France, in particular, is one of my most favourite places in Europe and ever since I was introduced to the charms of Paris on a language trip I’ve been well and truly hooked. Since I left school I’ve been all over the country, including: the Cote d’Azur, Brittany, Normandy and the Alps all of which have left me hungry for more.

So, with our Prime Minister’s tub-thumping comments in mind, I’d like to remind him why France, and the rest of Europe, are simply sublime and why the thought of opting out of the EU should be considered as foolish as crossing the Channel in a bath.

Menton, Cote d’Azur, France by Berthold Werner

Food

For many, French cuisine is as good as it gets and from croissants and baguettes to gateaux and petit fours, eating your way around the country is an amazing experience not to be missed. Regional variations allow you to taste a new flavour of France very day and the very thought of seafood along the west coast is enough to send me into raptures. Restaurants, cafes and bistros all provide a sumptuous array of talent and if we’re opting out of French gastronomy then book my ticket for Paris, right now.

Markets

As with travel to any foreign country, the chance to visit the local market presents an object lesson in languages, customs and, ultimately, culture, because this is where the produce of the land meets the people of the streets. Rural stalls, selling freshly made jams and spreads, or cobbled town squares where meats and cheeses are on display, you name it and you can buy it at the market. There aren’t many more interesting ways to spend a morning or afternoon and as soon as you get your first whiff of a French market, you’ll be in for a treat.

Walks

The French countryside is blessed with myriad walking trails and from the mountain peaks of the Alps to the flower-festooned meadows of Provence, grab your knapsack, favourite stick and put your best foot forward. If you’re a fan of fresh air and gentle exercise then there’s no finer option and just check out the ski resorts during the summer months if you fancy enjoying picnics on lush green hillsides. France also boasts a criss-cross of rivers and, walks by the waterside along tow-paths or well-trodden banks, are an excellent idea if you’re hoping to work up an appetite.

Boats in Fécamp, Upper Normandy, France by dynamosquito

Canal boat

As mentioned, France has so many rivers and canals that it barely knows what to do with them other than making them look extremely pretty. One fantastic idea, if you are thinking about taking advantage of French waterways, is canal boating and lazy Sunday mornings, on-board le boat, are as totally delightful as they sound. Following the course of a river can take you past numerous landmarks and sights and mooring up for the night is an exciting and relaxing alternative to looking for a hotel.

Sightseeing

Of course, Paris is packed-full of iconic sights with the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame all up there on the ‘must see’ guide however, explore a little further afield and you’ll find many more. Fairy-tale chateaus, historic beaches and the vineyards of Bordeaux will all leave you in no doubt as to why sightseeing is a countrywide experience as opposed to only city based. If you must sightsee in a city then check out Avignon and Lyon which both have some tremendous examples of ancient architecture as well as loads of museums and monuments.

Biog: Chris can’t wait to return to France and thinks opting out of the EU would be the equivalent to filling in the Channel Tunnel.

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Scheveningen, The Netherlands by FaceMePLS

1) Scheveningen, Netherlands

This beach may not be able to boast the highest temperatures or the most picturesque seafront, but there are plenty of water sports to take part in and a number of bars and restaurants. However, one of the most appealing things about Scheveningen is its location – you can easily have an early morning dip in the sea before visiting Anne Frank’s House in Amsterdam or one of the 17th century palaces in The Hague.

2) The Curonian Spit, Lithuania

The natural, largely unspoilt beauty of this Lithuanian beach needs to be seen to be believed! Unfortunately it’s a protected World UNESCO Heritage Site and sadly, as a result, there are certain areas that are a no go for tourists. However, the parts you can access are absolutely worth the journey, and this beach is a truly beautiful place to spend a day.

Curonian Spit, Lithuania by Tobin

3) Pembrokeshire, Wales

While you can never depend on good weather in Wales you can certainly depend on absolutely stunning scenery in Pembrokeshire. If you’re not convinced take it from the National Geographic magazine, which voted it the second best coastal destination in the world. It’s easy to fit in as part of a trip round the UK so there’s no excuse for not seeing the area for yourself.

4) Barleycover, Ireland

Again, this beach may generally be cold, but the beautiful natural surroundings in County Cork more than make up for it. This beach could be the perfect antidote to a hectic weekend sightseeing and sampling Ireland’s famous Guinness beer in Dublin, which is only a few hours away by car.

