There is an enormous and varied choice of places to visit in the South of France - from museums to watersports, market days to swimming with dolphins! To help make your holiday even more enjoyable, we have compiled the following selection of some of the places of interest and activities on offer in the the area. The information is broken down into five categories:

And some useful contacts:

Cannes tourist office - 00 33 (0) 4 92 99 84 22 - www.cannes.fr
Nice tourist office - 00 33 (0) 892 707 407 - www.nicetourism.com
Monaco tourist information - www.visitmonaco.com

ART GALLERIES

The south of France has been a haven for artists for centuries and many have left the legacy of their works here to be enjoyed in the vast array of museums and galleries in the region. Opening times and days may vary according to season. Please telephone to check. A daily museum pass is available giving access to 65 different museums. 3 consecutive day passes available. Very good value 7 day passes (valid for 7 out of 15 days) also available. Very good value.
Info on www.cmca.net Telephone 00 33 (0) 4 97 03 82 20.


Gallery Location Contact Details Notes
National Picasso museum
(The Picasso chapel)
Vallauris 0033 (0) 4 93 64 16 05 Closed Tues
Picasso museum Antibes 0033 (0) 4 92 90 54 20 Sculpture, pottery and painting
Closed Mon
Matisse museum Nice 0033 (0) 4 93 81 08 08 Closed Tues
Matisse, Chapel of the rosary Vence   Frescos by Matisse
Renoir museum Cagnes
sur mer
0033 (0) 4 93 20 61 07 Renoir's studio, home and gardens. Closed Tues
National Fernand Leger museum Biot 0033 (0) 4 92 91 50 30 Closed Tues
Musee national Message
biblique Marc Chagall
Nice 0033 (0) 4 93 53 87 20 Closed Tues
Musee de beaux arts Nice 0033 (0) 4 92 15 28 28 Paintings and sculpture
Musee Jean Cocteau Menton 0033 (0) 4 93 57 72 30 Closed Tues
Jean Cocteau's wedding chapel   0033 (0) 4 92 10 50 00 Frescos
Closed Sat/Sun
La Chapelle St Pierre, Cocteaus chapel Villefranche    
Museum of photography Mougins 0033 (0) 4 93 75 85 67  
Foundation Maeght St Paul de Vence 0033 (0) 4 93 32 81 63 Modern and contemporary art
M.A.M.A.C. Nice 0033 (0) 4 93 62 61 62 Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Closed Tues

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MARKETS

Markets are a way of life in Provence and provide a living for many people in rural communities. Every village no matter how small has a weekly market selling produce from small farms which is usually high quality, organic and still produced using 'old' farming methods. Particularly recommended in the region are olives, truffles, honey, eggs, pesto and local cheeses. The vin d'orange (orange wine) is a widely available delicious local aperatif.

MarketLocationOpening TimesNotes
Nice antiques marketCours SaleyaEvery Monday AM 
Flea marketPort de NiceEvery Tuesday and Saturday 
Antique marketValbonne1st Sunday in each month 
Antique marketVence - Place du grand jardinEvery WednesdayAll day
Antibes marketAntibesEvery morning except MondayFOOD and local produce
Biot marketBiotTuesday and Friday amFOOD and local produce
Mouans sartouxMouans sartouxTuesday and Thursday amGeneral market
Le Bar sur LoupLe Bar sur LoupSaturday amVery small food market
Pre du lacPre du lacMonday amGeneral market
VentimigliaItalyFriday amLarge general market
St RemoItaly Tuesday and Saturday am General market

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DAY TRIPS AND TOURS

We are lucky enough to be positioned between the Mediteranean sea and the hills of Provence and able to enjoy the best of both worlds. There are many great days out to suit all ages and tastes. It is best to pre-book trips as demand can be high and spaces limited.

It is best to pre-book trips as demand can be high and spaces limited.


