On the Cote d'Azur sunny days of the year. When is the best time to go on vacation to the Cote d'Azur? Fragonard Perfume Museum

Stately palm trees, tropical flowers, snow-white yachts, spacious golf courses, magnificent sandy beaches, luxurious villas - this is the bohemian southeast coast of France, the Cote d'Azur, stretching for 300 km as a string of fashionable resorts from Marseille to Menton, including the enclave state of Monaco. In our article on the Tour Calendar you will find out why the best time for a holiday on the French Riviera is from mid-May to the end of October.

Tourist season on the Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur of France needs no introduction for a long time. One of the most prestigious resorts in the world began to receive its esteemed guests at the beginning of the 20th century: members of royal families, European and Russian aristocrats, famous writers and artists were the first to choose these places. By the way, the Cote d'Azur got its name thanks to the writer. It was a certain Stefan Liezhar, who once published a novel of the same name. A magnificent warm climate, picturesque landscapes, a huge variety of entertainment, first-class service, a myriad of sights of the past centuries and at the same time a lot of attributes of modern luxurious life - all this annually attracts about 10 million tourists here - the darlings of fate, belonging to the world elite: celebrities, tanned models in revealing bikinis, politicians, businessmen and "golden youth" come here not only in summer but also in winter.

High season

In May, millions of tourists begin to flock en masse to the Cote d'Azur, bringing with them thick bundles of euros. It's too early to swim, but the established warm weather just favors VIP-rest. If you come here from May to September, don't even count on good prices, unless, of course, you belong to the cream of society. For restaurants, villas, cocktails in nightclubs, fabulous sums of money go, not to mention such serious forms of entertainment as a picnic on a yacht, playing in a casino or golf. The amount of the average bill in a bar amazes the fragile minds of ordinary tourists. For a simple cup of coffee, you will have to pay from 10 to 20 euros. There are unrealistically many people in the high season: it is during this period of time that the lion's share of concerts, festivals and bohemian parties falls. In May, during the entire Cannes Film Festival, real madness is going on in the "summer capital": eminent stars land in droves in the city, and zealous fans create unprecedented turmoil, trying to get their autograph. It is clear that a beach holiday during this period will go down the drain. However, do not think that we dissuade you from your, perhaps, dream of visiting Cannes, Nice or Saint-Tropez during the holiday season, because here, as in any corner of the world, you can relax on a budget, you just need to know how. Every year about 150,000 Russian tourists come to the Cote d'Azur, and not all of them have tight wallets. Recently, bus tours across Europe with a stop at the Italian and French Riviera have become very popular. Of course, such a trip implies a minimum stay at a particular resort, but you can see everything at once.

low season

The low season starts somewhere from the end of October right after the end of the velvet season. As the air temperature begins to gradually drop, the daylight hours shorten, and the first rains begin to fall, the majority of vacationers return home. At this time, prices for accommodation in hotels, entertainment, excursions are reduced in places. For example, some villas can be rented for half the amount stated in summer. Yes, and the calculation is possible not on a weekly basis, but on a monthly basis. As a rule, this method of payment allows you to save a lot. And although it will not be possible to swim in the low season, from November to April, on the Cote d'Azur, every tourist will find something to their liking here. After all, the French Riviera is not only amazing beaches and the gentle Mediterranean Sea, but also ancient history and culture that has come down to our days in the form of preserved ancient fortresses, temples and monuments. The Côte d'Azur is an ideal place for yachting, especially in winter. The weather is mostly warm, there are no severe colds. In addition, renting a yacht and getting a place in the marina is much easier than in summer - you don’t have to “compete” with millionaires in your desire. In winter, guests of the coast have fun not only in nightclubs, but also through regularly arranged holidays, which will be discussed below. You can also “dilute” your stay at the resort with a trip to the ski centers on the slopes of the Alpes-Maritimes, which is an hour's drive from Nice. Summing up, I would like to say that a winter holiday on the French Riviera has no less advantages than a summer one.

