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.