The generous warmth of Provence, the assertive character of the Alps and the vibrant sparkle of the Côte d’Azur. In Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, each area has its own lifestyle.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Lifestyle
Provence
The Sweet Life
Provençal lifestyle is often synonymous with clichés. It conjures up endless pétanque games on little village squares, pastis in hand under the scorching sun. Exuberant women and men with a singsong accent, like in Marcel Pagnol‘s novels. These clichés have an element of truth: the people of Provence are whole-hearted and generous thanks to the mild weather of the southern climate, which favours socialising. From the Camargue wilderness to Saint-Tropez, via Marseille, the Provençaux like to share a good meal cooked with local produce or sweet delights. And to meet up for a drink, lulled by the gentle warmth of the summer evenings or the noise of the waves. Here, you’ll learn to take your time. And enjoy each moment.
Parc Naturel Régional QueyrasParc Naturel Régional Queyras|
Alpes
The Authentic
The people of the Alps draw their strength of character from the region’s raw nature and wild isolated reliefs. From the Parc National des Écrins to the Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras, the least populated in France, the locals respect their land, where an exemplary eco-tourism has blossomed. By developing wood handicrafts and ceramics, crafts which have always existed here, they learned to make the most of the precious natural resources of their area. In the Alps, nature, men and relationships with others are authentic. Here there is no artifice or pretence. In the many homegrown country bistrots, you can have a bite of simple flavourful specialities like cheese, fumetons (sheep jerky) from the Ubaye and tourtons (beignets) from the Vallée du Champsaur.
Côte d’Azur
Sea, Sun and Sparkle
Welcome to a world where leisure and life’s pleasures are king. The Côte d’Azur is synonymous with celebrations, laughter and rhinestones. Here, showing off is an art form, the art of not taking yourself too seriously. By day, on the beaches and ports’ terraces bathed in bright light, you can watch the golden reflections of the sea shimmer as sailing boats and yachts glide by. In Cannes, Antibes, Nice, and Menton, you can eat salade niçoise and pissaladières in a good-humoured atmosphere. Lush vegetation, colourful flowers and the scents of perfume are never far away. When evening comes, you can try your luck at the casino and dance on rooftop terraces or at trendy bars, indulging in the Côte d’Azur’s decadence until dawn.