Beach season on the Cote d'Azur

The opening of the beach season falls on the last days of May. This month, frankly, the water is still very cold - within +16 °C..+18 °C. However, the beaches of the Cote d'Azur are so well-groomed and comfortable that even just lying on them brings tremendous pleasure. By mid-June, most of the holidaymakers already have time to open the swimming season - the water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea is approximately +21 ° C to +22 ° C. At the height of summer, you can see a large number of couples with children on the beaches. The established moderately hot weather contributes to the warming of the sea off the coast to 24 °C..+25 °C. The evenings are no longer cold, most likely cool - about +18 °C .. +19 °C, so with the onset of twilight there is no need to hurry back to the hotel.

Velvet season on the Cote d'Azur

If you come to the Côte d'Azur in September, you will be rewarded with pleasant sunny weather and a "tolerable" crowd of tourists. The southeastern coast of France is the warmest in the entire country, its climate allows you to swim here for almost the entire month. The summer heat subsides, but the sea still remains warm - within +21 °C .. +24 °C. The only thing that can overshadow such a resort idyll is sudden showers, since from the beginning of autumn the amount of precipitation increases to approximately 6 rainy days. But you must admit that this figure is too small, besides, it rains for a couple of hours at most. In some years, it is possible to swim even in the first few days of October, because the water temperature at the beginning of this month is often +19 °C..+22 °C. However, precipitation can disrupt your plans, and the likelihood of this happening in mid-autumn is quite high.

The best time for excursions

Almost all the cities of the Cote d'Azur had a long history behind them before they became fashionable resorts. So, the current Nice, the summer seaside residence of the French, in the past was in the possession of the Italian kingdom, and the movie star city of Saint-Tropez for a long time was a simple fishing village, having previously been part of the Fraxinet Muslim base. In this regard, in the resorts you can find a lot of interesting tourist sites that have a "plaque of antiquity". The Cote d'Azur is also a little-known medieval towns, cozy provincial villages, from which comes an incredible originality. Many will be interested in going to Grasse, where perfume factories and the Perfume Museum are located. It is enough just to move a little away from the beach line inland, as a completely different picture appears to the eye: olive groves and lush gardens descending to the sea like an amphitheater, spacious parks and picturesque mountain steeps, glades and clearings dotted with many outlandish flowers. All the resort towns of the French Riviera are located close to each other; by car, you can drive around almost the entire coast in a day. It is better to start such mini-travels at the end of April, from the second half of May (bypassing Cannes) to the beginning of June, as well as in September and October. At this time, there are not so many people in the resorts as in the midst of the tourist season.

carnival season

Event tourism is very well developed on the Cote d'Azur. About 4,000 holidays are celebrated here every year. The brightest of them are carnivals. In February, all attention is focused on Nice, illuminated by the soft rays of the gentle sun and the joyful smiles of the townspeople and tourists who arrived at the grandiose carnival, which has been taking place in the resort for more than seven centuries. In terms of importance and scope, it is on a par with the Venetian and Brazilian carnivals. His most colorful action is the “Flower Battle”, as well as the procession of giant papier-mâché dolls. The carnival lasts for 18 days, during this time the city is visited by about 1 million tourists.

Time for holidays and festivals

A rather bright holiday in the event calendar of the Côte d'Azur is the Citrus Festival in Menton, in a city where lemons bear fruit without ceasing for a whole year. Orange castles, grapefruit palaces, figures made of lemons - at least 130 tons of fruit are spent to arrange a holiday. One of the holidays that have a strong association with the French Riviera is the Cannes Film Festival. In mid-May, the entire world's elite elite comes to this small town to compete for the main prize of the Palme d'Or. On carnival days, the Cannes authorities receive up to 130,000 people. Around the same time, Monaco becomes the domain of the rich for a few days, who come here in their Alfa Romeos, Mustangs or Ferraris in order to witness the exciting Monaco Grand Prix race. In July, Nice welcomes the oldest Jazz Festival in France, the first concerts of which were performed back in 1948. It has an international reputation and attracts several hundred thousand spectators each time.

Sale season

By and large, shopping on the Cote d'Azur is the lot of the rich. For a thousand euros, you can buy only a couple of little things here, and even then they are not of a global nature. But still, few people can resist buying at least something, even if not significant, as a keepsake during the sales season. So, in winter, discounts should be expected from the second week of January, and in summer - from the second week of July. Sales run approximately 4-5 weeks.

