Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The French Riviera or the invention of tourism
Since the 18th century, the very rich and aristocratic English families, magnetized by the Mediterranean climate, chose the natural beauty of the French Riviera as a vacation spot. In the middle of the 19th century, the advent of the railroad gave birth to mass tourism. Around 1860, the opening of the famous Promenade des Anglais, a seaside boulevard, reinforced Nice’s summer reputation. Since 1946, the Cannes International Film Festival has definitively established the region as a destination of choice for sun, sea, relaxation, culture... and business.
The Avignon Festival
Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, the Avignon theater festival is one of the most important in Europe. A promoter of popular theater, it is also renowned for its avant-garde and demanding productions. The most important shows are staged on the stage of the Palais des Papes, an impressive papal residence built in the 14th century. The festival also attracts hundreds of French-speaking companies. It’s a wild, witty and joyful festival.
Posters for the Avignon "off" festival, ©iStock
Marseille, the Vieux Port market
Every morning in Marseille, lovers of Provencal gastronomy gather at the Vieux-Port market. Tapenade, fish and seafood, spices... you’ll find everything you need to prepare bouillabaisse. Once a poor man’s soup, bouillabaisse is now the dish of choice for visitors from all over the world. And don’t forget, from the Old Port, you can embark for the Frioul Islands and its famous Château d’If. Ah, no, don’t look any further for the treasure...
The port of Marseille, ©iStock
Van Gogh and Cézanne, painting light
Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne both celebrated the light of Provence. For Van Gogh, known for his bold use of color, art reflects the artist’s emotion. Cézanne, on the other hand, proposes a more formal approach: art must be attentive to the natural balance of the world. His painting, with its precise gestures and soft colors, captivates the art lover, as in this painting of Mont Sainte-Victoire near Aix-en-Provence, his birthplace.
Cézanne, La Montagne Sainte-Victoire, public domain.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the Maeght Foundation
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, one of the two most beautiful villages in Provence. It’s here that, since 1964, the Fondation Marguerite et Aimé Maeght has presented a major international collection of contemporary art. The greatest artists of the 20th century are exhibited here: Miró, Calder, Léger, Braque, Giacometti, Chagall... In summer 2023, the Fondation will increase its exhibition space and inaugurate a completely redesigned building. A must-see.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, medieval village, ©iStock
