|
 |
| Cote
d'Azur / Riviera |
|
Côte d'Azur, French Riviera...
These names are synonymous with sun,
glamour and luxury and conjure up visions
of movie starlets stepping out of sports
luxury cars, of shapely young women tanning
topless on the beach, of elegant couples
in dinner suits and evening gowns sitting
at the Black Jack tables of small, stylish
casinos, of multi-million-dollar megayachts
tied up at glamorous marinas, and of
holidaying crowds wandering along the
Promenade des Anglais or the Croisette,
the famous waterfront streets of Nice
and Cannes.
But the region offers more contrasts
than probably anywhere else in the
world: unspoilt islands, rugged, rocky
inlets and fine |
|
| beaches sit shoulder to shoulder with the
large cosmopolitan resorts of Cannes, Nice and
Monte Carlo. And who could miss out St. Tropez
with its famous clock tower, picturesque cobbled
streets and a collection of designer boutiques
to rival Bond Street! Here the ladies can - and
do - get the sand between their toes whilst wearing
their stilettos... |
|
 |
 |
|
Biot is a very picturesque and
very popular medieval village that's
actually about 2500 years old.
It sits on a hilltop only 4 km
from the Mediterranean beaches
between Antibes and Nice.
Biot has been a source of pottery since antiquity. The region
is rich in fine clays, sand, manganese and even volcanic tufa
for making the kilns. Amphorae made in Biot were exported worldwide,
from Antibes and Marseilles, until the 18th century.
Biot is currently renowned for its glass works, typically a
clear or colored transparent glass with little bubbles. You
can watch the glass-blowing process as the pieces are made
in the glassworks of the village.
The center of an ancient volcano is located about 2 km northwest |
| of the
village. Clearly visible on geographic
maps, there isn't much to see now,
except some of the typical rock
forms. The tufa stone from Biot
has been extracted for millennium
for building ovens. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eze's history is typified in
its topography. Occupied from the
end of the bronze period, the eagle
nest perched up to 400 m above
the sea, has been fit up by the
Celto Ligurian, then reorganized
by Romans, Lombards and Saracens.
Part of the earldom of Nice and
Provence until 1388, Eze went under
the authority of the count of Savoy.
Eze suffered French invasions from
6th to 18th century. In 1792, before
the creation of the Alpes Maritimes,
Eze was a part of Monaco district,
and was united to France in 1860.
Known or unknown, Eze charms all visitors. Some just passed,
others, seduced by its characteristics and its landscapes,
stopped definitively or adopted it as a vacation place...
In 1780, the Countess of Genlis recalling her journey from
Nice to Genoa on the high road cliff described the "enormous
rocks as a sort of a wall rising up to heaven" and "precipices
of five hundred feet" around the village. In 1868, Georges
Sand after the evocation of the "enchantment" of
the panorama, described "the ruins of Eze, planted on
a cone of rocks, with a typical village as a sugar loaf, stop
the people. It is the most beautiful panorama of the road,
the most complete and wonderfully composed". 20 |
years
later, Frederic Nietzsche took
the path from the station at Eze
on the Sea to the village and composed
the draught of his "third
Zarathoustra" on his way to
this "marvelous moorish village
called Eza built in between rocks".
In 1887, Stephen Liegeard, the
inventor of the expression "Côte
d'Azur" compared the shape
of the village to a woman: "The
grooves of the path seem to be
the gold laces of her black blouse.
The sun has tanned her forehead,
the storm and the cannon when they
explode have jagged a ruined diadem".
Victorien Sardou, the academician prefers to admire the nuances
of the green vegetation, describing "the almond and peach
trees, the thick and luxuriant foliage of the carob trees,
the grey silvery of the olive trees". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The narrow and beautiful Gorges
du Loup cuts north-south through
the hills at the foot of Gourdon,
12 km from Grasse.
The road along the forested edge of the hills runs from Châteauneuf
Pré-du-Lac (near Grasse) through Le Bar-sur-Loup, Pont-du-Loup,
Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Vence.
Down in the bottom of the valley at Pont-du-Loup, where a little
road turns off to go up through the gorge, you see Gourdon
perched on the cliffs high above, and the tall pillars of the
bombed-out railway viaduct crossing the valley in a curve.
About 4 km up the deep valley, the Cascade de Courmes (waterfall)
comes down over a notch in a long feather of water blowing
in the nearly constant wind. The water then spills over large
mossy boulders into the pool, 40m below the top. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The castle of Gourdon has been
open to visitors since 1950, and
was classed as an historical monument.
Of particular note are its magnificent
gardens, designed by LENOTRE, and
its architecture dating from the
9th century, three centuries before
the first stone of the Louvre was
laid in Paris. With a guided visit
you can learn about its long history.
