Regions of France

remarkable historical monuments such as the Saint-Michel-Archange Basilica in Menton or the fortified monastery on the Île Saint-Honorat. In the hinterland, nature sparkles in very varied landscapes and protected natural sites. The Mercantour National Park, the Préalpes d’Azur Regional Natural Park, the Var Valley or the Vésubie Valley offer countless ideas for visits and excursions. Discover for example the perched village of Coaraze, or the protohistoric engravings of the Vallée des Merveilles at the foot of Mont Bégo. In the markets of the small villages that inspired many artists, such as Chagall, Matisse or César, you can get to know the region’s terroir and gastronomy. Fougasse, tapenade, Aioli, soupe de poissons and chard pie are all specialties to taste during your stay. Travelling westwards along the coast from the Bay of Cannes, the landscape becomes that bit wilder and the tempo of the French Riviera begins to ease down a couple of gears. This is the gateway to the riches of Provence, most especially the pale pink Rose wines. The Var is renowned for its splendid coastline, its islands and its landscapes of breathtaking beauty and its good weather. Heavenly beaches, hills covered by pine forests, lakes and rivers form an idyllic setting where characterful villages and dynamic towns abide. Inland, in green Provence, an authentic destination of sleepy hamlets awaits the idling traveller. As you pass through Le Lavandou and then arrive at Toulon, the first military port on the Mediterranean Sea, the Côte D’Azur is beginning to reach its conclusion, however, offshore you will discover the wonderful archipelago of the Isles d’Hyeres. If you lust for the empty beaches of the old French Riviera then head for the island of Poquerolles. The final outpost of this glittering coast are the pretty ports of Cassis and Bandol, famous for their beaches and even more so for their wines and liqueurs. Île Sainte-Margherite & Île Saint-Honorat (behind), Cannes The hilltop village of St-Paul de Vence St-Tropez Island bliss on Porquerolles A day without wine is a day without sunshine! ...so goes the anonymous Provencal saying. On the Côte d’Azur the sun invariably shines to the accompaniment of chinking glasses of chilled Provence AC Rosé. Throughout Antiquity, due to trade and invasion, knowledge and awareness of wine spread across the Mediterranean. When the Phocaeans washed up on Provence’s coast in 600 BC, they founded Marseille and ventured deeper into the region, bringing with them their wine culture and ships stocked with ‘light-coloured’ wines which Provence would go on to hone over the centuries, ultimately resulting in the world’s best rosés. 2622 YEARS OF ROSÉ 30