Posts Tagged ‘Provence’

Eze village on the French Riviera Provence

Eze is for me one of the most beautiful and charming village of Provence. The lyrics of the song does not fit in the clip but I love this song

Célébration du Débarquement de Provence à Cannes

Image taken on 2009-08-24 17:41:46 by twiga269 ? FREE TIBET.

Double Life of Private Mr Laws: In London never seen together, in Provence, very much a couple

Double Life of Private Mr Laws: In London never seen together, in Provence, very much a couple
Despite living in the same house in the capital, Mr Laws stated that he and James Lundie do not regard themselves as ‘spouses’ and said they led ‘separate social lives’.

Read more on Daily Mail

Provence, a Region for Inspiration

Since the 19th century, southern France, especially the Provence-Alpes-Cote dâ??Azur region has inspired many famous painters. It attracts for its various landscapes, rich colours and particular light. Thanks to its unic cultural wealth, the French Riviera was a special place for liberty and experience. Lots of artists gather in artistsâ?? studios in Antibes, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, Monet, Renoir, but also Dufy, Matisse, Cocteau, Bonnard, Soutine, Derain, Cross, Boudin and Peynet immortalized the Provence and the Cote dâ??Azur during their stays or during their lives there.

The impressionists Cézanne, Monet, Degas and Renoir were very much inspired by the region. Renoir and Monet are the impresionnists who painted Provence the most. In Cagnes sur Mer, Renoir painted Paysages des Collettes, in 1914 and La Ferme des Collettes, in 1915. He was also inspired by the picturesque village of Lâ??Estaque, near Marseille and painted Lâ??Estaque. The village also inspired Braque, Derain and Dufy. As for Monet, he painted the town of Antibes (Antibes effet d’après-midi, 1888 and Antibes vue de la Salis, 1888).

Cézanne in Aix-en-Provence

Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence. He was really in love with his native region, which much marked himself and his work. He lived in Paris and Auvers-sur-Oise but every time he returned to his homeland, which much inspired him. He painted the Ste Victoire Mount around 80 times, but also the surrounding countryside, seaports, stone quarries and on cold days, he realised many still life paintings. The Bathers (les Grandes Baigneuses), one of his famous paintings aroused Picasso and Matisseâ??s interest. Cézanne lived and worked in Aix en Provence over a period of forty five years. According to him, â??there are treasures to be taken away from [France], which has not yet found an interpreter worthy of the riches it offersâ?.

Van Gogh in St Rémy-de-Provence and Arles

Van Gogh arrived in Arles in 1888, intending to found a utopian art colony. He began painting local scenes and landscapes. Before coming in the region, his painting was very dark, as many Dutch paintersâ??. In St Rémy de Provence, he introduced more colours in his work, as his famous painting The Sunflowers, for instance and can attest. Compare for instance the 1885 painting The Potato Eaters and the 1888 Bedroom, or the 1888 Yellow House, the property he rent during his stay Arles. Yellow meant to Van Gogh hope and friendship. Even when he painted the night, the result was much colourful during his time in Provence. The Starry Night (1889) and The Café Terrace on the Place du Forum at Night are amazing examples. After Van Goghâ??s demand, Gauguin joined him in Arles and they painted together. They painted the Alyscamps in Arles. Van Gogh went for walks in the surrounding countryside and became soaked with images of olive trees, wheatfields and cypresses, which he introduced in his works.

Picasso in Antibes

In 1939, Picasso stayed a few months in Antibes, on the Cote dâ??Azur. He was lent a room in the Grimaldi Casle and Museum, which made him very much enthusiastic and willing to decorate the castle with his paintings. This joy appears in the work he produced in Antibes, such as La Joie de Vivre. There, he created several drawings and paintings, namely The Keys of Antibes, Peche de nuit à Antibes, Woman with Sea Urchins, etc. When he left, he gave his works to the Antibes town. But Picasso was also inspired by the village of Mougins, near Cannes and painted Paysage de Mougins II in 1965.

Matisse in Nice and Vence

Matisse, Picassoâ??s friend and rival, spend several years in Nice and Vence, where he discovered the â??Mediterranean lightâ? in 1898. The first month he was in Nice, it rained all the time. When he decided to leave the town because of the bad weather, the wind had cleared the sky and let the sun shine. He knew he would see this wonderful light every morning and eventually changed his mind and stayed in Nice for a long time. There, he painted among others Self-portrait, My Bedroom in the Beaurivage and The Open Window. It was for him a period of uninterrupted hard work. He was very much inspired by the city and its narrow balconies overlooking onto the sea and the local architecture. He loved the silvery light, the lively colours and the plunging perspectives of the city. He also painted the frivolities of life, like colourful parasols, shoes, hats and the current fashions women make up.