You will have the chance to admire the work of many different |
creators
(Glass artists, Glass blowers,
Painters on Silk and Enamel, Creators
of perfumes, toiletry products
and soaps, Pain d'épices
makers, etc...) and buy their products.
From la Place Victoria you will have a magnificent view of
the the whole Riviera,of an impressive size and depth, with
colours that change with the time and the season. On the horizon,
the sea blends with the sky. To the left glimmers Cape Ferrat,
Nice, the mouth of the Var, Cagnes and the Hippodrome, Antibes
and the Cape of Antibes, Juan les Pins, the Lérins Islands,
Cannes, La Napoule, St Tropez, les Maures and l'Estérel,
lost in the azure. At our feet, the mule track from Heaven
on the rock known as "Le Grougne". Below and to the
left, the entrance to the Gorges du Loup and the Pont du Loup
Hamlet. Above, the Courmette mountain. In the middle, the immense
green valley crossed by the Loup To the left, the la Colle
road and, higher up, the road to Nice via Vence. At the bottom
the large plateau of the Rouret closes off the valley. You
can make out Roquefort, Mougins and le Castellaras on the brow
of a hill. To the right is the pretty, ancient village of Bar
sur Loup. To the right, closer to us, is the large bare plateau
of la Sarrée, then the bois de Gourdon. At the bottom
of a deep gorge bubbles the Riou de Gourdon. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Stand on the large public
terrace across from the road from
the Palais de Congrès and
the bay of Cannes opens up before
you". Nearly 200 years ago
Napoléon's sister, Pauline
Bonaparte would contemplate the
view and enjoy the rich bouquet
which rose up from the sweetly
scented plain. Even then, Grasse
was reknowned throughout Europe
as the perfume capital of the world.
A series of limestone terraces spreads outwards and upwards
from the bay of Cannes like a natural ampitheatre, and Grasse
has the best seat in the house. But there's a lot more to do
than simply take in the view.
The most chattered about piece of Grasse's past is to do with
it's position on the Route Napoléon and the lengthy
and tumultuous stay of Pauline Bonaparte when she was separated
from Prince Borghese.
And then there's the perfume industry. |
Fragonard
(1731-1806), the painter son of
a glove tanner, is one of the towns
favourite sons, along with the
Amiral de Grasse. The Fragonard
museum and perfumerie which bears
his name are well worth a visit,
as are the Galimard and Molinard
sites.
As well as visiting the surrounding villages and golf courses
, make sure you have time to visit the provençal market
in the Place aux Aires. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Iles de Lérins is
a small archipelago just off the
coast of Cannes and part of its
commune, with the two main islands
of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat
and the two micro-islands of Tradelière
and St-Féréol. The
islands are pedestrian-only; no
motor vehicles are allowed.
Ile Sainte-Marguerite is the larger, and nearer, island. It
is covered by a lovely forest of Allepo pine and eucalyptus,
with wide paths criss-crossing the length and breadth. The
port area, where the ferry lands, has cafés and restaurants,
and it's a short walk to the Fort Royal where you can see the
now-bare little cell where the Man in the Iron Mask was incarcerated.
Ile Saint-Honorat is the smaller, further, island, an additional
15 |
minutes
by boat from the ferry landing
of Sainte-Marguerite. Although
small, the walks are still nice,
and there's the Cisterian abbey
to visit, which includes a gift
shop of locally produced products.
Between the islands is a shallow, protected passage, the "Plateau
du Milieu", a popular anchor point for the pleasure boats
of the region. During the summer you can just about walk across
from island to island over the closely packed nautical adventurers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stretching for 24 miles of coast
from La Napoule to St-Raphaël,
this mass of twisted red volcanic
rock is a surreal landscape of
dramatic panoramas. Forest fires
have devastated all but a small
section of cork oak, adding barrenness
to an already otherworldly place.
Following the path of the ancient Roman Aurelian Way, N7 traces
the area's northern edge, running through the Estérel
Gap between Fréjus and Cannes. To get to the massif's
summit, Mont Vinaigre (elevation 1,962 ft.), turn right at
the Testannier crossroads 7 miles northeast of Fréjus.
A parking area allows you to leave your car and make the final
15 minutes of the ascent on foot, climbing to the observation
deck of a watchtower for a view stretching from the Alps to
the Massif des Maures.
|
| This
route offers the massif's most
stunning vistas, first turning
inland just beyond Le Trayas at
Pointe de l'Observatoire, where
you can ascend to the Grotte de
la Ste-Baume for the views that
inspired the medieval hermit St.
