Southern France, also known as the South of France or colloquially in French as le Midi, is a defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin, Spain, the Mediterranean Sea, and Italy. The South of France has an enviable combination of miles of coastline and fertile rural landscapes and has been the inspiration for artists, composers, and writers as well as the new visitor.
The term “South of France” is usually used to describe the southern stretch of the country’s coastline that runs between Spain and Italy and the rural inland areas that include Provence and the Lubéron. With its warm climate, fertile landscape, and developed coastline, it is one of the most regularly-visited parts of Europe.
South of France Cities:
Incredible Places to Visit in the South of France:
- Saint-Tropez.
- Provence.
- Porquerolles Island.
- Cannes.
- Antibes.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
- Nice.
- Monaco.
Saint-Tropez:
Saint-Tropez is famous for its exclusive private beach clubs along the Pampelonne. However, there are many public beaches with excellent facilities. The Plage de Bouillabaisse is a large sandy beach right outside the village’s port.
Places wher celebrities stay in St Tropez:
- Celebrity Glamour at the Hotel de Paris.
- The Serene Oasis of La Reserve Ramatuelle Hotel.
- A touch of French-Oriental at Saint Amour La Tartane Hotel.
- The Provencal Artist Life at La Ponche.
- Old Village Charm at Le Yaca Hotel.
Unsurprisingly, for somewhere as popular as the South of France, there is no shortage of hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and campsites. For a true taste of the area though, stay in one of our recommended boutique hotels. Small and intimate, they are a home from home and turn a basic holiday into a luxury retreat. All of these hotels offer well-designed and contemporary rooms and the service is discreet and impeccable. Good food usually goes hand-in-hand with the cool rooms and public areas – by choosing one of these hotels you’ll be treating yourself to a memorable stay in the South of France.
South of France Beaches:
Best South of France Beaches:
- Cannes is beautiful with an amazing mile long promenade (La Croisette) and deep sandy beaches.
- Valras Plage, near Béziers. Valras Plage.
- Grande Plage, Hendaye. Grande Plage, Hendaye.
- Plage des Marinières, Villefranche-sur-Mer.
- Paloma Beach, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
- Argelès North, Argelès.
- Gruissan Plage, Narbonne.
- Point Zero beach, La Grande-Motte.
- Vias Beach, near Agde.
Tourists will love tanning and swimming amongst the world’s rich and famous at Monaco’s only public beach, Plage du Larvotto in Monte Carlo. The beach itself has small pebbles, is clean and comfortable, and has toilets and showers for guests to use.
The Nice beach is teeny-tiny pebbles, almost bordering on the sand. There are two private beaches, but there’s also a large stretch of public beach. It’s a bit quieter and a ritzier crowd than the main Nice beaches and the protected cove means there are barely any waves.
Provence:
The Provence includes the French Riviera and is famous for its sunny weather, colorful countryside, tradition, wine, food, and language. Its main attractions include the city of Avignon and the wide variety of villages which can be easily explored by car or bicycle on the network country roads and highways. bordering on the Mediterranean: formerly a province; famous for medieval poetry and courtly traditions.
Porquerolles Island:
Porquerolles, also known as the Île de Porquerolles, is an island in the Îles d’Hyères, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France. Its land area is 1,254 hectares and in 2004 its population was about 200. Porquerolles is the largest, most westerly of the three Îles d’Hyères. Wikipedia
How to get to Ile de Porquerolles. Several ferries depart off the coast of the Côte d’Azur year-round, but the shortest ferry ride departs from La Tour Fondue port in the Giens Peninsula.
Cannes:
Cannes, a resort town on the French Riviera, is famed for its international film festival. Its Boulevard de la Croisette, curving along the coast, is lined with sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques, and palatial hotels. Cannes is widely considered the most prestigious film festival in the world, mainly because of its exclusivity and long history of premiering some of the greatest films of all time.
Cannes Film Festival:
Cannes film festival, official name Festival de Cannes, film festival held annually in Cannes, France. … First held in 1946 for the recognition of artistic achievement, the festival came to provide a rendezvous for those interested in the art and influence of the movies. Cannes is unique in that it’s an event largely reserved for film industry professionals and the press. Accreditation, screenings, and entry to official venues are tightly controlled, with the vast majority of the festival off-limits to the general public.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence:
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of Southeastern France. One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, it is well known for its modern and contemporary art museums and galleries such as the Fondation Maeght which is located nearby. Wikipedia
St Paul de Vence is a delightful town set high on a hill with streets that are narrow and the pace of life is slow so the walk around the town is very enjoyable . There are many art shops and a variety of other shops and restaurants. It is not touristy and retains an unspoilt quality.
Nice:
Nice, capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department on the French Riviera, sits on the pebbly shores of the Baie des Anges. Founded by the Greeks and later a retreat for 19th-century European elite, the city has also long attracted artists. Former resident Henri Matisse is honored with a career-spanning collection of paintings at Musée Matisse. Musée Marc Chagall features some of its namesake’s major religious works. ― Google
Nice, the fifth-largest city in France, acts as a magnet attracting people from all over the world, for a multitude of reasons, Not only renowned for its grace, Nice has become a hub for research in industry, science, and advanced technology since the creation of such centers as Acropolis and Sophia Antipolis. This Mediterranean city has a large beach (although it is rocky), beautiful weather, and a relaxed attitude.
Monaco:
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera close to the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe. Bordered by France to the north, east, and west, it is lapped by the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Wikipedia
Monaco, a sovereign city-state on the French Riviera, is known as a “Billionaires’ Playground.” The tiny city-state is famous for its lavish wealth, casinos, and glamorous events such as the Monaco Yacht Show and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Celebrities to spot in Monaco:
- Naomi Campbell.
- Bono. The U2 frontman.
- Leonardo DiCaprio.
- Beyonce & Jay-Z.
- Vanessa Paradis.
- Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button.
- Elton John.
- Kate Moss.
Anyone who is at least 16 years of age and wishes to reside in Monaco for more than three months in a year, or set up home in the Principality, must apply for a residence permit from the Monégasque authorities.
Things to do in South of France:
Best Places to Visit in the South of France:
- French Riviera Seaside Resorts. Beach in Cannes.
- Nice: Art Museums and Beaches. Place Massena in Nice.
- Aix-en-Provence.
- Historic Monuments in Avignon & Arles. .
- Saint-Tropez: A Charming Village with Beautiful Beaches.
- The Upscale Seaside Resort of Biarritz.
- The Walled Medieval Town of Carcassonne.
- Hilltop Villages of Provence.
Best South of France places to stay in 2020: inland Cote d’Azur. Away from the glitz and the glamour of the French Riviera coastline, there is a beautiful inland area, where you can find beautifully restored hilltop villages like Fayence, Chateauneuf-Grasse, and St-Paul-de-Vence.
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