French Property/Cote d Azur

Comprised of mountain villages, cosmopolitan cities and a number of reminders of the medieval age, the Provençe-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region sits comfortably in the Southeast corner of France, bordering Italy to the east and dipping in to the mild climate of the Mediterranean Sea.

The beauty of the region lies in its diversity. Deep in history and outstanding scenery, the six contrasting départements within the region boast flourishing agriculture, the soaring slopes of the Alpes and a dramatic coastline, all destined to be explored.

Provençe-Alpes-Côte d'Azur began to flourish after the arrival of Julius Caesar and its integration into the Roman Empire and still boasts a number of Roman ruins, including a Roman amphitheatre dating back to 49BC.

The Romans imposed their own culture and a higher standard of living to the area, building The Pont du Gard to control the unpredictable River Gard. The Pont du Gard is one of the best examples of surviving Roman architecture in Europe.

The Provençe area stretches along both sides of the Rhône River from Orange, out in to the Mediterranean Sea. Craggy coastlines, and quaint fishing villages line the coast, whist inland fields of lavender, rosemary and pine lie amongst the tiny sleepy villages.

With an enormous diversity of produce grown in the region, including a combination of fresh vegetables, fruits, olive oil, piquant garlic, basil and wild thyme. The area also features some of the finest wines with Provençal cuisine being rated as among the finest in the country.

One of the oldest inhabited regions in the Provençe is Bouches-du-Rhône, boasting the cosmopolitan city of Marseilles, and Arles where the inspiration for a number of Van Gogh's paintings came from, including 'Café de Nuit' and 'La Maison Jaune'. The area also hosts the summer season of bullfights called The Cours Camarguais, of which the ability, courage and skill of the bull and participant is tested.

Var, along with its rocky spurs above the surrounding countryside, also features the chic city on the Riviera, 'St-Tropez'. This small fishing village was transformed into a resort for the celebrity set and is lined with palms and vibrant city life, encapsulating the image of the jet-set lifestyle.

The Provençals are typically Mediterranean, with a slightly different language to that of the rest of France. The Provençal language is closely related to Catalan and Spanish rather than French, and is widely spoken by many of the older Provençe residents in particular within the more rural areas. It is common to see dual French-Provençal road signs, with local folklore declaring the Provençals identify and sense of pride.

Alpes-de-Haute-Provençe, covering nearly 700,000sq km, captivates wide-open spaces, rushing rivers and deserted valleys. As the most mountainous corner of the Provençe, the different seasons provide a contrast of landscapes, in terms of blossoming fruit trees in spring time, flourishing chestnut and olive trees through summer and autumn, and in winter the soaring peaks and snowbound summits attract ski enthusiasts from around the world.

Full of natural beauty and characterised by extreme climatic diversity, the départment of Hautes-Alpes are embraced with fertile lands and perpetual snow on the higher mountains.
With a wealth of snow, high valleys, mountain villages and Provençal character, the department boasts more than thirty ski resorts and a number of summer activities, including hiking, mountain climbing and sailing.

Toulon is picture postcard city in the heart of the Provence region. With Mont Faron and its magnificent natural harbour and historical fountains make Toulon a popular destination for tourists and holiday homes.
Toulon is also the French Navy's port for all of the Mediterranean and has a large marina for private boats. You can visit Corsica and Sardinia from here.
Since the Middle Ages and during the Crusades was when Toulon made its mark.
In the 17th the city of Toulon was fortified and was the centre of many historic naval battles. The most famous battle was in 1793 when the English captured Toulon from the royalists surrendered. The French, under a young Napoleon Bonaparte gained distinction by retaking the city for the French.

Morillon has fine beaches and great for water sports and Toulon offers many annual events such as Music festivals and the dance festival at Châteauvallon, the Palais des Congrès.

The Alpes-Maritimes area of the Côte d'Azur is renowned for its beautiful climate and vibrant resorts, combined with historic villages and towns.

The glamorous playground of the Côte d'Azur, features beaches laced with sunworshippers (St Tropez), festivals and bull fights. Nice, the départments capital, and Cannes, home to the annual International Film Festival are also included within its perimeters.

Enjoying the transformation from a small fishing village in the 15th century to a vibrant modern city of today, Cannes boasts many expensive hotels, exorbitant boutiques, and trendy restaurants.

Monaco, a tiny principality under the rule of the Grimaldi family since the 14th century, is a sovereign state with its own flag, national holiday and own dialect. The glamorous Monte Carlo is famous as the host of the annual Formula One Grand Prix and the casino boom.

Airports:

Nice International, 04 93 21 30 30
Toulon-Hyères, 04 94 00 83 83
Cannes-Mandelieu, 04 93 90 40 40

For more information on Cote d Azur Property and to arrange your viewing visit:

French Property - Cote d Azur Property Search: