Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - one of the most picturesque corners of France, combining the inaccessible peaks of the Alpine mountains and sun-drenched beaches of world-famous Mediterranean resorts, lavender fields and endless vineyards, seaports with yachts and the tranquility of evergreen hills .Here everything is built on the contrast that creates a unique natural, cultural, architectural, gastronomic variety in which everyone can find something to their liking .This is the main and distinctive feature of the province .
The region is located in the south-eastern part of the country, attracting a huge number of tourists throughout the year. So, the second most occupied French airport is not anywhere, but in Nice, the famous embankment of which is still associated with the royal family and the color of the Russian aristocracy. The summer months are noisy and crowded. Fans of a relaxing holiday is recommended to spring (May) and autumn.
The western border of the province is the Rhone River, the eastern one is Italy, in the south is the Mediterranean Sea and the Côte d'Azur resort area. The region itself covers a large area stretching from the Riviera to the French part of the Alps.
- To surrender to the power of excitement in sinful Monaco.
- To surrender to a sweet idleness on ideally groomed beaches of Côte d'Azur.
- To taste the gastronomic delights of the region - ratatouille and buyabes.
- Honor the memory of Van Gogh in ancient Arles.
- Admire the beauty and grace of the wild Camargue horses.
- Communicate with the life of bohemia in the invariably festive Nice.
Chamonix from 35 285 rubles. for 8 days
Brides-les-Bains from 37 760 rubles. for 8 days
Tignes from 47 510 rub. for 8 days
Residence Tourotel 3 * from 21.03. for 7 nights from 50 717 rubles
Altis Val Vert 3 * from 07.03. for 7 nights from 51,503 rubles
Residence Le Cheval Blanc 3 * from 07.03. for 7 nights from 55,574 rubles
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Departments and cities of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
The region consists of six departments: the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the administrative center of Digne-les-Bains, the Hautes-Alpes, where the main city is Gap ( Gap, Alpes-Maritimes, with the famous capital Nice, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, with the administrative center of Toulon and Vaucluse, where everything concentrates around the well-known Avignon (Avignon) history lessons. The regional capital and administrative center of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône - Marseille (Marseille).
In addition to these major cities, attention deserves Arles (Arles), where it was painted a famous painting with sunflowers by Van Gogh, as well as a number of beautiful works. Aix-en-Provence (the birthplace of Cezanne and the city of fountains) will conquer the hearts of art lovers. Orange is created for those who value the historical heritage of France. Monuments of the times of the Roman Empire - the oldest part of the city.
The main beach resorts of Côte d'Azur are Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, Saint-Tropez, Menton. Moreover, the small but completely independent state of Monaco (Monaco) can also be considered one of the resorts of the Côte d'Azur. The main ski resorts in the Alps: Isola 2000 (Isola 2000), Risoul-Vars (Risoul-Vars), Serre Chevalier (Montgenevre).
Search for tickets to the city of Nice (the nearest airport is Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur)
How to get here
Four airports connect Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur with other cities. Two international are in Marseilles and Nice. The Marseille-Provence airport is 30 km from Marseille. It communicates with the capitals of all the former African colonies of France, as well as with a number of cities in central Europe. In summer, a charter from Moscow flies to Marseilles. From here you can also fly to Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes.
Nice airport (Nice Côte d'Azur) is located in the west of the city, on the seashore, so in good weather when taking off or landing from the airplane, you can enjoy stunning views of the French Riviera. The duration of the flight from Moscow is 4 hours 30 minutes, from Paris - 1, 5 hours.
The European airport of Toulon (Aéroport de Toulon-Hyères), 24 km from the city, provides international flights to Amsterdam, Brussels, London, etc. The Aéroport d'Avignon - Caumont is located 9 km from the administrative center of the department of Vaucluse . From here you can fly to the UK.
By train
Most of the TGV trains from Paris to the cities of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur depart from Gare de Lyon. The journey to Marseilles takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. There are first and second class. The fare for the second class is from 85 EUR. The ticket can be ordered online at www.voyages-sncf.com. The journey to Nice is about 5 hours and 40 minutes. The fare is around 119 EUR.
The trip to Avignon will take about 2 hours and 40 minutes. The fare for the second class is about 105 EUR. Before Aix-en-Provence ride about three hours. The fare is about 85 EUR.
The cost of tickets is indicated in May 2011.
By car
From Paris via Lyon to the cities of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur allows access to the A7 motorway. The same road connects Marseilles with Aix-en-Provence. From Marseilles to Toulon and Nice you can get to A50.
| Olive grove, Aix-en-Provence |
| Cozy restaurant |
| Market in Aix-en-Provence |
A bit of history
In ancient times in the territory of modern Provence there were settlements of successive Phoenicians, Greeks, and from the 2nd century to n .e .- Romans who actively developed agriculture, trade in wines and olive oil and built along the coast the famous "road of Aurelius" .The capital of the region is Marseille, it was founded about 600 years before .e .the Phocians-Greeks from Asia Minor .In the 3rd century, Christianity developed on the lands of Provence, which gave rise to a culture of asceticism and numerous abbeys - the powerful educational, craft and wine-making centers of the Middle Ages, immortalized in history by impressive Romanesque and Gothic architectural ensembles .