5) Pupnatska Beach, Croatia

The Dalmatian Islands off the coast of Croatia all boast delightful coastlines and, as a result, trying to pick out just one is mightily difficult. However, Pupnatska beach, on Korčula Island is a definite contender thanks to its sapphire waters, stunning white sand, and a friendly, laid back atmosphere.

Pupnatska Luka, Korcula, Croatia by Andrea Musi

6) La Rochelle, France

While the South of France boasts some mesmerising beaches, there are plenty of places on the western coast that can give the south a run for its money. La Rochelle is one such resort. What many people will love about a holiday incorporating La Rochelle is the fact that the area is steeped in history. Many holidaymakers will only feel comfortable sunbathing once they are sure they have explored the town and learnt about its rich history.

7) St. Brelade’s Bay Beach, Jersey

Gorgeous views, interesting trails, lovely restaurants… there’s little if anything to fault with this beautiful beach. And, even better, being on an island the size of Jersey means there’ll be another great beach around every turn. So take a wander and you could find yourself your own private piece of beach!

If you are taking one of the many Europe tours available, do make sure to add a beach into your trip. Europe’s architecture, art, culture, food and history are all wonderful of course, but everyone needs time to relax! And what better way to unwind and rest tired feet than on a beach with truly stunning scenery?

Written by Michael Palmer, a passionate traveller and experienced travel writer.

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Moving abroad is a massive dream for some and with France, you have the chance to explore one the most cultural countries on the continent. Having a lovely villa on the coast or a trendy apartment in the city enables you to live a completely different lifestyle and take advantage of all around you, from French furniture to French fashion.

Menton, Cote d’Azur, France by Berthold Werner

It is advised that you pick a region where people go to visit on their holidays or at least where the local economy has a healthy bounce to it. It also helps if the location has great communication and access to the countries roadways, unless, of course, you want to feel detached in a serene environment.

Putting money into property abroad can be quite a risk and therefore it is the better bet to locate yourself in an area that has a history of having a healthy financial climate. If you do have money to burn, however, you may feel obliged to test out untapped areas and gamble on a slightly more obscure part of the country.

For the purposes of this post though, we’ll just stick to the well-established towns and cities.

Going for glamour

It’s fair to say that the most obvious places in France to relocate to are the likes of Paris and the south coast (Cote d’Azur). The French capital of Paris harbours expensive tastes, but great opportunity for profitable investments on property, with house prices always on the rise and the city never going out of fashion. Grabbing yourself a city apartment and decking it out with some trendy French furniture and artwork could really spruce up your life.

The Cote d’Azur offers a completely different angle to French living thanks to both the climate and the jet set lifestyle. The big problem, however, is that you will need a pretty big budget and small investors will struggle to get on the property ladder. If you do have the money, it can be a very sound investment and you will be able to enjoy every sunny day of your time down there.

The Alps

For those of an active disposition will likely see the Alps as a fantastic prospect when deciding where to move to in France. The location is possibly the most popular skiing destination on the planet and because of that, house prices can be quite high, but going just a couple of miles out of the hotspots could see you pick up a bargain.

The slopes are the real attraction, of course, and you could enjoy a life of shopping in some of the most stylish shopping areas and then moving onto a bit of skiing, as well as taking in the breath-taking views.

French Alps by Jim Trodel

Living it up in the city

French cities are finding more and more investment being thrown at them and so are making for a very prosperous place to move to.

Places like Marseille and Bordeaux are beginning to thrive, the latter being the capital of one of France’s finest wine regions. With the countries brilliant TGV train service, most places are very accessible and going from somewhere like Marseille to Paris can be done in just under two hours.

Other locations worth a mention for a great taste of French city life include Reims and Strasbourg.

About the author: Sam writes for The Furniture Market where you can get a great selection of furniture made from solid oak and in such styles as French style furniture.

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Les Voiles de St. Tropez / Michael Reuter

When considering chartering a yacht for a French Riviera cruise, you should know that azure skies are the limit when it comes to high end luxury.  Upon first setting sight of St. Tropez, you will notice that no yacht is too big, too ostentatious, or too opulent.  St. Tropez is a visual feast, and if you sail in on a modest catamaran, you will get to enjoy it just the same.  Choose the powerboat, sailboat, or super yacht that best suits your group, and bear in mind that you won’t spend all of your time onboard once you’ve reached St. Tropez.