Climate on the Cote d'Azur

The Cote d'Azur is "under the wing" of the subtropical climate of the Mediterranean type. It has the warmest climate in all of France, and the sun shines for 300 days a year. Summer is very warm, sometimes even hot, but due to the low level of humidity and the wind rose, high temperatures are tolerated quite easily. Winter is mild but rainy.

Cote d'Azur in spring

In April, on the French Riviera, despite the fact that "outside the window" is spring, it is summer-like warm

Spring on the Cote d'Azur is perhaps the most beautiful time of the year. It comes here already in the first days of March, making itself felt by a slight increase in temperatures and an increase in the number of hours of sunshine. It still rains, which can lead to temporary cold snaps, but in general it is very warm here at this time. Nature gradually wakes up and renews its colors: the towns of the village are enveloped in a light green haze of young greenery, and the meadows are covered with colorful flower carpets. Next month, the thermometer reaches +18 °C, on especially fine days it freezes at +20 °C. In April, nature is already raging with might and main with bright colors in all the colors of the rainbow. Flowers, flowers and more flowers. There is just a wonderful aroma in the air. Solar activity is increasing, and the amount of precipitation, on the contrary, is on the decline. But it's too early to relax - in the late afternoon the air cools down to about +14 °C..+16 °C. May is the beginning of the high tourist season, this is due not only to the cultural events of the coast, but also to the prevailing weather here: during the day from +20 °C .. to +22 °C, and in the evening not lower than +17 °C .. +18 ° C. The last month of spring can still bring a few rainy days, but the closer the summer, the more restrained the weather becomes for precipitation.

Temperature and weather on the Cote d'Azur in spring

Cote d'Azur in summer

Summer on the Cote d'Azur is very warm. In June, the resorts are still not hot at all, the evenings are even cool. However, from the first days of this month, dry weather reigns. On the strength of 5 days of June can be marked by intermittent rains. It is at this time that the swimming season officially opens: the average water temperature this month in the resorts can range from +19 ° C to 21 ° C. In July and August, at the peak of the season, the sun shines for 12 hours a day, which leads to the fact that at midday the air heats up to +27 °C .. +28 °C, and sometimes even crosses the mark of +30 °C As a rule, the weather in Marseille is slightly hotter than in Nice and Cannes. Fortunately, the climate of the Côte d'Azur is characterized by tramontana sea breezes, the breath of which is felt almost constantly. So such high climatic indicators are perceived by the body quite comfortably. The water in the sea is very warm, the evenings delight with "democratic" air temperatures, at which it is impossible to freeze.

Temperature and weather on the Côte d'Azur in summer

Cote d'Azur in autumn

September in the resorts of the French Riviera is the velvet season. While in many cities of the country the weather is already getting worse, here tourists continue to enjoy all the gifts of the outgoing summer. Quite comfortable temperatures are set during the day - just what is needed for children's rest and those who do not tolerate heat well. Solar activity has already slowed down, so people with white skin should not worry. On the first days of the week of the month, you can swim quite calmly - the water temperature will stay at levels from +21 ° C to + 24 ° C, but closer to its end, the transparent blue of the sky will increasingly be replaced by clouds. October weather, although warm for the middle of the "golden time", is partly rainy. Therefore, no one can predict her character at this time. If it’s still cold for the beach, then for long walks along the sea promenade, you can’t imagine a better time. In November, a lazy-drowsy atmosphere reigns in the resorts. No one is in a hurry, life flows in a measured sequence. The average air temperature no longer rises above +17 °C, but it is quite enough to enjoy a cup of coffee in an outdoor cafe. But only during the day, because after sunset it gets colder - up to about +8 ° C.

Temperature and weather on the Côte d'Azur in autumn

Cote d'Azur in winter

Winter on the French Riviera is very warm, although not devoid of precipitation. However, they fall only in the form of rain. In Cannes, Nice, Saint-Tropez and other seaside resorts on the coast, snow is considered an anomaly. But in the mountains it lies steadily. There from December to March is the height of the ski season. By the way, due to the fact that the Alps border the Cote d'Azur on the northern side, cold, dank winds do not penetrate its territory at all. During the day, the average air temperature is about +12 °C..+13 °C, rarely falling below +10 °C, and in the evening, even in the coldest month of the year, in January, it stays at around +4 °C. The winter in Sunny Beach is so mild that mimosas bloom everywhere in February. On some days the temperature reaches +20 °C, at which time many restaurants serve their guests outdoors.