Honorat, who once dwelt in the
cave. Farther along N98, at Pointe
de Baumette, is a memorial to the
French writer/aviator Antoine de
St-Exupéry. At Agay, turn
inland again to reach the rocky
Gorge du Mal-Infernet, a twisted
rut in the earth, offering a contrast
to the surrounding peaks with their
overview of the region. Continuing
along this inland route leads you
to Pic du Cap-Roux, at 1,438 feet,
and Pic de l'Ours, at 1,627 feet,
both offering sweeping views of
land and sea. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tanneron is a quiet little village
situated in the extreme east of
Var, next to the Alpes Maritimes.
It is the capltal of the Tanneron
Massif so well known for the abundance
of its fine mimosa.
This little village sits on the top of a hill in the middle
of a huge forest of mimosa. Tanneron is at the eastern edge
of the Var, next to the village of Auribeau-sur-Siagne in the
Alpes-Maritime. As lovely as this region is, Tanneron isn't
a typical tourist site, and much of the large population (of
over 1000) reside in the surrounding area rather than in the
center of the village, including in 13 nearby forest hamlets.
From different parts of the village sitting up on the hill,
there is a |
view
in nearly every direction, including
all the way up the front of the
hills to the northeast past the "Baus" of
Vence and St. Jeannet to the beginnings
of the Alps.
Nearby sites include as waterfall (the Cascade de la Siagne)
down the hill at St. Cassien to the northeast. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Two words which evoke a magical
dream world.
The Principality of Monaco offers many facets. Monaco's exceptional
location, between mountain and sea, its gardens, its athletic
and cultural events...all qualities which make it the ideal
destination for a romantic vacation or an unforgettable conference.
Although not always recognized and sometimes misunderstood,
Monaco's economy is in fact very dynamic and oriented towards
the future. An independant state in the heart of Europe, the
Principality of Monaco offers investors and businessmen an
exceptional and secure lifestyle while simultaneously offering
them all of the advantages of an attractive fiscal system.
In 1997, Monaco was dressed up to the nines for the 700th |
| anniversary
of the Grimaldi Family Dynasty. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
When people talk of Mougins,
it is often to say how much they
love it.
They love it for its cultural heritage, its museums, its golfs,
its many events, the balance between the wealth of its past
and the great promise of its future.
They love it for the pleasure of strolling through its streets
and squares, the gastronomy of its restaurants, its art galleries.
They love it for its parks and gardens, its forest, its fitness
track, its pond.
They love it for its sophisticated technology and its place
in Sophia Antipolis, the International Science and Technology
Park.
Mougins has a cultural heritage well worth the visit : St-Jacques-le-Majeur
church, Notre Dame de Vie chapel celebrated by a painter...
Winston CHURCHILL, the ancient St-Barthélemy chapel,
with its very rare octagonal shape.
In the village, make sure you visit the Museum of Photography,
where the finest contemporary photographers have immortalized
Picasso. You can then stop at the old wash-house, Le Lavoir,
a veritable museum where artists from all horizons exhibit
their works, as if they wished to bestow on the city something
of their soul. A little further on, you can smell the turpentine
and see the paint brushes soaking in jars on window sills.
|
Painting
has found an ideal setting in Mougins.
Picasso, Picabia and many others
found their inspiration here. You
will also find, along the ancient
alleys, small boutiques offering
pottery, bouquets of dried flowers
and herbs of Provence, a feast
for the eyes and all the senses.
Mougins will then have unveiled itself, gradually, as you stroll
through the village, like a certain art of living. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Napoleon Bonaparte, who had been
exiled on the Island of Elba in
1814, decided to return to the
forefront of French political life.
A year later, on 1st March, he
disembarked at Golfe Juan and set
off, accompanied by a handful of
his followers, to recover his title.
He chose to reach Lyons over the
mountains, so as to avoid meeting
resistance in royalist towns. So
the Route Napoléon is the
stretch linking Golfe Juan to Grenoble,
via Grasse, Digne and Gap. He managed
to cover 324 km. in 6 days, and
on 20 March he reached the Tuileries,
as planned. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This beautiful, wild lake is
about 7 km long north-south, with
an east-west section another 3
km long. With its southern tip
adjacent to the autoroute, only
12 km west of Cannes, the Lac de
St. Cassien is easy to get to,
but remains natural in a natural |
environment.
The lake is bordered almost completely
by forested hills, and the shoreline
is undeveloped, leaving its beauty
for all to enjoy.
There are some places along the road with ample parking and
easy access to the shore, with beaches for swimming, picnic
tables, and boat, sailboard and canoe rental. The majority
of the shoreline, however, is isolated and accessible only
(if at all) by small trails through the scrub oak and juniper
to tiny coves and clear spots suitable for picnicking and swimming.