DescriptionLocationContact DetailsNotes
Day trips by Ferry to The Lerins Islands & St Tropez As descibed 0033 (0) 4 92 00 42 30 Ferries depart from Nice and Canne
www.trans-cote-azur.com
Day trips by Ferry to St Remo. Italy. As descibed 0033 (0) 4 92 98 71 30 Ferries depart from Nice and Cannes
www.trans-cote-azur.com
Dolphin and Whale watching tours. Cannes 0033 (0) 4 92 47 75 00 /
0033 (0) 6 03 78 30 85
Swim with dolphins
Depart: Mandelieu or Villefranche
Charter a sailing boat with a professional skipper n/a 0033 (0) 4 92 98 02 26 /
0033 (0) 6 86 44 54 65
www.jacques.soum.free.fr
Market days St Remo, Italy   Travel time: 1 hour
Tuesday and Saturday AM
Ventimiglia market. As described   Travel time: 1hour
Friday AM
The Gorge du Verdon     Travel time: 1hr45. The largest canyon in Europe. Hiking, horse trekking, rafting, canoeing etc.
Tourist train Nice to Digne   Picturesque 151KM ride through the alps
www.trainprovence.com
Tourist train Nice to Tende   09.20am Picturesque guided tour to the Italian border
www.ter-sncf.com
Hot-air ballooning Gordes 0033 (0)4 90 05 76 77 Travel time: 2hours. Flight with champagne pic-nic lunch
www.avignon-et-provence.com/ballooning
Cookery courses and demonstrations Various Please contact us for details There are several excellent chefs/ cookery schools nearby which offer courses from one day to one week
Cinema Various   VO films (In English) VF (In french) are available along the coast in Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Valbonne, Mouans Sartoux.
www.allocine.fr
Enter the town in the search window

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SPORTS

Because of the wonderful mediteranean climate and our proximity to both
sea and mountains, we enjoy a vast array of sports and facilities
nearby.It is possible to ski and scuba dive in the same day and still
have time for a great lunch!
Here are a selection of some activities we have tried and tested.


Golf

Some of the many courses all within half an hour or less.
www.rivieragolf.com - A pictoral hole by hole account of some of the regions most popular courses.

CourseLocationContact DetailsNotes
Royal Mougins golf club Mougins 0033 (0) 4 92 92 49 69 18 hole
www.royalmougins.fr
Golf d'Opio Valbonne Opio 0033 (0) 4 93 12 00 08 18 hole
www.opengolfclub.com
Golf de Cannes Mandelieu Mandelieu 0033 (0) 4 92 97 32 00 18+9 hole
www.golfoldcourse.com
Riviera golf club Mandelieu 0033 (0) 4 92 97 49 49 18 hole
www.golfoldcourse.com
Golf de la grande bastide Chateauneuf de grasse 0033 (0) 4 93 77 70 08 18 hole
Country golf de St Donat Grasse 033 (0) 4 93 09 76 60 18 hole
Grasse country club Grasse 0033 (0) 4 93 75 79 13 18 hole
www.mougins-coteazur.org
Victoria golf club Valbonne 0033 (0) 4 93 12 23 26  

Tennis
Tennis club de Vignal. 0033 (0) 4 93 60 14 20 Tennis club de Grasse. 0033 (0) 4 93 70 22 86 There are also municipal courts in most of the local villages.

Ski-ing
Between January and March

Resort Height Contact DetailsNotes
Greolieres 1400-1800m 0033 (0)4 93 60 45 40 Half an hour away
Isola 2000 1800-2610m Tourist offices
0033(0)4 93 23 15 15
Within 1 and a half hours
Auron 1600-2450m 0033(0)4 93 23 02 66 Within 1 and a half hours
Valberg 1650m 0033(0)4 93 23 24 25 Within 1 and a half hours
Limona, Italy 1000-2050m 039(0) 92 10 11 71 Within 1 and a half hours