Temperature and weather on the Côte d'Azur in winter

Holidays on the Cote d'Azur are famous not only for the attributes of luxury and the surrounding amazing landscapes, but also for the very warm and sunny climate with good weather throughout the year. However, you can swim for only 4 months, so the best time for a spa holiday is June and the first three weeks of September. In July and August, the water is the warmest, but this is the "hot season". The second half of spring and the first half of autumn are ideal for excursions. Tour-Calendar hopes that the information provided by us was extremely useful to you.

Oh this South! Oh, this Nice!.. Oh, how their brilliance disturbs me!

F. I. Tyutchev (1864)

Cote d'Azur No wonder it got its name: there is almost always a blue sky, a blue sea and flowers bloom all year round. In the dense greenery of evergreen trees and shrubs, graceful villas and luxurious hotels, huge resort buildings turn white.

The main city of the Cote d'Azur - Nice was founded in the 3rd century. BC e. Greek colonists from Marseille. Then Nice became the capital of an independent county, repeatedly passed from hand to hand, and only in 1860 finally joined France. At that time it was a small quiet town, famous for its healing warm climate. Those suffering from pulmonary diseases came here to be treated, English aristocrats and Russian landowners, whom the French called boyars, rested. Alexander Herzen spent the last years of his life in Nice. Here he is buried, and there is a monument on his grave.

In the 19th century vacationers came to Nice in autumn and winter, when it is warm but not hot. Doctors recommended them walks along the embankment in a carriage or on foot, sometimes sand baths. Long exposure to the sun was then considered dangerous, sunburn was indecent, and the beaches were empty.

Only after the First World War did it become fashionable to sunbathe on the beach for a long time according to the American model, and summer became the main season for relaxing on the Cote d'Azur. Nice and other towns Cote d'Azur - Antibes, Cannes, Saint-Tropez- turned into the most fashionable resorts, where aristocrats and bourgeois gathered, where millionaires and movie stars built villas.

In 1936, as a result of the victory of the Popular Front and the introduction of two-week paid holidays, workers and employees for the first time got the opportunity to rest on Cote d'Azur, infuriating wealthy resort regulars. After that, part of the bourgeois public stopped going to Cote d'Azur, although in general the number of tourists there has increased significantly.

In modern Nice a lot of greenery, parks and squares. Not far from the city is a large mimosa forest. The tall mimosa trees growing on the slopes of the hills are already covered with bright fluffy yellow balls of flowers in January.

Pride Nice- its embankment - "the English promenade". It stretches along a beautifully curved shore bays of angels bordered by a narrow pebble beach. Tall, slender palms grow on green lawns; between them, replacing each other, flowers bloom all year round. Luxurious hotels, restaurants, shops stand as a solid wall, elegant rich people walk around, cars move in a continuous stream.

In summer, the population of Nice and the entire Côte d'Azur increases many times over. On Cote d'Azur about 15 million tourists come. They fill the beaches to capacity, pour into the streets in a dense crowd. Half of the campers live in tents or rent tiny rooms for a high fee. The water near the beaches turns from blue and transparent to brown. Some excessively polluted beaches have to be closed. Living on the Cote d'Azur is difficult then, but still it attracts holidaymakers like a magnet, because Cote d'Azur is a guarantee of good weather, sunny days and warm southern sea.

Carnival is held every year in Nice. Once upon a time, carnivals and processions of mummers were a favorite folk entertainment in the villages. Provence. Now they are almost gone; Carnival in Nice is organized by the city authorities and is primarily for commercial purposes.

The main part of the carnival is the procession of giant puppets set in motion by the actors. They are transported in trucks; they twirl their monstrous papier-mâché heads, shout something into the microphone, sing. Music is blaring, multi-colored lights are glowing, squads of boys and girls in smart uniforms are marching. Rockets take off into the sky, and, of course, all kinds of goods are offered to the public: from cheap whistles and balloons to jewelry in rich stores.