After the fall of the Roman Empire for Provence came troubled times: the Visigoths, Burgundians, Ostrogoths, pawnshops seized the land, destroyed settlements, made looting, slaughter and fires .In the 8-10 centuries the region repeatedly besieged the Saracens, who came from the territory of Spain and from North Africa .In the beginning of the 10th century Provence became the patrimony of the Burgundy lord of Rodolphe II, his son Conrad Mirolyubivy appoints sovereign rulers in Arles, Avignon, Aix and Marseilles .Under the power of counts Provence is experiencing a period of relative managerial independence, but also becomes a scene for endless "bossang" wars for contesting the title of governor .In the early 14th century in Avignon settled "exiled" to the backyard of the Holy Roman Empire Pontifical Court .
In 1434-1480, the Count of Provence was "René Dobry", the King of Naples, the Duke of Anjou, the champion of peace and philanthropist .In 1481, his nephew and heir Charles III bequeathed Provence to King Louis XI .So the region passed into the possession of the French crown .The endless wars of conquest of 1486-1789 by European neighbors have significantly altered the medieval urban landscape of Provencal lands: mountain villages and monasteries have turned into impregnable citadels, and the architecture of the houses has become clearly defensive in nature .In 1555 in Provence published a book of predictions "Centuries" of the great astrologer, personal physician Charles IX and a native of Saint-Remy-de-Provence Michel Nostradamus .
On March 1, 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte and a handful of faithful people landed on the bank of the Juan, in order to pass Lyons and the Rhone Valley, whose population supports the king, the future emperor chooses a circuit route through the Grail and the mountainous regions of Provence. This way went down in history as "the road of Napoleon."
Kitchen and restaurants
The cuisine of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is rightly called "sunny". It is thanks to its rays that the fertile land of the province gives so many wonderful products. Olive oil and olives, camargue rice, lavender honey, seafood, Provencal herbs, truffles, high-quality cheeses - a small list of what is the visiting card of the region. The offered dishes are so diverse that lovers of food are unlikely to find rest boring.
One of the most famous - fish soup buyabes (bouillabaiss), which is desirable to try in Marseilles. Initially, this soup was the food of poor fishermen who cooked their own lunch from the remains of unsold fish. Another dish, familiar to everyone due to the name of the cartoon, is ratatouille. This vegetable stew originally was a meal of soldiers.
A high-calorie turton (tourton), a fried patty with different fillings, appeared in the Alps .Daube or stew comes from the Provencal part of the region .The city of Arles became famous not only as the birthplace of the great canvases of Van Gogh, but also as a place for the production of the magnificent Arles sausage that existed here since the 17th century .Lovers of seafood are recommended snails, mussels and eel, cooked according to a special local recipe .Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is the place of pastis production (Pastis), a famous aperitif, which is a strong alcoholic beverage, infused on herbs .
Beaches
On the west of Nice (Cannes, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Saint-Tropez) there are sandy beaches, in the same Nice and further towards Italy they are pebble. In Monaco - loose sandy beaches. In contrast to the Atlantic coast, the beaches on the Cote d'Azur are not wide: a maximum of 30-40 meters. All beaches are municipal, however they can be rented by hotels or simply by rich people. Then the entrance to the beach becomes paid (about 20 EUR per day). On the nearby free beaches there is no equipment, but, as a rule, more people.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions
In the region there are many cultural monuments of different epochs .Up to our time, even constructions dating back to the times of the Roman Empire .Lovers of ancient history must certainly go to Arles and see the amphitheater (Amphithéâtre Romain), the ancient theater (Théâtre Antique), the Roman necropolis (Alyscamps) and the Forum .A wonderful example of the ancient theater is in the city of Orange .The Papal Palace (Palais des Papes) in Avignon was built during the so-called "Avignon captivity of the popes" and is visible from anywhere in the city .This building of the 14th century is considered one of the largest Gothic structures .The ancient abbey of St. Victor Marseille (Abbaye Saint-Victor de Marseille) was built in Marseilles in the 5th century .
Nice is remarkable not only for its beaches, but also for museums. The Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-arts de Nice), the Musée Matisse Museum, the Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall and the Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain are among the mandatory for visiting.
The Cote d Azur is generally rich in sights. Distances between resort towns are small (from Nice to Cannes - 30 km, to Monaco - 10 km), and living in one city, you can see the rest. Interesting are the castle town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the medieval town of Eze, Beaulieu-sur-Mer near Nice, the pine groves in the environs of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. You can also go on a one-day excursion to the "Marinland" (water slides, "sea waves", walks along the seabed among sharks, a show with dolphins and killer whales, a sea museum, an aquarium).
Photos Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (126)