The best will be Provence & Côte d’Azur?
Some arguments for your next vacation planning from a german who lives in france
Why the most french people make holidays just in her own country ?
Simple: In france you will find everything you need for every kind of holiday.
- Water
The Atlantic coast for nature lovers, water sport enthusiasts and people who don’t like the high summer temperatures which you can find in the south of France. On the other hand, the French Côte d’Azur where you will find between April and October comfortable water and air temperatures. You also find a lot of lakes and rivers where you can swim, relax and be very close to nature
- Beach
Whether sandy beach on the atlantic coast or rocky bays and calanques in the south of France
- Mountains:
Pyrenäen, the Alps with the highest mountain of Europe the Mont Blanc you can also find in france. Sommer and Winter, you can always find a spot to go to ski.
- Pure nature
Unique, typical french landscapes in the provence, camargue or in natural reserves like the gorge du verdon area. It’s also called the french grand canyon.
- Towns & cottages:
Paris – I don’t have to explain. It’s THE european city to visit. Everybody should have visited paris once in his lifetime. But there are so many other beautiful, typique villages especially in the Provence and south of france like, Annecy, Aix-en Provence, St Tropez, St Remy de Provence. All authentique with a lot of charme And just 3,5 hours away from the Côte d'Azur (by train)
- But you will not find
Ok, there are no desserts and no jungle. But a kind of jungle feeling you can find on spots like Sillans la Cascade (In the green Provence). This place is just crazy with his waterfalls and all the green around. And yes, you are never alone. France is touristically very developed and especially in the main holidays july and august really crowdy
So, the decision is made. Holidays in France. Somebody was talking about Provence and South of France….
But why should I go in the French Provence?
What comes to mind when you think about Provence?
Fields of lavender stretching across the horizon as far as the eye can see? Provincial kitchen? The french flair with the typical “savoir-vivre” and the pleasant “laissez faire”?
Yes, all that. But holidays in the french provence are much more.
For me, the south of france, especially the provence is the most beautiful, warmest et most enjoyable region in france.
Between the french alps and the french riviera you can find all for unforgettable holidays in the romantic and dreamy french provence.
Untouched nature, typical small Provencal villages- all with their preserved charm and the world-famous provincial kitchen with his absolutely superb freshly caught fish, olives, fresh fruit and vegetables, scented herbs and wines.
Provence Holidays with guaranteed good weather from April to october in the south of france. The ideal weather conditions are the main reason for me to make holidays in the south of france, especially the area on the Côte d’Azur.
By the way, that’s why the french riviera is one of the top spots in Europe.
In the near cost, up to 50 km from the sea, you can even find a kind of micro-clime. Rain is seldom and temperatures are always pleasant.
How, where and how long…
You will have a lot of questions if you plan a trip in the south of france,
like, “what are the must see”, “which region” , “when is the best travel period” and so on.
I will give an answer to all those questions in one of my next articles, because there are so many ways to discover the french provence:
- To cruise 3 weeks actively with a caravan through the provence
- Beach vacation with a lot of culture
- Chill out time in the green Provence
- A rain free motor bike tour through winding roads
- City break in Nice with bathing seasons in the french riviera from april to october
- Sport vacation with Cycling, riding, running, hiking, golf, swimming, flying kites, surfing or sailing. Also possible: go to ski in the morning and bathing in the Mediterranean sea in the afternoon*
Oh, yes, I forgot to mention:
For me as a typical german, the french „laissez-faire“ mentality is always surprising me. In the beginning it is a little bit annoying but when you are used to – just wonderful.
You know, things like, parking your car wherever you want in front of your bakery to buy you baguette. For appointments you can be sure that everybody is easily and fluffy 15-60 minutes to late. That bothered nobody because everybody is doing it.
But for a german, with german virtues it is very hard and the french people are on the greater leverage ;)
And the world famous „savoir-vivre“. The french lifestyle.
At lunchtime you do not just eat to fill up your stomach. Non. You take your time with starter, main course and dessert. That will take several hours…
And when at 6pm you are getting hungry at you are invited by a frenchman, then you will enjoy the typical french aperitif (apéro) for about two hours with tapenade, olives…..
And when you are not hungry anymore at 20h30, the frenchman now is working to full capacity and giving the best for the culinary peak.
But it is all this „savoir-vivre“ for what we are looking for in our vacation in france. Isn’t it?
VIVE LA FRANCE!
*Yes, it is possible. In the Alpes Maritimes, in just 1,5 hours distance to Nice and the the french riviera you can go to ski at "Gréolieres-les-Neiges" for example.
PS: For more information and pictures about the south of france, provence and côte d'Azur, you can visit my (german) website www.idprovence.com .