Cote d'Azur - not all Provence. Its other part, fenced off from the sea by mountains, is not at all like the Cote d'Azur: it is a modest, strict, almost harsh land. The mountains scorched by the sun are covered with sparse vegetation, thickets of shrubs, and sparse grass. Small villages crowd around the valleys, where you can find a piece of comfortable land. Residents grow grapes, olives, almonds, figs; in some places they sow wheat, but their main occupation is the breeding of goats and sheep.

The capital of Provence and the whole south of France - Marseilles, the third largest and perhaps the oldest city in France. It was founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. BC e., that is, not only before the Roman, but also before the Celtic conquest. Marseille grew up and became rich on maritime trade with the East: with India, China, the Levant, North Africa, and then with Russia. Marseilles- a sunny, white, beautiful city - in many ways resembles its sister city - Odessa. The same combination of ebullient activity and cheerful nonchalance, a noisy southern crowd, a special accent, local jokes, the smells of the port and the sea. The oldest part of the city - the Old Port - is a narrow, bordered by granite rectangular embankments, a strip of water densely crowded with ships. It used to be the commercial port of Marseille, but now it is reserved only for fishermen, yachtsmen and tourists.

The cargo berths of modern Marseille, stretching for tens of kilometers, have been taken out of the Old Port and dispersed in several places. The largest of them is located in the town of Foz, west of Marseille. It serves a giant metallurgical plant, which was built with the participation of the Soviet Union.

The Old Port is full of life. A forest of masts is visible from a distance. These are yachts, sailing boats and boats. They are repaired, painted, launched. In summer, on the embankment, right from the boats, fishermen sell live fish, octopuses, shrimps, squids. Rows of restaurants and restaurants stretch along the Old Port embankment. They cook "bouillabaisse" - Marseille's culinary "specialty" - a special soup made from different varieties of fish, shrimp and shells. From the Old Port, tourist ships deliver passengers to Isle of If- the place of imprisonment of the hero of the novel Dumas count Monte Cristo. On a small flat island there is an old castle, and in it a former prison - a row of deaf stone bags without windows, where not only literary characters, but also real people languished for many years. White limestone coastal rocks are clearly visible from the fortress walls; below them, deep below, is transparent, blue-green, bottomless water. From here, the corpses of dead prisoners sewn into bags were dumped directly into the sea. As you know, it was in this way, pretending to be dead, that the hero Dumas escaped Edmond Dantes, the future Count of Monte Cristo.

Not far from the Old Port, on the mountain, rises the Church of Our Lady of the Guardian - Notre Dame de la Garde, patroness of sailors and fishermen. Its bell tower is crowned with a huge gilded statue of the Mother of God, which is illuminated by powerful searchlights at night and is visible from the sea for many kilometers. It has long served as a kind of beacon that showed sailors the way to Marseilles. Many models of ships and aircraft are hung on the walls of the church. Candles are burning around them. These are the offerings of believers who escaped from a sea or air disaster and made a vow of gratitude to the Guardian Mother of God. At the top of the mountain, from the foot of the church, a wide panorama of the Marseille bay, the mountains surrounding it and small islands, scattered among the deep blue southern sea, opens up.

West of Marseille, along the Mediterranean coast, is located Languedoc- agricultural, and mainly wine-growing area. Ancient cities of Languedoc - Nimes, Montpellier, Narbonne, Carcassonne- relatively small: 50 - 100 - 200 thousand inhabitants. Almost all of them lie on the ancient route from Italy to Spain, which ran between the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains of the Massif Central.

Languedoc- the kingdom of vineyards and cheap table wine. The processing and harvesting of grapes is largely mechanized. Harvested grapes are immediately sent to factories. Huge tank trucks deliver finished wines to consumers throughout France. At the end of the XIX century. The grape aphid, phylloxera, brought from America, almost completely destroyed the vineyards of Languedoc. Only after great efforts were bred resistant to it, high-yielding, but giving wine of medium quality grape varieties. From one hectare of vineyard in Languedoc get up to 8 thousand liters of wine - more than in any other area. 85% of Languedoc winemakers own small plots, no more than 5 hectares, but large farms play a decisive role in wine production.

