Whether you call it the French Riviera or the Cote d’ Azur,
the towns and villages that are located on the French coast along the
Mediterranean Sea between Cassis and Menton are the dream spots of the
world. Celebrated in memoirs, films and
novels, this long strip of land is probably more prestigious and more
charismatic than any other parcel of land on earth. The area still evokes images of long
limousines, pink palaces, exotic yachts and idle millionaires of the Gatsby
era.
Yet even today the Cote d’ Azur is renowned for the glamour
and glitz associated with the starlets who pose on the beach during the Cannes
Film Festival, the millionaire yachting fraternity which spends its time at St.
Tropez and the professional gamblers who frequent Monte Carlo’s casino.
However, there is more to the French Riviera than glamour,
glitz and money. Should you venture
beyond the golden sands that skirt the deep blue sea and the past the stunning
scenery of the Corniche roads, there are many other less well known sites to
explore and adventures to experience.
Head towards the back country and your sense of smell will
be greeted by the fragrance of lavender, mimosa and thyme. Then,
explore the medieval towns in the hills.
Although many of them have been deserted others have been brought back
to life by resident artisans and artists.
If you want to really savor life spend some time in an old
village square while listening to the fountain gurgle, sipping a pastis and
watching the men play petanque beneath the shade of a large plane tree. Life does not get much better than this.
Although the French Riviera gets twice as much sun as Paris,
the climate isn’t perfect. On occasion
it’s subject to a howling mistral wind.
However, the light does have a special quality. Combined with the bright colors it isn’t
surprising that the area attracted so many artists. Picasso, Monet, Cocteau and Matisse are but a
few of the famous artists who painted masterpieces here. Many also left their touch on several of the
buildings. You can still find their
works on display in local art galleries and museums.
Don’t expect to find any deserted beaches on the French
Riviera. Heavily populated throughout
the year, the population almost doubles during the summer months. Traffic can be horrendous in the towns, especially
in July, so patience will certainly be a virtue. In any case, the charming towns, good food
and wine, beautiful scenery, outgoing people, sunny skies and sparkling sea can
help put being stuck in a traffic jam into perspective.
If you love to shop you’ll find the best French couturier
clothing, jewelry, crystal, silver and porcelain on the Cote d’ Azur. The shop windows are chockablock with
semi-precious stones that are frequently set in jewelry. Attractive pottery abounds. You’ll find anything from dinner sets to
ashtrays; some plain, others abstract or flowery.
You’ll discover plenty of articles made from olive wood in
the small towns behind Cannes. You’ll
also be able to purchase Provencal cotton either in lengths or already
fabricated into skirts, cushions, quilts, etc.
Most of the shops in the area are closed on Sundays and Mondays
throughout the year. During the summer
they could close midday and reopen later, towards the evening.
In any case, if you go to the French Riviera for the glitz,
the glamour, or the beauty you won’t be disappointed
Steve Schulman travels around the world and
writes about some of the hidden gems that are off the beaten path. Originally from New York, he’s spent time in
some of the most exotic and exciting places on earth. Recently he’s began a quest about how to learn French and other romance languages
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