Christmas is coming! Check out our top pick of kid-friendly holiday outings

Foodies this way!

Chocolate and candies over here…

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without its share of chocolates and candies to nibble or sprinkle round the tree while you’re waiting for the 25th – an absolute must especially for the kids! Treat yourself to a feast for the eyes and tastebuds coupled with a great family outing at a local chocolate maker, such as Chocolaterie de Puyricard, near Aix-en-Provence. Visitors enjoy an up-close-and-personal tour of the workshop including chocolate blending, moulding and coating, plus of course a tempting tasting session! Holidaying with all the family in the Southern Alps? You’re in the right place to sample some top-notch honey candies! Pearls of lavender honey, honey with poppy, kiwi or blueberry, and honey lollipops – you’re sure to find something for every taste or pearls at the Apiland shop in Rousset. You can visit the shop after touring the beekeeping museum. If you’re on the Côte d’Azur, we definitely recommend visiting the Confiserie Florian (in Nice or Tourrettes-sur-Loup) bathed in irresistible scents of violet, where fruit and flowers are magicked into sweet treats before your very eyes… This is the perfect place to buy up some candied fruit for the traditional “Gâteau des Rois” Kings’ Cake! You’ll find the recipe here.

Discover

Choose “Made in Sud” chocolates

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par ConfiserieFlorian (@confiserieflorianofficiel)

Santons galore!

In the wings of the local santon workshops

Provence is the cradle of the santon. These small, hand-painted clay figurines portray characters from the Nativity scene (Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings), together with traditional Provencal figures (shepherd, mayor, drummer, fisherman, fishwife, baker and Arlesian lady) or animals (donkey, ox, sheep, camels and even cats). You can find out how they are crafted by visiting one of the local santon workshops such as Santons Fouque in Aix-en-Provence or Santons Marcel Carbonel in Marseille. If you’re visiting the Di Landro santon workshop in Aubagne, don’t miss a tour of the “Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol” museum showcasing 200 santon figurines, created as a tribute to the literary and cinematographic work of Marcel Pagnol.

In the alleys of the local markets and santon fairs

If you want to hunt down THE perfect santons for a tip-top crib scene, you’ll definitely want to visit some of the many Christmas markets and santon fairs on offer in the region. Among the best, the “Salon International des Santonniers d’Arles” has been a meeting place for our finest santon makers since 1958. We love the 100m² animated nativity scene and amateur nativity scene contest. Aix-en-Provence’s yearly santon fair is held on Esplanade Cézanne, while the village of Aubagne welcomes a traditional santon and ceramics market where you can pick up delightful figurines, admire modelling demonstrations and discover the santon maker’s tricks of the trade. We also highly recommend Marseille’s santon fair and Christmas market – France’s oldest santon fair, held on the Old Port (Vieux-Port) since 1803, is still as dazzling as ever! Travelling to the Southern Alps?

Close-up of colourful santons at a santon fair in Provence

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par Maxime Codou (@maxime_codou)

The magic of Christmas with extra wow!

XXL nativity scenes

Our voyage into the magical world of Christmas continues! Every year in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the local santon makers and inhabitants vie to create the most dazzling nativity scene. In La Garde Freinet, passionate santon maker Maxime Codou exhibits a monumental work every year at Chapelle Saint-Jean, featuring no less than 500 santons depicting scenes from traditional everyday village life in Provence. The shop windows and lanes of the southern Alpine village of Serres are a feast for the eyes too: every Christmas during the “Chemin des crèches” celebration, the village is adorned with nativity scenes and figurines based on drawings by ancient santon makers to form a magical decor topped with illuminations. On the Côte d’Azur, the must-see “Circuit des Crèches de Lucéram” has been drawing in large crowds for the last 20 years with over 500 traditional nativity scenes made by local inhabitants exhibited in the village streets. The largest is a whopping 10 metres long!

Flamboyant illuminations

The towns and villages of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur bring the magic of Christmas to life throughout December with a fabulous show of illuminations. Cavaillon is decked out in illuminations, with a different theme every year. La Seyne-sur-Mer is also pulling out all the stops. As is Saint-Tropez, which is making its legendary port sparkle. A special mention goes to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, which has opted for a sustainable approach, with the city’s illuminations designed using recyclable and biodegradable materials. Meanwhile in Nice, the Promenade des Anglais and historic quarter will be lit up with thousands of fairy lights for a guaranteed unanimous WOW!

Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Une publication partagée par MARSEILLE (@villemarseille)