With property markets around the world being unstable and shaky it makes a refreshing change to hear about a region with a stable house market at present.

According to Engel & Volkers, an international real estate company based in Germany, property on the Cote d’Azur is soaring to new heights and that the French Riviera is ranked to be one of the most stable second home markets in Europe.

Talking about how much properties are currently worth on the Cote d’Azur, Jorg Buchen, former member of the board at Engel & Volkers in Hamburg, who now manages the Engel &Volkers office in Cannes, said:

“In very good locations, prices per square meter for apartments range between 10,000 and 14,000 euros. At absolutely prime addresses such as the ‘Boulevard de la Croisette’, prices can reach as much as 30,000 euros per square meter. Prices for villas range from 3 to 8 million euros, with exceptional properties sometimes even exceeding a price tag of 30 million euros.”

The majority of property buyers on the Cote d’Azur are from Russia and Europe, as well as an increasing number of real estate investors in the area coming from the Middle East.

Cannes is, unsurprisingly, one of the most sought-after cities in the region to buy property, alongside other coastal towns on the Cote d’Azur, including Golfe Juan, Cap d’Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Whilst inland, the regions around Valbonne, Mougins and Saint-Paul-de-Vence are particularly desirable locations to buy a second home.

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Cannes is gearing up to host its world famous race once again this year, so what better time to pay a visit to the city and explore the glamorous La Croisette.

The half-marathon attracts nearly 3,000 participants every year and promises to be a test of fitness and endurance. The race consists of a 21.1km marathon, with the addition of the 10km footrace that covers the scenic stretch of Promenade de la Croisette.

The place of departure is the Boulevard Way North Pantiéro, which is a few metres from Palais des Festivals. The course is entirely on the waterfront and it goes via la Croisette, La Pantiéro, Le Quai St Pierre, Le Boulevard Jean Hibert and Le Boulevard du Midi.

In 1992 the half-marathon was created after a succession of marathons and 20km races in the Cannes area. In the past, the starting point and the date of the event was changed several times and these variations stopped the half-marathon from becoming an established annual occurrence.

The date was finally changed and it was decided that the race would take place in late February, which then helped the half-marathon of Cannes to gain momentum and recognition.

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Antibes is preparing to get into the Valentines spirit with the Bread, Love and Chocolate festival.

The event was organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Nice in collaboration with The Chamber of Trades and Crafts of the Alpes-Martimes.

It is the 6^th consecutive year that the festival has taken place in the most romantic city on the French Riviera. Bread, Love and Chocolate brings together the original and the best international producers of breads, pastries, chocolates, sweets and gift ideas – all in the theme of love.

The Chamber of Trades and Crafts of the Alpes-Maritimes will also introduce and showcase talented artists, ceramists and fashion designers. There will be an array of hand-crafted jewellery, leather goods, mosaic and glass, which also represent the ‘love’ theme.

The items demonstrate the skill and passion these jobs require and how much they contribute to the prosperity of the businesses on the French Riviera. With over 26,000 companies on the Riviera that dedicate themselves to crafts, the artisans are a vital part of the local economy.

The turnover for the handicrafts sector in the Alpes Maritimes is more than €3 billion.

Love it or loathe it, Valentines day has been a celebration of love for centuries. A similar event dates back to Ancient Rome where they held a festival dedicated to Lupesco – a celebration for the God of fertility that encouraged the principles of Christian love.

Over time there has been a mixture of stories of how Valentines actually originated, however the most popular is that Saint Valentine brought together any boys and girls that passed through his garden.

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Where better to learn how to cook than in France, the culinary capital of the world? And where better to learn to cook in France than the beautiful, exquisite and inspirational region of Provence?

If you fancy creating top-notch food similar to that produced in a region that is world-renowned for its sensational food, then why not embark on a gourmet cooking class at La Bastide des Saveurs, the kitchen of Hostellerie Bérard, located in picture-perfect surroundings in the heart of olive groves and vines.

The magnificent Hostellerie Bérard is typical of the Provencal countryside ambiance. A rustic kitchen is at the heart of this 19^th century house, whilst in the house’s extensive grounds an herb and vegetable garden take centre stage, producing delicious smelling hints of the culinary geniuses that are created in this stunning country home.

Over the four-day course students learn how to make various Provencal recipes, using only the freshest and finest ingredients and local produce. Asides making early morning visits to the country market in Sanary-sur-Mer, where students await the return of the fishing boats to pick up some fresh fish to prepare for lunch, guests will also discover local wine appellations, well you couldn’t complete a cooking course in France without being exposed to French wine in some day, could you?

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