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The French Riviera, Cote d’Azur embraces the well known towns of Monaco, Nice, Antibes and Cannes and many smaller, very beautiful areas. There is no doubt about the success of the Cote d’Azur through the world.
This sun-blest southeast corner of France offers breathtaking countryside and the climate of the area is very Mediterranean – sudden autumn rains end the panting heat of summer, and winters, particularly along the sheltered parts of the coast, tend to be mild. The Mediterranean is a rich and living sea, easy to explore – nothing more than a mask and a breathing tube are necessary to admire the seabed near the beaches.
There are more than 120 hill-top villages scattered all over the Cote d’Azur. Each has its own particular charm, where little crafts boutiques can be found around the bend of a narrow cobbled street. Eze, Gourdon, Vence, Theoule, Grasse and Mougins. Enjoy the pleasure of meeting artists and craftsmen in Biot, Vallauris or Grasse who have revived the old techniques and have given life to past arts such as the creation of precious ceramics, stained glass, carved wooden figures and perfume making.
The historical cities have marked the history of the county of Nice and Provence and conceal a rich and interesting architectural heritage. There is an exceptional baroque heritage to be discovered, with more than eighty monuments, churches, chapels, palaces and strongholds. The tourist trade was born in Nice in the eighteenth century with the winter stays of famous aristocrats, first English, then Russian and American, who gave to the region a bright and fashionable way of life.
The gastronomic reputation of the area is not the work of fate. The produce from the orchards, the cheese farms and the wine growing areas are in great demand. On the markets, the locals are selling their fresh produce not only to the villagers but also to French chefs of international reputation. The Cote d’Azur has indeed the greatest number of three-star restaurants per square metre. The cooking can nevertheless be savoured at all prices, whether in a sophisticated and luxurious setting, or in the typical family-owned restaurants. The Riviera has kept all its identity, in the purest tradition.
The Cote d’Azur is not only a land of tourism and leisure, tailor-made for your French holidays; it is also a country of creation, innovation, research and cultural exchange.
Click here for more details of our luxury vacations based in our Provence cooking school and villa.
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