Languedoc known for its democratic and revolutionary traditions. In 1907, his vine growers raised an uprising, which was joined by the soldiers of the 17th regiment stationed in Narbonne. The authorities crushed the uprising, but in France they still sing a song about the soldiers of the 17th regiment, and Languedoc is called the "red South" because its inhabitants traditionally vote for leftist parties. Between Languedoc and Provence, where Rhone, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea, forms a vast swampy delta, there is an area Camargue, which is considered the most deaf and wild corner of France.

Previously, malaria raged in the swamps of the Camargue, and only a few shepherds, hunters and fishermen lived. Now part of the swamps have been drained and turned into pastures, where herds and herds of semi-wild horses roam freely. A significant part of the Camargue has been declared a nature reserve; rare species of animals and birds are preserved there, which, like flamingos, are not found in any other region of France. The Camargue is also the South, but completely different from either Provence or Languedoc.

© Based on the book by V.P. Smirnov "France: traditions, people, impressions"

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How many sunny days do you think there is on average in Sydney, Australia? 340 - that's how much. The best time there is during spring (which starts in November) and during the summer in Australia it can get quite hot, so being close to the beach is not a luxury but a necessity.

Loja (Ecuador)

If there is a place on the equator that has perfect weather, it is Loja, a small (130 thousand people) town in Ecuador. It is located in the mountains (2.4 thousand meters), which is why the climate there is mild all year round, without the deadly heat in summer and cold nights in winter. The average annual temperature fluctuates around 22 degrees Celsius.

Oahu (Hawaii, USA)

Returning to the theme of the islands - Hawaii is perhaps the most civilized place in the Pacific Ocean (because the United States), but, contrary to popular belief, the sun does not always shine there. Oahu is an exception to this rule - there is the maximum number of sunny days in a year, so if you are going to Hawaii for your honeymoon, you know which island to choose.

Saint Tropez Resort

The Côte d'Azur has about 300 sunny days a year. As a result, there are mild warm winters and cool summers.

About a third of the entire coast of the Cote d'Azur is occupied by beaches. There are pebble, sandy, and beaches of nearby islands. If you need a developed infrastructure, it is better to choose a paid beach (from € 15 to € 80).

Rich bouillabaisse, fragrant ratatouille and thick tapenade... If these names do not mean anything to you, pack your bags immediately. After all, we are talking about the famous cuisine of Provence, not to appreciate which is a serious gastronomic crime. Don't forget to try Pied-et-paque - stuffed leg of lamb and sheep's stomach in white wine.

What food in France is complete without a glass of exquisite red or delicate white? On the Cote d'Azur there is always a large selection of good wines. If you are traveling alone, order a Kir (a cocktail of white wine and currant liqueur) at the bar and you will quickly have company.

5. Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Here is one of the oldest aquariums in Europe and the richest collection of marine life: 6,000 species of fish, 200 species of invertebrates and 100 species of tropical corals.

6. Music festivals

The Côte d'Azur hosts the annual Sidney Bechet Memorial Jazz Festival, the Menton Chamber Music Festival, the Nice Sacred Music Festival, the Pantiero Electronic Music Festival in Cannes, and many others.

7. Concerts

Famous bands and performers constantly give concerts here. Coldplay will visit Nice in May, Enrique Iglesias will visit Monaco in July, and Madonna will visit Monaco in August.

The Casino de Monte-Carlo

Almost every city on the Cote d'Azur has its own casino. The most famous is in Monte Carlo.

9. Nightclubs and restaurants

Grab a cocktail at the billionaire favorite Jimmy's in Monaco, or visit the mecca of playboys at Cave du Roi in Saint-Tropez. Don't forget to bring a couple of platinum credit cards with you, a €30,000 bottle of champagne is common in these places.

10. Cannes Film Festival

One of the oldest (first held in 1946) and the most prestigious film festivals in the world every year gathers hundreds of directors, actors and movie fans on its red carpet. Starts at the end of May.

11. Formula 1

The Monaco Grand Prix is ​​rightfully considered the most prestigious stage of Formula 1 racing. On the eve of the races on the streets of Monaco, all hatches are welded, as they tend to fly out. The race starts at the end of May.

12. UEFA Super Cup

At the end of August, Monaco turns into the football capital. It hosts the UEFA Super Cup, in which the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the winner of the Europa League meet.

