrees centigrade average temperature but directly in the sun it is 25 degrees centigrade dropping to 3 to five degrees centigrade at night.
It may possibly be that you and your friends or family like walking. In spring several fossils are washed out of the rocks on the hillsides, the air is fantastic and you feel alive. The Hinterland is an fascinating and rewarding area for walkers but the Provencal coast is becoming additional and additional preferred
Go to charming local sights
Visits to Marseille or Aix-en-Provence are to say the least great days out. Aix with its charming squares and fountains and beautiful Baroque mansions. Paul Cezanne had his studio in the old town. You might go to Arles, a amazing Roman city and a favourite of Vincent Van Gogh. See its Roman amphitheatre and theatre along with the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral of St.Trophime. There is a Folk Arts Museum a fabric factory and even an olive mill to see how olive oil is produced.
If you would like to know a lot more in my reports then I am sure you will take pleasure in the a lot more detailed info.
For the much more energetic
WHITE WATER RAFTING
(The Gorges of the Verdon)
CLASSIC EQYPTIAN ARABIANS WITH RACING AT CANNES & MARSEILLES
(Go to to a well-known stud with Racing in style on the coast)
PAINTING IN PEACE
(Water Colour and Oil)
GOLF BY THE MEDITTERANEAN
(Golfers heaven)
OLD BONES and OLD STONES
(Go to Museums and well-known art galleries)
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE COURSE
(Aroma therapy and qualified massage specialists and a lot more)
ROMANTIC TRIPS
(Monaco, Nice, Cannes, St Tropez)
SKIING AT ISOLA 2000 or GAP
(Both outcomes offering good nearby Skiing)
LAVENDER EXPERIENCE
(Go to the Lavender fields and well-known Grasse Perfumeries
THE TRUFFLE HUNT
(Go to a well-known Truffle fete)
HOT AIR BALLOONING
(Ideal)
THE OLIVE MILL TOUR
(See how it\’s performed and additional)
FOLLOW THE STARS
(Go to the newest websites where filming is taking place)
PETER MAYLE HERE WE COME
(For those who love him follow in his footsteps)
PICASSO and CEZANNE
(Go to the towns and Galleries)
The list is endless – the excellent thing is that you can determine your season and to a wonderful degree you can decide your weather.
SUMMER
The picture above is taken at Lac St. Croix which is a man made lake which has story all of its own. In summer the water is warm and there are numerous activities. The lake is filled from the snow melt coming by way of the Gorges of the Verdon. The water is eventually turned into drinking water by way of a hydro electric dam.
Here is a letter which really nicely describes the atmosphere in summer
“Dear Mum and Dad…we Genuinely do wish you had been here, the temperature is around 28 degrees and we have been swimming in our own pool nowadays.
Did you know that Lavender is not only an important oil and utilized in perfumes but also grown in gardens to ward off any stray mosquitoes? We discover some thing new each day about the area and it is so relaxing. I have been reading a “Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle, you keep in mind do not you, John Thaw was in the Television series – it is true every single word. It\’s so effortless to slip in to the French way of life.
Oh! By the way, did you know that it is the law here that bread has to be baked seven days a week? It Genuinely is a great trip in the morning hunting out the breakfast in the charming village of Regusse.
We visited Grasse yesterday – the flower fields and the perfumeries. The entire area smells vibrant and heady with its various smells.
Dad, you have to see Monaco, it is stunning and breathtaking. We went to the Casino but Jackie Stewart wasn’t there nowadays, never mind maybe next time.
We are driving back by means of Cap Ferrat; you will keep in mind David Nivan won’t you?
Lots of the stars have locations here. I think Roger Moore still has a place outside of Grasse so where going back that way too. I hope we come across it. Tonight we’re going to the local village to join in the entertainment; I think tonight its Elvis!
Tomorrow we are going to the most well-known place of all St Tropez. We might go by vehicle but we are told that the finest way to see the bay is to go from St. Maxime on the boat that leaves each and every 30 minutes it avoids the visitors and there are amazing views as we cross. St Tropez is the place to be seen, all the attractive people today hang out here and by the way apparently there is a nude beach…what about that? We are going to sit on the front and watch the artist paint, and soak up the sun. The private boats are spectacular and I am told really usually you can see a celebrity or two.
PS. You should come with us next time, I believe I will finish now and relax once once more in the pool. They drink ice cold Rose here. See you soon”
Well I hope that put you in a relaxed mood attempting to capture what it is like in this component of the world. Up to now an unspoilt component of the world.
WINTER
You may well not have imagined your self in the South of France for winter but we can assure you that the weather in this region is often sunny by day with acceptable temperatures and cold at night. They have to have rain occasionally which appears to appear in October and November in the primary.
At this time of year the flora and formal is changing with unusual colours. The roads are empty and the countryside is all yours.
The Mediterranean resort towns are peaceful and you are within driving distance of the mountain region for skiing. If you don\’t feel like being energetic then simply relax. Read a book or although away the day creating that painting that you usually wanted to produce and never got round to it.
FEATURED TOWN IN THIS ARTICLE
Regusse is situated in the Parc Natural Regional du Verdon. It is 9km from Aups a 10 minute drive. Aups has some amazing restaurants and the town square has a lot of summer events. If you do not wish to join in you can relax at one of the restaurants or cafes.
The village has a number of little shops which includes a butcher, baker, modest supermarket, hairdresser and gift shop, plus a library with Net access. There is a modest market on Sunday mornings with Wednesday and Saturday being the market days in the nearby town of Aups.
From November to March there is a truffle market on Thursday mornings in Aups. Regusse has two municipal swimming pools one being a children’s pool and there are tennis courts readily available to use.
Regusse has two restaurants and a snack bar in the primary village. Within 5 minutes walk of the property there is a campsite that has two restaurants in the summer months. There are a lot of activities at the campsite that are open to non-residents.
The area is set in natural terrain with woods for walking.
Regusse is a calm and peaceful village set in the middle of woods of green oak trees far from crowded roads. The templar Knights built a fortified castle here in the 12th century. There are quite a few stunning walks such as exploring the ruins of the castle.
Throughout the year there are special events including cultural exhibitions, classical musical concerts, antique fairs and even a Kite Festival, different to the VAR
I do hope you liked reading this short article and I hope you will look out for a lot more as we journey into Provence
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