What would the south coast of France be without beautiful beaches?  St. Tropez’s famous beaches, Plage de Pampelonne and Tahiti Beach, are worth visiting, especially if you are interested in people watching.  There are restaurants and cafes here, of course, but it’s actually an outdoor market that comes most highly recommended for typical French provisioning.  Stop by the Place des Lices to shop for delectable picnic food, and then head to Tarte Tropezienne for the area’s outstanding namesake dessert.  Cap off any evening with a drink at Les Caves du Roy, Le Papagayo, or Café Senequier.  By day, take your guests to Maison des Papillons to see a grand collection of butterflies, or challenge them to a match on the courts at Tennis Club de St. Tropez.  The Musee de L’Annonciade is also a terrific option for visitors to the region who want to experience the beauty of St. Tropez as captured by famous artists over the years.

If you manage to time your trip around the 1st of October, then you are in for a treat.  Les Voiles de St. Tropez is a spectacle whether you participate in it or just watch.  This sailing regatta brings about 3500 crew from all over the globe to compete in the fun that is this end-of-summer sailing race.  You may charter a boat to race, or you may opt to watch from the sidelines.  There is much celebrating either way, and it gives visitors a sense of community with the other boating enthusiasts. Perhaps you’ve made the voyage at another time of year and still want to experience St. Tropez from a different angle; try climbing onboard schooner Le Brigantine, which will take you on an unforgettable tour of Baie de St. Tropez.

Despite its popularity, St. Tropez retains much in the way of village charm.  Many people will have come to its shores on their super yachts, but many others will have traversed from inland.  Not everyone can afford to stay for very long, but anyone can come and feel the sand, surf, and sunshine for a short while.  Book a chartered yacht soon, and be one of those lucky enough to have sailed stylishly into port at stunning St. Tropez.

For more Luxury Yacht Charter information, visit International Yacht Charter Group.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Crump

An overview of the region

The largest city in the area is Nice with a population of about 350,000. It is a popular tourist destination among celebrities and common people alike. It features a beautiful flower market apart from its commercial port. The airport is the third busiest airport in France after both the airports in Paris. The low budget airlines have contributed greatly to the increased tourists arrivals in this region.

To the east of Nice you will find the resort of Menton, known for its lemon festival and stunning villas. Cannes, the city popular for its film festival, is also located on the French Riviera and witnesses a lot of tourist activity. Towns like Mandelie-La Napoule, located further to the west of the region, are known for their unique chateaux and marinas. St Tropez is another popular holiday destination, which is a favorite among celebrities and movie stars. Small villages surrounding St. Tropez have managed to retain a bit of their fishing village atmosphere.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michael Gwyther-Jones

The French Riviera is often associated with wealth, glamorous lifestyle and yachts. But taking a stroll into the old areas may change you outlook. You will find a number of quaint towns and villages on the coast. Several of these unassuming little towns attract artists, who find inspiration in the serenity and beauty of the region. Businessmen are known to purchase Cote d’Azur Villas in France, which are primarily used as holiday retreats. Other than painting, which is seen all over the region, Cote d’Azur is also known for activities like perfumery, pottery and glass blowing.

Villas at Cote d’Azur

France exhibits some of its most exquisite architecture in the villas located on the French Riviera. These properties are owned by some of the richest people in the world, many of whom are famous. Sean Combs, Tom Cruise, David Beckham and Johnny Depp are among the some of the rich and famous that own property here.

Cote d’Azur Villas in France, although expensive, are a worthy investment. The properties often include waterfront houses with private beaches with enough space for a yacht. Others are characterized by beautiful marble staircases and wrought iron grills. A large number of contemporary villas have been seen cropping up recently made entirely with chrome finished glass. This timeless destination is a hotspot for international investors, especially because of its warm sunny weather. Hiring a real estate agent can be helpful when purchasing or renting a villa as they are well versed with the local laws, tax regulations and other such rules.

Want to find out more about luxury holiday villa rentals in France, then visit Burger Davis Sotheby’s International Realty, the luxury property rental specialists for apartments to rent in Cannes and villas throughout the South of France.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Phyllis Buchanan

The village of Cassis

The picturesque village of Cassis is set on a working fishing port, where fishermen can be seen pulling baby squid, crabs, clams, prawns and sea urchins from the ocean, for sale at local restaurants. The port is lined with fishermen’s houses in pink, yellow and eggshell-blue, the pastels favoured in Provence. The town is dotted with restaurants serving fresh seafood at a range of prices. The Michelin-starred La Villa Madie restaurant is set on the cliffs of Cassis, combining a splendid view with exceptional food.

