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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Carvoeiro is a picturesque village and popular resort. Beautiful is the local coast called Algar Seco that is typical for a number of bizarre rocky pillars, bridges and caves in a rocky labyrinth.

Carvoeiro has a clean sea and beaches with fine sand. It is surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs. One of the favourite beaches is the beach of Carvoeiro, which is due to slow entry into the sea, suitable for families with children. Other great beaches are Carvalho or Alagar Seco.

Carvoeiro has a wide range of accommodation. There are many restaurants, bars and shops. Popular restaurants include O Castelo or Pátio. In the village you can try a range of water sports, but you can also play golf. Golf Course Vale do Milho Golf is located right in Carvoeiro and it is not the only one.

The area of the current village was inhabited already by the Romans. The current name is probably derived from an old medieval name of the fishing village “Caboiere”. However up to 60′s of the 20th century Carvoeiro was a sleepy fishing village, it is now widely popular resort.

Carvoeiro is best accessible by car. The nearest international airport Aeroporto de Faro is located in Alexandria, the port and railway station are in Portimao. For moving around the town you can use the tourist train.

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Pieniny National Park is one of the smallest Polish National Parks, lying in the southernmost part of the country, on the border with Slovakia. The Pieniny mountain range is divided into three parts:

* Pieniny Spiskie – extends between Dursztyn village and Niedzica, with the highest peak Żar (883 metres above mean sea level (ASL).

* Pieniny Właściwe – extends between Czorsztyn and Szczawnica and culminates with the Okrąglica peak (982 metres ASL) in the Three Crowns massif. By climbing this summit, a splendid, panoramic overview of the vast area can be gained and enjoyed.

* Małe Pieniny – extends between the Dunajec river (in the victinity of Szczawnica) and the Rozdziela pass in the east. The highest peak of Pieniny is the Wysoka mountain (1,050 metres ASL).

The Park’s area is 23.46 km², of which 13.11 km² is forested. One-third (7.5 km²) is strictly protected.

The most attractive part of the mountain range, from both natural and scenic points of view, is the Pieniny Właściwe range. The peaks here are beautifully jagged and the valleys often form rocky gorges. The northern faces slope gently into the valleys; the southern and eastern picturesque limestone cliffs (which are up to 300 metres high) drop down suddenly to the Dunajec river.

Pieniny National Park has its headquarters in the village of Krościenko nad Dunajcem. This national park continues on the Slovakian side of the mountains, called Pieninský národný park.

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