Monaco - Monte Carlo

You may not miss the Principality Monaco. It starts already with the drive. You have splendid views over the coast line up to miles away. Something further you have already a view at the many yachts and cruising ships. In Monaco itself parking is easy. Worth visiting: the palace and the casino. Here you can admire the many
luxurious cars which are standing in front of the casino. Ferrari's, Maserati's and Porsches. In Monaco itself there are a few nice streets with shops, but also many tourists!

Cannes

Cannes is one of the mundane resorts at the Cote d'Azur. Famous are the hotels Carlton and Majestic, which dominate the boulevard and giving it its characteristic view. The boulevard is several miles long and it is a pleasure to walk there and stroll. The most beaches are pay-beaches and pay attention to what you order; 10 a 15 euro for a beer is normal. There are two public beaches (see photograph left above). Famous is also the film festival of Cannes. You can see then several moviestars at the boulevard. If you go into one of the side streets of the the boulevard you arrive in the old centre. There is a very nice shopping street running parallel to the boulevard. Cannes never bores; not even in the winter.

Nice

Nice - Port

Nice - Phare

Nice - A?rodrome

Nice is a beautiful city, but less spectacular than Cannes. The airport, which serves the complete South coast, is famous. Nice has a beautiful port and beautiful houses. It is nice to drive along the port if you go
to Monaco. But it is not a city to walk through; a bit boring and no excitement.

Antibes

Antibes is a peninsula between Cannes and Nice, on which the beautiful Juan les Pins is located. It is quite crowded in the summer; the streets are narrow, but causy. There are free clean beaches with showers; you can dive and waterski. The free shuttle 'navette' drives through Juans les Pins and Antibes. Up to 1 June and after for 1 October parking is free. There are many nice restaurants at the beach. We recommend Le Perroquet and
Byou Plage (directly at sea with large terrace). Furthermore there are beautiful shops with fashion and jewels, a casino and much more. You must certainly have seen Antibes. At the point Cap d'Antibes it is more quiet. The sea here can be very rough.

Saint Tropez

In fact there are many more beautiful places along the coast than Saint Tropez. But Saint Tropez is equal to "watch and being watched". The one miljonair tries to make his fellow neighbour jealous with a still more beautiful yacht. It is nice to stroll along the port and watch the yachts and their owners. If you drive a bit further you end up at the may pay beaches where you watch many gorgeous fotomodels. The port has been the setting for many films. Brigitte Bardot lives here and Louis de Funes became famous as the Gendarme of St Tropez.

Grasse

Grasse

Parfummuseum

Parfum & Eau de Toilette

Grasse is known as 'the centre of the parfum '. Already for centuries parfum essences are being made out of flowers. But besides parfum it also a very nice city with many small streets, narrow passages and high houses. There are many special shops where you can buy the parfums and the eau de toilettes. And of course there are flowers everywhere! Visit the parfummuseum of Fragonard or the parfumfactory of Molinard.

Saint Paul de Vence

Saint Paul de Vence

Saint Paul de Vence - Centre

From the coast it is an hour drive to this village. The village is famous for the many artists who live there. You find there many workshops, galeries and shops, where you can buy all kinds of art.

Porquerolles

Porquerolles is an island before the coast at Toulon. An oasis of rest and nice to visit a day. Some movies have been made here such as Maigret of Georges Simenon.

Route Napoleon

The Route Napoleon runs from Grenoble to Cannes and leads you by means of a number of mountain-passes along the most beautiful pieces of France. Between Castellane and Grasse many fossils are being found (amonites), which you can buy there also.

Lubéron

Take a nice walkingtour along the mountains with their red and yellow ochre colours to the Gorges du Regalon. High plateaus varying with cedar bunches, gorges and hills. The Lubéron is famous for the change of colours, the treasure to nature and it cultural and historical past, which you encounter everywhere in the boroughs and museums. In the Lubéron you find the fragrance of thyme, lavender and marjoram. It is the paradise for walkers. You make the most beautiful excursions in spring and autumn when it is not yet too warm.

Mont Ventoux - Château de Mazan

The Mont Ventoux is also being called the bald mountain. The mountain is known from the Tour de France and is therefore popular amongst cyclists. The North - and south side of the mountain differ 180 degrees. Situated near Carpentras, the Mont Ventoux is 25km long and 15 km wide. With its 1912m the Mont Ventoux dominates the complete Provence. Temperatures can vary between +40 and -30°. From the summit you have one of the most extensive panoramas of Europe. At the foot of the mountain is the the castle of Marquis de Sade: Château de Mazan, which is nowadays a luxurious hotel. Nice to visit.

Les Gorges du Verdon - Grand Canyon

Les Gorges du Verdon is also being called the European Grand Canyon. The river the Verdon ends up in the weir-lake of Le Lac de Sainte Croix, where you enjoy water sports. The gorges are breathtaking beautiful. There are roads at the plateaus along the gorges, from where you have fantastic views like on the photograph above. The excursion by car lasts 3 to 4 hours; but is certainly worth it. Twice per week the weirs are being opened and the small river turns into a a swirling mass, at which you can enjoy rafting. Along the river there are walkingtracks, which can last several days. Only for well trained hikers.

Gorges de Daluis & Cians - Entrevaux

Entrevaux is located at the main road in the Vallée du Var, which is part of the route of the grandes Alpes, which takes you amongst others to the Gorges de Daluis and Gorges de Cians. The citadel lies 135 m above the village and is now publicly accessible. It is a pleasure to stray through the steep narrow streets. Also visit the former cathedral, which is part of the citadel.

Les Demoiselles Coiffées de Pontis

Les Demoiselles Coiffées de Pontis, translated "the hairdressed young ladies", is an unique formed rockformation at the South bank of the lake of Serre-Poncon.

Ardèche

The Ardèche is the name of a department (province) and a river. The region is of the most popular holiday destinations and is easily accessible from the motorway Autoroute du Soleil. The 120 km long river is fascinating with its rapids, which makes canoeing a real challenge. Canoeing is difficult and therefore only to be advised for youngsters (no kids) and adults with a good condition. Along the river there are the most beautiful gorges of France, a lot of beaches and many naturist campsites. The starting point of the gorges is the well-known Pont d'Arc near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc (an "arc bridge", created by nature over the river). The river discharges into the Rhône near Pont-Saint-Esprit. Pont-Saint-Esprit is a nice village to visit for an hour.

Camargue

The Camargue is of the largest nature parks of Europe. It is in fact the river delta of the Rhône, which ends in the Mediterranean sea. There are 400 different species. There are a number of big lakes with brackish water. The Camargue is famous for its flamingos, wild horses and bulls. It is a fantastic view; a lake with thousands of pink flamingos. There are a number of observation-points, where you can observe birds in the wild. The Camargue has a surface of approximately 1000 km2. The largest lake is called the Lake of Vaccarès. Activities: salt-making, wine-growing and rice growing. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a small seaside village in the middle of the Camargue where all gypsies from Europe meet periodically to celebrate and to honour the virgin Mary. In the west the Camargue is bounded by the medieval bastide Aigues-Mortes; centainly worthwile visiting. This borough was situated long ago at the seashore, but because of silting up it is now situated a few kilometers from the coast.

Tourist sites