Beaches and ‘calanques’

Cassis boasts unspoiled beaches, far quieter than those in neighbouring towns and cities, that don’t close, making a midnight dip possible for those who want to indulge. There are no noisy private beaches either – the only music one can hear is provided by the scores of cicadas. The region is so well-known for its cicadas that many souvenir shops sell cicada-related memorabilia. The water in the ‘calanques’ stay shallow quite far out, creating great conditions for snorkelling. The beaches are rocky with sparse trees reaching down to the shore, but are bordered by vineyards, fig and olive trees.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Evan Bench

Cassis wine

The region’s famous white wine is said to be the perfect accompaniment to the local seafood. In 1936, Cassis wine, together with Chateauneuf du Pape and Sauternes, obtained the first term of controlled origin in France. Although rose and red wines are produced in the region, the white remains the most popular and most famous, and vineyards cover 470 acres. Because the area is sunny, with no violent weather changes, the area is perfect for growing grapes and has been used for this since 600 BC. Cassis white wine is a golden straw colour, with a nutty flavour.

Activities in and around Cassis

Aside from gorgeous beaches, wonderful food and magnificent wine, Cassis offers visitors a range of activities. There are many sightseeing cruises along the ‘calanques’ or, for those who want to see them more closely, rock-climbing up the sandstone cliffs. Small boats can be hired in the harbour and used as taxis to out-of-the-way nooks along the coast. The area is popular with cyclists and regularly hosts cycling competitions. Of course, visitors love hiking along the tops of the cliffs and, for the few days when the weather isn’t quite right for spending time outdoors, there are a number of vineyard tours with wine-tasting included.

This article was written by Martin Boulton from medwelcome

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Because of its American influences, Jazz was not initially well received in France, but once French musicians adopted their own style in the 1920´s, a take on traditional folk music and “gypsy jazz,” it became increasingly more popular and since the 1930´s has become a quintessential part of the French music scene.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by bastien09

The Beginnings of the Nice Jazz Festival

During the Second World War, the Americans ironically influenced the Parisian Jazz scene and their new and exciting brand of bop music caught the attention of Christian Estrosi, the Deputy Mayor of Nice. In 1948, he wanted to give something back to the people of the Cote d´Azur and on the 28th February, the world´s first ever Jazz festival was organised in Nice´s Pleyel auditorium.

Because the two styles conflicted with French audiences, the first festival got mixed reviews and unleashed passion and repulsion in equal measures from commentators. There was somewhat of a hostile feeling towards the new American style of bop whereas the “old French style,” was much revered.  It was a gap that would keep widening until the 1970´s when modern jazz partisans revolutionized American influences and again used the Nice Jazz Festival to pioneer the growing new trends.

One of the qualities of the Nice Jazz festival is to extend this special brand of music to a wider audience other than a restricted circle of Jazz connoisseurs and subsequently the spirit of open-mindedness would reach new peaks in 1972 with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Charles Mingus. Today Nice´s Jazz Festival stages a wide variety of Jazz influences and styles. These range from urban funk to gospel, urban funk and jazz originating from Africa.

There´s more to Nice than Jazz

Nice is recognised as a jewel in the crown of France´s glamorous Cote d´Azur and with its cosmopolitan ambience, radiant landscapes and relaxed atmosphere has plenty to offer sun seekers, culture vultures and sight-seers.

The stunning scenery along the Bay of Angels and the bustling promenade des Anglais is where most tourists and chic locals congregate, but if you want to escape the city limits, hire a car and drive into the surrounding hills. Art aficionados should visit the Matisse Museum and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC), whilst history buffs should head for the Roman ruins of Cemenelum and the Terra Armata museum.

Nice Jazz festival 2012

The week long Jazz Festival attracts in excess of 45,000 visitors so you are best to book your hotel early. There is plenty of affordable accommodation, but expect to pay somewhere in the region of €70-€100 a night for a three-star hotel. Alternatively you can get a guesthouse for around €45. If the location of the Jazz festival influences your choice of hotel the principal venues are gardens of Albert 1st and the gardens next to Place Masséna.

The line-up for this year´s festival will include (in alphabetical order):

• Ahmad Jamal,
• Avishai Cohen and Wynton Marsalis,
• Didier Lockwood,
• John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension,
• Kind of Blue Revisited featuring Alex Tasses,
• Mike Stern,
• Rick Margitza and the former Miles Davis band,
• Roy Hargrove Quintet and
• the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

The festival takes place between 8th – 12th July 2012.

Author Bio:

Nathan is a prolific writer who specializes in music and travel/holiday homes related articles. Having read this article why not book an apartment in Nice and go to see the festival for yourself?

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