The South : Région Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur - aka PACA

After the Occitanie, let's go just right to the East of Occitanie, to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, on the Mediterranean coast and at the Italian border.
Enjoy the writing of Sophie who is a true lover of this region.

 

As a southerner , there is only one "Sud" - South- to me, it is the Eastern South part of France, and more precisely, Provence.

A beautiful old song, by Nino Ferrer called "Le Sud" starts with those words:

It's a place that looks like Louisiana
Like Italy
There is linen hanging on the terrace
And it's pretty

It looks like the South
Time lasts a long time
As surely life
Over a million years
And always in summer.

This is the South to me.

First, the light is just amazing: no sky is more blue than in Provence, it is no wonder why Cezanne, Van Gogh and so many artists were mesmerized by the place.
The landscape has been sculpted by the weather : trees remain bented by the Mistral (strong wind that clears the sky) ,  one hill succeeds the other, olives trees, lavender, pine trees are an ever changing painting burn by the sun.
Besides what you see, it smells good: the heat, the hot soil, and all the flavours when you go on the markets: spices, fruits, vegetables, olives, lavender, lavender, olives .... GARLIC !

Typical sounds as well : of course, there is the "accent", which is an important part of the cultural heritage of the place. As many accent, when it is heavy, it really is NOT nice, but so typical! And of course, there are plenty of funny expressions there that a parisian will definitely not understand .... Oh, yes, "Parisians" are everyone who live north of the South .... in a cold and rainy place! The other typical sound, when you go there during summer time - May-September- is the sound of the "Cigale" Cicadas- . They are in every single tree: sometimes we have to lunch inside, because outside there are so many of them that we can't hear us talking anymore!
Of course, I could tell you about the beauty of the Mediterranean sea, les Calanques -the Creeks- ,

Of course, I could tell you about the beautiful Marseille with its beautiful Basilica "Notre Dame de la Garde" called "La Bonne Mère" -the Good Mother- which overlooks and protects Marseille and its people, or the Mucem a museum about mediterranean culture

Of course I could tell you about Aix en Provence, with its classical music festival, its Thermes, its beautiful cablestone streets, its amazing art museum in Hôtel de Caumont and its 130 fountains - Water has been an issue in the South for centuries: where there was water, there were people!

 Of course I could tell you about the amazing "La Tropezienne" a pastry that one must try at the pâtisserie Bechard on the Cours Mirabeau (main street in "old" Aix en Provence), the "brioche a sucre glace at the same place, the chocolate at "Chocolaterie de Puyricard" which you may also visit in the nearny village of Puyricard, le calisson, a candy that was born in Aix, the aïoli ( a garlic based dish) and anchoiïade : an anchovy based dish, or the Tapenade: a typical olive paste that goes along so well during "Apéro"with a Pastis, famous French alcool.
Of course,I could tell you about the AMAZING Promenade des Anglais in Nice, or the Old Nice and its so typical and nice Marché du Cours Saleya which smells like flowers and fruits,
Of course, there is Grasse, where flowers are used for perfumes,
Of course there is Biot, where glass is sculpted
Of course there is the sea and its most famous spots like Saint-Tropez
Of course
Of course
Of course...
This area is so large and diverse, that whatever you are looking for you'll find it. There is nothing I can say to make you appreciate it,I believe one has to try it!
During summer time, make sure you pick-up hotel/ appartement with swimming pools especially if you have kids, you may want to check for A/C as well

Enjoy ! I will ;-))

Sophie

The sound of the Cigales, the cicadas

More info on France-voyage website

2 minutes to discover the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region