Provence and the Cote D’Azur

This corner of France has been a playground of countryside and coastline since the Roman times.

Before you reach the Cote d’Azur, there is plenty of inland action – climbing, canoeing in the Verdon Gorge or relax watching local men play petanque with a cup of coffee in town squares. On reaching the Provincial coastline, you will notice the crowds swell in your choice of pretty seaside towns – Cannes, Antibes and Nice to name a few.

Understated Nice is a lavender-shuttered Italianate old town and boasts the country’s greatest concentration of museums outside Paris. The city is also blessed with a wide esplanade running along a buzzing public beach. No visit to the region is complete without a visit to a Provencal market, full of colours, fabrics, flavours and foods all sourced and produced locally.

The whole area is dotted with quintessentially French villages. Each one has its own character and of course, local market. Not only will you find food stalls groaning under the weight of fresh local produce, including olives, truffles, lemons and tomatoes, but artisanal stalls selling paintings, crafts and usually lots of lavender. A visit to this corner of the country, not complete without a woven basket purchase. Our favourite is Tourtour “the village in the sky” which has a traditional festival at the beginning of August, with dancing and petanques competitions, and Tourrettes sur Loup – a picturesque village with artisanal shops run by the artists themselves.