Chagallâ??s paintings Couple au-dessus de Saint Paul and La Table devant le Village show the Provencal village of St Paul-de-Vence.

Dali in Monte Carlo

Dali stayed in the Cote dâ??Azur several times during his life. Strangely, only his famous Cadillac car (exhibited at the Gala-Dali Museum, in Spain) shows a link between him and the region, as it is registered in Monte Carlo.

Those famous artists chose those towns and villages for their beauty because it would look very good on their landscape paintings. They cannot be wrong in their choice because their pieces are worth millions nowadays. If, as all these painters, you feel in love with the wonderful Provence and Cote dâ??Azur and would like to own a property there, Sextant Properties can help you in the process. They will put you in touch with English speaking French estate agents to help you find your dream property. Everybody knows that thereâ??s no need to be an artist to love the region, its charming atmosphere, various landscapes and Mediterranean climate.

 

What to Consider When Buying Property in Provence

If you’re buying property, Provence is an excellent area to consider. This will article will give you a general idea of Provence and the property market.

Provence has a history dating back to prehistoric times. For years Provence has been famous for her wine and delicious food, and tourists from all four corners of the earth flock to the area. There is an extensive coastline, oak groves, vineyards, mountains and forests which make Provence one of the most picturesque areas in the world. Overall Provence has a Mediterranean climate – pleasantly warm summers and mild winters, though different regions within Provence have slightly dissimilar climates due to the terrain. For people who love sports, Provence offers excellent facilities for kayaking, trekking, skiing and biking. For art lovers, Provence has a number of events taking place throughout the year, ranging from music programs and art exhibitions to displays of fireworks and wine festivals. The city of Cannes, where the prestigious film festival is held, is located in a part of Provence called Alpes-Maritimes. Shopping enthusiasts would definitely love to strike a bargain in the variety of shops there.

In spite of its old-world charm, Provence has a well developed infrastructure. Nice and Toulon are the nearest airports, and there are highly efficient train services from Provence to other parts of France and Europe. Transportation facilities within Provence are well developed, and educational facilities in Provence are very good. Provence also offers excellent medical facilities, with a number of specialist doctors and hospitals located in the region.

When it comes to buying property, Provence has many types available: from rustic stone farms in the countryside to apartments in the city well equipped with modern amenities. Investing in a second home/holiday home would enable you to enjoy vacations in this haven, and then rent property to tourists which could give you a healthy source of income.

Location is a very important consideration in buying property in Provence. In some areas, there is a heavy rush of tourists, especially in the summers, so if you are looking for a quiet life, you would want to avoid those areas. A bit of research would go a long way in preventing you from buying a property in the wrong location.

Once you have chosen your location and type of property, the next issue that needs addressing is how to go about buying property in Provence. Certain standard procedures have been laid down for this purpose, which should be followed by the property investor. These procedures are quite simple and it is advisable to contact an estate agent as they are experts in the buying and selling field. They would be able to correctly guide the investor through the processes, however it is necessary to exercise due caution and discretion in selecting the right professional agent and also the right kind of property. Choosing an agent who is registered with a body like the UNPI or SNPI would reduce the chances of you being duped. Normally, estate agents charge between 4 to 10% of the net price of the property as their commission.

In conclusion, Provence is a wonderful location. It isn’t a question of when to buy a property in Provence but where to buy a property as there are so many wonderful areas to choose from.

Provence is steeped in history and beauty but has modern facilities to easily keep in contact with the rest of the world if needed. The property market is steadily rising, and when it comes to buying property, Provence has made the procedure as uncomplicated as possible.

Cycling Holidays in Provence – Heading South Easier than Ever for School Group Holidays

Zipping off to the southern reaches of France has become easier for school groups since the advent of daily flights from various airports around the UK to the likes of Lyons, Nimes, Nice and Marseilles.

The sunny and chic but one time elite Riviera is no longer just the preserve of the rich and famous.

While some high falutinâ?? types may bemoan the loss of its exclusivity, most of us celebrate the chance to parade the palm tree promenades of Nice, meander around the side streets of the casino capital Monte Carlo, take an hour or two to go celebrity spotting in Cannes or watch the world pass by in from the quiet of a tree-lined avenue in Aix-en-Provence.

