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 Châtel  Lassay les Chateaux  Mont Ventoux & Late Autumn Vines  Notre Dame de Paris  Hotel de Ville, Calais  Opéra Comédie, Montpellier  Traditional Wine Cellar |
PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR
Provence - where there is something for everyone. Inland, tranquility is to be found walking in the hills and mountains, or by a lake, with refreshment to be taken in the shade of a village bar or restaurant. Night life and excitement can be found in Cannes, Nice, St. Tropez and in some of the many smaller ports and marinas along the coast, each with its particular charm and identity. Provençal food has a reputation of its own, and on the hot summer's day, a salade niçoise, washed down with a locally produced rosé takes a lot of beating. If you are hungry, and this is not for the fainthearted, try a bouillabaisse - the famous fish soup. To be at its best, you will probably have to order it 24 hours ahead. Provence has world famous festivals and events, particularly the Cannes Film Festival, and the Monaco Grand Prix. If you are looking for a property, these are times to avoid! Property prices, like summer temperatures, are high. The buyers come from far and wide and the word 'bargain' seems to have been consigned to history! A Provençal village house, well away from the hustle and bustle of the coast, is considerably less expensive. Visit places such as Cotignac and Bargemon for a taste of Provence away from the coast, and Grasse for its perfumes. Les-Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is an area which appears to be relatively unknown to the British. To the north is the Savoie, to the east Italy, and to the south the Mediterranean. This is one of the least densely populated départments of France. You will find spectacular scenery with mountains, gorges and deep blue lakes, including the Lac d'Allos - the largest high altitude lake in Europe, lavender fields, oak covered hills, vineyards, and small villages - sometimes clinging to rocky and jagged mountains. Dignes-les-Bains, located in the foothills of the Alps on the river La Bléone, is an attractive town which has a rail link to Nice taking just over 3 hours, although it's probably only about 2 hours by car. Dignes is a healthy 600m above sea level, and in the Pays Dignois there are many activities to enjoy including: thermal waters, cycling, fishing, skating, gliding, hiking in the Durance and Bléone valleys, canyoning and golf, and many snow activities in winter. As with most of France, enjoy the cultural and historical aspects of the area. Follow La Route Napoléon for example: in 1815 Napoléon arrived with his followers in Golfe-Juan from exile in Elba. In order to regain his title, he marched through the mountains to Les Tuileries, avoiding meeting resistance in royalist towns along the way. 
To the south of Dignes is the Parc Régional du Verdon with the Verdon river running through the Grand Canyon du Verdon into the Lac de Sainte Croix. To the west of the Verdon Parc is the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty with picturesque villages, made famous (and more expensive) by Peter Mayle and his book - A Year in Provence. The wildlife is varied, with eagles flying around the Luberon mountains, vultures, beavers, the largest wild lizards in Europe, wild boar and snakes! To the east of the Luberon is Avignon, famous for the very large Palais des Papes, or Popes' palace. Of course, one cannot mention Avignon without thinking of le Pont - or what is left of it!! To the south east of Avignon is Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône. Aix has been called the 'city of a thousand fountains' - three of which can be found on the Cours Mirambeau - a long wide tree-lined avenue with many cafés making it a focal point for the city's social life. Paul Cézanne's studio is a 'must' for art lovers. Just south of Avignon is Marseille with its narrow stepped streets, 18th century facades, quiet squares, and in the old harbour, a fish market where the local restaurateurs buy their fish to make arguably the best bouillabaisse of all.
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