Hyères les Palmiers - Presqu'île de Giens

The 5 top new musts in South of France!

At last, Spring is here and along with it an enjoyable programme in Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’Azur! Cultural escapades, hikes in nature or architectural discoveries, you won’t be disappointed. And for those of you who just can’t wait, here are the 5 top Spring events not to be missed.

The Cosquer cave: a prehistoric gem

Fancy a trip back in time? Discovered in the1990s by the diver Henri Cosquer, the Cosquer cave is in the Calanques, 37 metres below sea level and is home to no less than 500 exceptional wall paintings. To protect this unparalleled heritage from global warming and make it accessible to everyone, the Région Sud had an ultra-faithful reproduction of la Grotte Cosquer constructed in the Villa Méditerranée in the heart of Marseille. An ideal outing for all ages: penguins, seals, bison and stencilled hands take you back to a time 33,000 years ago!

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When Nice joins UNESCO World Heritage

And what if Spring was the perfect opportunity to wander along the Promenade des Anglais? Nissa la Bella has earned itself a place among UNESCO’s World Heritage sites so why not make the most of the good weather to (re)discover it? The capital of the Côte-d’Azur has a stunning architectural heritage. Its palaces, colourful facades, palm trees, mansions, the view plunging into the blue Mediterranean… there are so many reasons you’ll want to scour its little paved streets and its sunny squares. Recognized as an “exceptional universal value“, the city of Nice has received the title of “winter stay town of the“. With its rich European and cosmopolitan history, the City of the Angles will charm you with its multi-faceted architectural, landscape and urban heritage!

Le temps des secrets: Pagnol’s hommage to his home, Provence

Spring is the best season to escape in Provence, don’t you think? Follow in the footsteps of Marcel Pagnol, the paragon of literature (among other things!) who left as a gift a lovely episode of his life and youth in Provence. After “Le Château de ma mère” and “La Gloire de mon père”, here is Le Temps des Secrets, the third volume of the novelist’s memories. From Marseille to Aubagne and Allauch, the shooting locations will take you back to the Provence of yesteryear filled with an authenticity which will warm the cockles of your heart. Walk along the trails of the Colline de l’Etoile or Le Garlaban, discover the Château de la Buzine … Take a leap in time, be a child again and above all live in the present moment!

Read the interview of Christophe Barratier

Culture and landscape in the City of the Palm trees

The Bank holiday weekends in May are the perfect opportunity to get to know the town of Hyères-les-Palmiers a bit better. Well-known for its beautiful beaches, its wild peninsula and its îles d’Or, the town has carved itself a name in cultural circles. You all know the Villa Noailles, perched on the heights, a place that takes you into a world where design and fashion set the pace. Next, you need to stop off in the middle of the town: after a lunch break on Place Georges Clémenceau, head for the former Banque de France. This remarkable building is home to the Musée des Cultures et du Paysage: a blend of winter stays and summer tourism to give pride of place to collections of restored fine arts. Take some time to do the permanent circuit but don’t forget to go down to the vault for the temporary exhibitions!

Underwater archaeological gems in the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Head for the Camargue where a fantastic historical heritage had lain dormant for centuries. Many marvels were swallowed up by the water under the Rhône. After thousands of years’ slumber in one of the largest ancient harbours of the Mediterranean, the most beautiful items found by divers will be shown to the public. Discover the town’s Musée d’Archéologie Sous-marine et de l’Histoire. In this new cultural hot-spot, history and modernity come together to offer you a unique moment of discovery. The only one of its kind, researchers and archaeologists came across the largest concentration of Roman shipwrecks ever to be found. Just imagine it, a treasure like this hidden just under the nose of the people of Arles! Let’s go for a weekend in Camargue and take some time to discover this new style of museum!