With ultra-glamorous nightclubs, casinos and restaurants, designer boutiques lining the seafront and a harbour that is home to some of the most exclusive yachts on the Med, the town of Saint Tropez could be described as being the ultimate hub for the rich and famous living on and visiting the Cote d’Azur.

Saint Tropez has long be the source of attractive headlines if not solely for the sheer ‘class’ and ‘status’ of many of the people who visit this well-heeled town. Although recently, Saint Tropez has made the headlines for a different reason entirely, announcing that it is to observe the Year of India in 2012.

Saint Tropez town council has collaborated with the Indian Ministry of Tourism, which collectively decided to observe 2012 as the Year of India in Saint Tropez.

So what exactly does ‘observing the Year of India 2012’ entail for Saint Tropez?

Saint Tropez may be buzzing with vibrant, colourful and heavily-attended events all year round but 2012 is seeing an exceptionally frequent amount of cultural events, sporting tournaments, exhibitions, concerts, gastronomic events and even fashion shows, to mark the partnership between Saint Tropez and the Indian Ministry of Tourism.

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In 1956 a 21-year-old Bridgette Bardot visited Picasso at his studio in Vallauris, Cannes, during the Cannes Film Festival. Many photographs of the stunning French actress, who in 1956, was at the height of her ‘beauty’, ‘demand’ and ‘fame’, were taken during her meeting with Picasso in Cannes and are yet more proof of Bardot’s life-long love-affair with the Cote d’Azur.

Similar to Bridgette Bardot, Pablo Picasso also had an extremely publicised magnetism with the Cote d’Azur and the legendary Spanish artist lived thee for many years. During his time living on the Cote d’Azur, Picasso jumped from Antibes in 1946 to Vallauris in 1947 to Cannes in 1955, where he bought the magnificent 19^th century “La Villa California”, to Mougins in 1961, where the painter died in 1973.

Living in the various towns on the Cote d’Azur, Picasso reportedly experienced many love stories – both romantically and artistically and it has been described that it was the Cote d’Azur which exuded the ‘creative intensity’ from within Picasso and ‘pushed his genius and formidable love of life’.

If you too , like Bridget Bardot some 56 years ago, have yearnings to experience a touch of Picasso in the painter’s most inspirational of places, then visiting the ‘Picasso, les chemins du sud’ exhibition in Cannes is most definitely recommendable.

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Puppetry is one of the most ancient forms of theatrical performance, which is believed to have begun as far back as 3000 years BC. Whilst puppetry is shown through a diverse number of forms, it essentially involves using inanimate objects under the pretence of making them animate as a means to entertain.

And entertaining puppets certainly are, and are used in many different genres of entertainment, such as carnivals, theatrical performances or even in ceremonies and rituals.

The unrivalled longevity of the humble puppet could have a lot to do with the fact that they are loved by people from around the world, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or religion.

In France, similar to much of Europe, puppet booths have been a prominent feature of French culture.

On the Cote D’Azur puppetry has been a dominant form of entertainment, with puppet booths putting on regular shows across the French Riveria’s many affluent and golden beaches, much to the delight of the crowd such shows would never fail to attract – a crowd comprising of both young and old.

It is within this historical context that Facconable would like to inform you about the Exhibition on the Magic World of Puppets, which is being held in Tourrette-Levens until 15 September 2012.

‘Le Monde Magique des Marionnettes’ is holding live marionette shows that will be performed by two of the best ventriloquists in the world – Fred Roby and Loic Bettini.

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The word ‘Baroque’ derives from the Portuguese language and translates as “irregularly shaped pearl’. With its outstandingly stunning views, plethora of tasteful architecture, glided mansions, pretty seaside promenades, beautiful bays and secluded coves all capped by the crystal clear Mediterranean with many millionaire yachts bobbing up and down on its surface, it is hardly surprising that the Cote d’Azur has been described as being the ‘pearl of the South of France’.

Given its unrivalled alliance as being a ‘pearl’ of a place to visit, it seems only right that this totally unique region of France should house some of the finest ‘irregularly shaped pearl’ architecture and artwork in the world.

The artistically awe-inspiring Cote d’Azur has a remarkable baroque heritage, which, unsurprisingly, is a focal point of interest for many visitors to the area, who sought to be impressed by the area’s rich baroque tradition, and are rarely disappointed.

If your artistic taste buds are aroused, then take a look at three of the most prominent and striking baroque churches on the Cote d’Azur.

Eglise Notre-Dame de la Visitation – Fontan

The building of this outstandingly wondrous church began in 1632 and marks the epitome of baroque splendour. Having a rectangular layout, a narrow nave and an altar designed for the “Souls of Purgatory”, the Eglise Notre-Dame de la Visitation in Fontan is pioneering in its architecture, to say the least.

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Fancy visiting a truly unique and inspiring art exhibition in France this summer? If so, then let us draw your attention to two major exhibitions taking place at the ‘Villa Arson’ in Nice this summer.

‘Ben signe Nice’

You may or may not have heard of a movement known as Fluxus. If you haven’t heard of Fluxus, then it’s a name derived from the Latin meaning ‘to flow’, and is used to describe a network of composers, designers and artists from around the world, which in the 1960s, were noted for combining and blending various artistic disciplines and media.

It is within this premise that the ‘Ben Signe Nice’ exhibition has been crafted, which marks the 50^th anniversary of the Fluxus movement. From July 1 until October 28 2012, ‘Villa Arson’ is home to a temporary boxing ring, which is identical to the ring set up in Cologne in the ‘Happenings and Fluxus’ exhibition of 1970.

The boxing ring will be surrounded by various artworks and objects and various performances will take place in the ring to which the public can go and watch.

‘A la vie deliberee’

Also running from July 1 until October 28 2012 is ‘A la vie deliberee’ exhibition, which looks at the history of performance on the Cote d’Azur from the 1950s until the present day.

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