13. Hall Garnier

The famous building of the Salle Garnier is the home of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Monte-Carlo Opera. Fyodor Chaliapin, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti sang here, as well as Diaghilev's Russian Ballet.

The mild climate of the Cote d'Azur has long attracted golf lovers here. There are 20 courses at your disposal, 15 of which are located within a half-hour drive from each other.

15. Amusement park

Near the town of Biot is a large amusement park. It includes Marineland (marine zoo), Butterfly Jungle (a huge gallery with butterflies and tarantulas), an amusement park and a water park. Great place for a family holiday.

16. Carnival

Every year in February, Nice hosts one of the largest carnivals in the world. Houses are dressed in 120,000 square meters of plywood, which is painted by artists, and flower processions take place on the main streets.

17. Sailing regatta

Every September, Saint-Tropez hosts a sailing regatta that gathers hundreds of participants from all over the world. Here you can see both sailing ships built in the 19th century and modern racing yachts.

18. Spa treatments

The Mediterranean Sea is considered the birthplace of thalassotherapy. The local water is richer in minerals than ocean water. Add to this the beneficial effect of the sun's rays, and you will understand why the Côte d'Azur is so popular with lovers of hydrotherapy and spas.

19. Ski resorts

If the sea is tired, dozens of ski resorts are at your service. Snowy peaks over 3,000 meters high are just an hour and a half drive from the Cote d'Azur.

20. Jumping

Monaco hosts one of the stages of the international show jumping tournament. One of the most prestigious stages, gathering riders from all over the world.

If the Côte d'Azur did not exist, it would be worth inventing it!

Review

The Mediterranean coast of France stretches from west to east for hundreds of kilometers. The most popular part of it, of course, is the Cote d'Azur ( Côte d'Azur), located between Marseille and the Italian border. Here are such fashionable resorts as Cannes, Nice, San Remo and the dwarf Duchy of Monaco - on their streets almost all year round you can meet movie stars and the richest people in the world. These cities themselves are very beautiful and rich in sights, including those related to the history of Russia: our elite chose these places for recreation in the 19th century.

The unique feature of the Cote d'Azur - a mild warm climate without strong summer heat and winter cold - is due to its geographical location. Mountains cover it from the north from the cold winds, while warm air flows freely from the south. The number of sunny days a year is close to 300. Along with chestnut trees, palm trees, cypresses and olives grow on the coast, and there are many vineyards. The sea is as generous as the land, with excellent fishing and diving.

In the sea south of the Côte d'Azur lies the French island of Corsica. The climatic conditions on it are about the same, but the nature and landscapes are more monotonous, and there are no large cities - this is a place for a relaxing holiday.

Yachting

The coast, indented by numerous bays, and the warm, mild climate of the Cote d'Azur open up great opportunities here for. There are no shallow waters, the tides are low, and the currents are even. The crossing distances are insignificant, and the coast is densely marked with lighthouses - in a word, almost ideal conditions for a novice yachtsman.

Resort towns have at least one yacht marina, and more often several, such as Monaco. The marinas here are equipped with modern technology, comfortable and safe, but not cheap - Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Monaco are among the 10 most expensive parking lots in the world. West of Marseille and in Corsica parking is noticeably cheaper.

Weather

The high season on the Cote d'Azur falls in July-August, when the air warms up to +30 °C, and the water - up to +25 °C. At the same time, the summer heat does not exhaust, thanks to the low humidity. But in May-June, and in September it is warm here and you can swim with pleasure.

The winds on the Cote d'Azur blow a variety of: from the depths of the continent, through the valley of the Rhone River - the mistral, from the west, from the coastal mountains - the tramontana. East winds are weaker. In the Marseille area, there are about 90 windy days a year. In summer, a light sea wind usually blows during the day, which subsides in the evening. In general, the local combination of winds makes it interesting enough, but not at all dangerous.

How to get there?

There are large international airports in Marseille, Cannes, Nice, where flights from Moscow fly. Sanremo is usually reached by transfer / bus from Nice airport, to Monaco - the same way, or from Italian Genoa.

Visas

To enter and stay in France, Russians need a Schengen visa, which can be issued at the embassy or visa center of this country. The same visa will allow you to get to Italy and Monaco. We provide the participants of our cruises and regattas with the relevant documents that facilitate obtaining a visa.