Here, too, is chance to relish the rustic scenes which inspired great artists from Monet and Manet to Picasso and Degas, savour the food and wines which they savoured, take in the rustic scenes which so fired their imaginations, visit the one time â??Papal kingdomâ?? of Avignon.

Museums and art galleries offer a glimpse of great artistic and historic works and a walk around in hillside village trails in the Alpes Maritimes and the Var valley provide an insight as to how the Impressionists found the inspiration to produce such masterpieces.

This is now a region where international businessmen, film moguls and stage and screen celebs come to play, or seal deals while enjoying the comfort of the sun on their backs. Gazing at the rows of gleaming luxury yachts moored in Mediterranean marinas is an activity in itself – one which defies â??credit crunchâ?? headlines. Swish hotels and high priced restaurants are patronised by a designer suited clientelle. Flashy convertibles turn heads as they get caught up in Franceâ??s obligatory town centre traffic jams.

But dinted Renaults and standard model citroens also hold their own in the line. You do not have to â??come from moneyâ?? to enjoy the infinite array of rich vistas here, nor to explore market plazas or village squares, to sit by an ancient sculptured fountain or dip your feet into cool river waters.

This is a holiday spot to be enjoyed by all â?? a delight for school parties, gap-life travellers, or groups of retirees.

For those whose pockets arenâ??t too deep, there are mouth-watering menus aplenty, terrace cafes affording ample opportunity to people watch at leisure, while savouring a mid-morning coffee or chilling out with a glass of wine. Accommodation choices range from family and school group camp sites to self-catering apartments, country gites for rent, and friendly family-run hotels.

High temperatures in summer make it a favourite for annual holidays, and budget airline services have now turned the Cote dâ??Azur, in particular, into a popular destination for weekend breaks.

Cannes, a short hop from Nice airport is centre of the media spotlight every year as it hosts the worldâ??s most famous international film festival. Here you can stroll by the fashion houses and perfumeries of the Promenade La Croisette or catch a glimpse of whoâ??s enjoying nouvelle cuisine at the famous Palme dâ??Or restaurant, visit venues frequented by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, pick up film festival memorabilia, take in a movie at a city cinema.

But it is not just Hollywood stars who are attracted to Cannes. Over the years it has been a port of call for artists of all generations – home to Picasso for ten years, a destination favoured by Renoir, Chagall and Matisse. More modern day artists now display their works at the weekly crafts and antiques markets near the town hall a stoneâ??s throw from the old port marina. Tourists can board the quaint â??little trainâ?? for a city tour, discover hidden away historic churches, elegant boulevards, the Palais des Festivals, Palais Croisette, casino plazas and flower markets.

From the marina visitors can take a 15 minute ferry to two unspoiled islands across Cannes Bay – St Marguerite and St Honorat. With their ancient forts, chapels, Roman relics and museum pieces, they offer a green and secluded rest from the more mainstream tourist trail.

It is easy to get about along the southern coast, on foot, on bicycle, by, bus, coach or train.

Frequent local buses and trains offer the options for one, two or three centre trips, to explore vineyards, enjoy the local culture, take part in hiking or cycling holidays â?? or simply to discover secluded beach spots along the coast. Summer or winter, there is a rich choice of those.

Favorite cities in the Provence region of France?

Please let me know which of these are your favorite cities in Provence are, and why:

Nimes, Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence, Orange, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, St. Tropez, Cassis, Cannes, Monaco, Antibes, Nice, Montpellier (not Provence, but close by).

I will be traveling to Provence this August and am trying to decide which of these cities to go to. I am female, in my early 20s, and will be traveling alone, on a budget, via train and bus. I will only have about 5 days to tour the Provence region. I would like a combination of sightseeing, visiting ruins and/or castles, and sandy beaches, but am not a big fan of museums. Thanks!

Four Season hotel in Provence, France, how is it?

Staying there about four nights at the beginning of January. What’s there to do? How’s the food? What’s there to do close by that doesn’t require driving to Cannes or Nice? Looking for great wineries and restaurants.Thank you.

Beautiful Apartment Cannes Real Estate Provence

www.RHF-International.net Ville: Cannes Near By Town: Cannes Price: EUR 472500 Nearest Airport: Nice Nearest Beach: Cannes Exposition: South east On Domain: yes Status: For Sale Ref ID: 2678 www.RHF-International.com

Lovely Apartment Cannes A Vendre Provence

www.RHF-International.net Ville: Cannes Near By Town: Cannes Postcode: 06400 Price: EUR 1575000 Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Type: Residential Habitable m2: 140 Exposition: SW On Domain: No Ref ID: 1491 www.RHF-International.com