Travel options
Buses run regularly to the resorts from Nice station:
Gare routiere:
Promenade du Paillon
5 Bvd Juan Jaures
Nice
0033 (0)4 93 85 61 81
Bus Compagnie Santa Azur
0033 (0)4 93 85 92 60

Trains run to the resorts:
SNCF information
08 36 35 35 35
Chemin de fer provence
0033(0)4 97 03 80 80


Horse trekking
St Agnes. Dennis Longfellow is an American who runs half day, day and overnight trecks through the countryside. horseandventure.site.voila.fr
0033(0)6 22 29 58 86

TBA Horse trecking. Salernes. (1hour+) Half day to 7 day treks can be arranged through 0033 (0) 164 66 05 10 www.rideinfrance.com

Sailing

Evolution 2 (EV2) provide good quality instruction in lots of sports locally 0033 (0) 4 94 60 49 88 www.evolution2.com
Diving
Sailing
Quad bikes
4X4 jeeps
Mountain bikes
Canyoning
Rafting

Climbing (also canyoning and rafting) Via ferrata. Breil sur Roya www.aetcanyoning.com 0033(0) 4 93 04 47 64
Hang gliding Gourdon 0033(0)4 93 09 69 69
Canyoning, Hiking, mountain biking La Colle sur loup 0033(0) 4 93 32 06 93
Watersports. Readily available along the coast at different resorts.
Hiking There are many different itineraries to follow locally. Details at property.


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PLACES OF INTEREST

Since the 19th century the region has prospered through its association with royalty and glamour and each May the Principality of Monaco hosts the most famous and glamorous Formula1 race of the season. Not to be out-done, in the same month the city of Cannes hosts the biggest film festival in the world, bringing stars of the big-screen flocking to the city. The fascinating and stormy history of this region, with its invasion and occupation over the centuries has left a rich fabric of culture and history. The Architecture of the Romans, Italians, Russians and English is evident along the coast, and there are many fascinating places to visit in the region.

Opening times and days may vary. Please telephone to check.


Place of Interest Location Contact DetailsNotes
Chateau de la Napoule La Napoule   Fantasy chateau and gardens overlooking the sea
Russian Orthodox church Nice    
Palais Lascaris Nice 0033 (0) 4 93 62 72 40 Baroque Palace built in 1648
Palais massena Nice 0033 (0) 4 93 88 11 34 Belle epoque mansion built in 1898
Fragonard Grasse 0033 (0) 4 93 36 44 65 Perfume factory. Free tours.
www.fragonard.com
Galimard Grasse 0033(0) 4 93 09 20 00 Perfume factory. Free tours. Create your own perfume.
www.galimard.com
Musee Escoffier
Villeneuve Loubet 0033 (0) 4 93 20 80 51 Museum of cooking and haute cuisine
The Oceanographic museum Monaco 00377 93 15 36 00 www.oceano.mc
The exotic gardens Monaco 00377 93 15 29 80 www.monte-carlo.mc/jardinexotique
The Royal Palace Monaco    

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SPORTING & CULTURAL EVENTS

The following sporting and cultural events take place along the coast.

:: The 57th film festival in Cannes takes place in May 12th-23rd 2004
:: Monaco Grand prix is in Monte Carlo on May 23rd 2004
:: The jazz in juan festival in Juan les pins is on July10th-20th 2004
:: Bastille day. Firework display over the bay of Nice. Promenade des Anglais.Nice. 14th July. Free admission.
:: Firework festival (feu artifice. Over the bay of Central Cannes. Wed 14th & 21st July and Thu 29th July 2004 at 10PM.
  - Contact the tourist office: www.cannes.fr - 0033(0)4 92 99 84 22. Free Admission.
:: The jazz festival in Cimiez, Nice is on July 21st-28th 2004
:: MIPCOM (TV festival) 4th-8th October 2004
:: The Monaco marathon is held in November 2004
:: The Nice carnival takes place next in Nice in February 2005
:: MIPIM (Property festival) next takes place in March 2005


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email: info@azurpaintingholidays.com

           

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