With yachts that are the epitome of class, luxury, style and affluence dipping in hormonal accord with the translucent waters of the Mediterranean Ocean, witnessing the enviable yacht scene at Saint Tropez’s world-renowned harbour is a sight to be savoured by all discerning yachtsmen any time of the year.

It is however in the late summer/early autumn when more than 300 of the most desirable sailing yachts from around the globe ascend on Saint Tropez, when one of the most glamorous town’s in the world opens its doors to a week of yachting rapture.

We are of course referring to Les Voiles de St. Tropez Regatta, a week-long event that marks the end of St. Tropez’s summer season in typical St. Tropez style of creating a sensational celebratory atmosphere.

Guy Ernest Debord, a French Marxist, theorist, writer and filmmaker, famously said in ‘The Society of the Spectacle’:

“The spectacle is not a collection of images, but a social relation among people, mediated by images.”

Debord’s poignant description of what constitutes a spectacle can be applied to Les Voiles de St. Tropez Regatta, which never fails to fill the entire St. Tropez port with sailing enthusiasts seemingly from every inch of the globe, seeking social acquaintances and meeting with other like-minded yacht lovers but at the same time being mediated by the images, gawking at the sheer splendour of these marvellous vessels.

Read full post

Alexander in Egypt, Lisbon in Portugal, Florence in Italy, Germany’s Berlin and St. Petersburg in Russia, these cities have got one thing in common – they have all at some point been referred to as being ‘Cities of Art’.

Perched in the fresh air on the hills between Nice and Antibes, the flower-lined town of Vence has also been cited as being a ‘City of Art’.

Bursting with sweet-smelling orange trees, aromatic flowers and olive trees in all directions and with a walled old town that is a sphere of medieval buildings with five ancient gateways known as “portes”, that looks virtually the same now as it did hundreds of years ago, it is not difficult to engage why Vence has attracted artists, writers and poets for centuries.

In the 12th century, Pierre Vidal, a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry  referred to Vence as “Le doux repaire” – “The sweet nest”. In the 13^th century, Italian poet and moral philosopher, Dante Alighieri, included the Lord of Vence, Romeo de Villenueve in his Paradise. Matisse, Soutine, Dubuffet and Dufy all spent time in Vence, working on artistic creations during some point of their careers.

The English novelist, poet, painter and playwright, D.H. Lawrence, spent the last days of his life on the Cote d’Azur in the town of Vence and died here in 1930. The legendary writer was actually buried in Vence for a short while, before his body was exhumed and taken to New Mexico.

Read full post

As the southern Spanish city of Malaga was the birthplace of Pablo Picasso it is only ‘right’ that Malaga’s ‘best loved son’ has a museum in his honour.

Being the ‘art capital of Spain’, Barcelona also rightly houses a ‘Museu Picasso’ that is home to one of the most extensive collections of artworks by the 20^th century Spanish painter and reveals the artist’s relationship with the Catalan capital, which was shaped by adolescence and youth.

Being the ‘art capital of France’ is it equally as justifiable why Paris boasts the ‘Musee National Picasso Paris’, which has been labelled as being ‘one of the world’s finest museums consecrated to the work and life of Cubist artist Pablo Picasso.’

There is another Picasso Museum situated in the less major but utterly exquisite town of Antibes on the Cote D’Azur, proof of just how much the French Riviera meant to the painter and vice-versa.

Picasso and the Cote d’Azur have enjoyed a reciprocal fascination ever since the famous Spanish painter moved to Vallauris in 1947. Almost 40 years following Picasso’s death, exhibitions in celebration and honour of the artist are held regularly in the place that Picasso fondly admitted, inspired him to most.

Located in the Grimaldi Chateau, the Picasso Museum Antibes opened in 1966 and houses an impressive collection of Picasso’s works from the 20^th century, including much of what the artist donated to Antibes in the 1940s as a means of saying thank you to Antibes for enabling him to be so artistically inspired.

Since it was opened this fascinating Picasso museum has been extended and modified and is now home to the works of other major artists, including Miro, De Stael, Cesar, Dezeuze and Atlan

Read full post

So you want to start married life in style? Then taking your honeymoon on the Cote d’Azur will certainly mean that starting your adventure as being ‘Mr and Mrs’ will begin stylishly, eloquently, luxuriously, not to mention utterly romantically.

With its romantic sunsets setting upon the Mediterranean gently bobbing multi-million pounds yachts in the many world-class marines, with first-rate restaurants providing truly exquisite cuisine in the most amorous of settings, and kilometre after kilometre of delicately soft sand, inviting couples to sink in to and spend the day relaxing, yes it’s safe to announce that the Cote d’Azur is a honeymooner’s paradise.

Whilst there is plenty of first-rate accommodation for newly weds to stay in on the Cote d’Azur, one place stands out particularly in providing the bride and groom with the luxury, passion and exclusivity they are yearning on their honeymoon.

Located perfectly between two of the Cote d’Azur’s most glamorous and exclusive cities Cannes and Monaco, is the Michelin star luxury hotel known as Le Mas Candille, five-star accommodation that is a favourite retreat of many a celebrity.

Being a member of the Relais and Chateaux group, a collection of some of the best restaurants and hotels throughout the world, creating world-class cuisine from some of the most highly-acclaimed and sought-after chefs, one would expect the food, service and ambience of Le Mas Candille is nothing short of perfection.

Read full post

In spite of the popular image of the Cote d’Azur being a sunbather’s haven with beautiful sandy beaches and bays providing the perfect place to relax, sunbath, swim and snorkel, the nearby mountains that provide a stunning backdrop for the French Riviera’s coast, are just crying out to be explored, particularly in the summer.

If we’ve managed to persuade you do exchange your bikini and towel for the hiking boots and helmet and head to the Cote d’Azur’s most tranquil, beautiful and natural of regions, then you may want to take a look at three great ‘white knuckle’ activities available in the Cote d’Azur ‘quieter side’, which certainly aren’t for the faint hearted.

Potholing

Being lowered into a deep hole amongst the cliffs may not be everybody’s vision of what constitutes a relaxing break on the Cote d’Azur, but for those who dare, potholing in the French Riviera Mountains would be a truly exhilarating and unforgettable experience.

This underground adventure playground, made from mud, water and rock is there to be explored.

Read full post