The lake apparently contains huge carp, as well as pike and
other predator fish. Carp fishing is open year-round, but please,
if you catch one of these noble creatures, release it back
into the lake. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint-Cézaire's caves
were discovered at random just
like that by pickaxe by cultivating
a field.
They sink about 50 metres on a route of 200 metres.
They are remarkable by the variety of their concretions and
by their extraordinary red tint skilfully highlighted by an
appropriate and discreet lighting, they are an unique specimen
among this kind of curiosity. |
An exceptional
visit in a subterranean world which
will leave you an unforgettable
recollection. The visits are accompanied
by experimented guides. The constant
temperature is 14 °.
As a supplement to the visit of Caves, Saint-Cézaire's
village offers you the vestiges of past. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hidden at the foot of an immense "Baou" (cliff),
Saint Jeannet is a charming small
village located between Vence and
Nice. It's a true paradise for
climbers as their are a number
of marked routes up the colossal "Baou" whose
main rock face rises over 200 meters.
If you are new to climbing or wish
to find a guide there is a Climbing
school in the village.
For those of us who prefer Walking & Hiking , there are
a number of sign posted walks (45 minutes - 2 hours) around
the wonderful natural surroundings to the village of Saint
Jeannet, walks which offer magnificent panoramic views over
the valley and towards the Côte d'Azur.
In the village itself, discover the picturesque tortuous narrow |
streets
which climb between the beautiful
ancient village houses, and you'll
pass by old drinking fountains,
washing places and beautiful shady
doorways.
In the summer season there are numerous cultural events and
down the ages Saint Jeannet has seduced many painters, artists
and poets, (Dufy, Trachel, Poussin, Prévert...) who
were all fascinated by the landscapes of such a beautiful place! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint-Paul de Vence, the most
beautiful village of the world!
Its exceptional site nestled on a rocky outcrop, its light,
which inspired Matisse, Braque, Chagall and so many other artists,
its variety of hotels combining charm and modernity, its pleasure
to roam around the remparts at sundown where the shadows of
famous visitors may still wander: Van Dongen and Chaplin, Dietrich
and Prevert, Churchill and Montand... The charm of its architecture,
its privilege to be an exceptional place for contemporary art,
its magic atmosphere when having a drink or dinner... under
the stars. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the very end of the "Massif
des Maures" mouthing into
a Peninsula, a world away from
the sanitized and concrete filled
universe of huge Metropolis, this
genuine provençal village
of Saint-Tropez, nested in a protected
environment, is a kingdom of comfort,
well being and lush vegetation...
Its fame, prestige, Mediterranean "art de vivre" and
the quality of its touristical services turn Saint-Tropez into
an unmatched destination. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The scientific technopolis of
Sophia Antipolis, 8 kms away from
Antibes, has been created in 1969.
A bit over 30 years later, Sophia-Antipolis
has become the first technological
park in France and Europe.
Around 20 000 people (including 20% foreigners) work in 1,000
companies. Amongst the most fanous: AMADEUS, ANDERSEN |
CONSULTING,
DIGITAL, HEWLETT PACKARD, SIEMENS,
THOMSON, TREMA LABORATORIES.
The INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle),
INRA (Institut National de Recherche en Agriculture), CNRS
(Centre National de Recherche Scientifique), public research
organisations and universities or schools for higher education
complement this landscape where high technology reigns. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is in the magnificent setting
ot Golfe Juan that the city of
Vallauris is located. The panoramic
views of the Bay of Cannes, the
lles de Lerins, and the Esterel
mountains are exceptional.
The old Vallauris will charm you with its typical Mediterranean
atmosphere. You will also appreciate the picturesque shoreline
from the quai St. Pierre to Port Camille Rayon, with its restaurants
of Provençal or fish specialities and colorful little
shops.
Vallauris is a city of arts and crafts and of pottery traditions.
The workmanship can be seen in many different boutiques and
in the pottery museum. The castle museum hosts the International
Biennial of Ceramic Arts.
You must not miss the jovial, friendly spectacle of the Provençal |
| market.
Do stroll around the little streets
to discover the artists' workshops,
the ceramic artists, the olive
wood carving, glassworKs, and the
local perfume creators. They will
all welcome you with warmth and
kindness. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| • Paris
teens camp |
| • Antibes
teens camp |
| • Biarritz
teens camp |
| • Cannes
teens camp |
| • Hyères/Toulon
teens camp |
| • Nice
language school |
| • Provence
kids camp |
|
|
 |
|
|
| • long
programs |
| • exam
preparation |
| • semester & trimester
courses |
| • learn
French half in Antibes & half in
Paris |
| • family
learning courses in Antibes |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
