Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur
HOUSES FOR SALE IN PROVENCE, FRANCE | Provence Villas and Apartments To Buy
Search the Buy-in-France directory to find French villas and apartments to buy in Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur. Take a trip to Provence and find your perfect villa or apartment in any of the six diverse departements that make up this incredible region in the south east corner of France.
The region is situated in the far south of France and it stretches along the Mediterranean coast from the Italian border at Menton to the other side of Marseilles and up towards the north to the Haute-Alpes. The region is made up of the French Riviera, the south-eastern part of the former French province of Dauphine in the French Alps, the former papal territory of Avignon (known as Comtat Venaissn), and the former French province of Provence. It includes six departments: Hautes-Alpes, Bouches-du-Rhone, Vaucluse, Alpes-Maritimes, Var and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.
This beautiful and much loved part of France is also one of the most diverse, with mountains, dramatic Mediterranean coastline and many attractive villages. Live in a Provencal style villa or apartment, or perhaps buy as a rental property, and experience the well known glamorous resorts such as Cannes and Nice. Cannes is, of course, best known for its annual Film Festival whilst a relaxing stroll along the Promenade des Anglais makes Nice an extremely sought after place to be. These stylish resorts in the French Riviera are considered some of the most desirable holiday destinations in the world for renting holiday accommodation!!
Yet, from the beach to the Alpes d`Azur takes just an hour, offering skiing in winter or mountain trekking in the summer. Some of the highlights of the Hautes-Alpes include the fortified mountain town of Briancon, and the Serre Chevalier ski region, and also the high mountains of the Parc des Ecrins.
Visit the Roman spa town of Aix-en-Provence for a taste of the Art and Culture or Avignon with its abundance of shops and cafes, not forgetting the Palais des Papes. Other popular attractions in this region of outstanding beauty include the Gorges du Verdon, one of the world's largest gorges and the iconic Mont Saint Victoire.
Provence is known for its fantastic cuisine, famous for its red and rose wines, in particular Chateauneuf du Pape which is produced just outside Avignon. The region produces 140 million bottles of wine per year. Provencal food is classically Mediterranean, with fish, fresh herbs and vegetables playing a major part. Ratatouille, essentially any mixture of vegetables chopped and stewed together, is a traditional dish of Provence.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur is the ideal holiday destination to find your ideal French home. Take a Cote d`Azur holiday villa or apartment in a region where almost everywhere in the countryside is excellent for riding, walking and cycling.
If you are a keen rock climber there are over seventy canyons to choose from in the region on both the Verdon and Ubaye river systems. There are qualified and experienced instructors on hand and beginners and children from about the age of three are all welcome. The area also boasts excellent conditions for paragliding, ballooning and hang-gliding.
The large variety of lakes throughout the region offer some fantastic fishing including perch, carp, gudgeon, char and wild Fario trout which can be caught in the mountain streams. Due to the great combination of sun and fantastic snow cover during the winter months, the region is excellent for skiing with a number of resorts to chose from. Foux d’Allos and Pra-Loup are linked together to form one of the largest ski areas in the southern Alpes. Soleilhas-Vauplane, Grand-Puy and others are ski resorts that are much more family orientated.
There are a number of good markets throughout the region worth exploring during your stay in Provence. Each market opens up on various days throughout the week but one market in particular that you must pay a visit to is the Forcalquier market which is open every Monday. Many traditional products such as olive oil and lavender honey are still produced and you can see how they are traditionally made, buy and taste. Throughout the year there are also a number of festivals, concerts, exhibitions and dances that can be enjoyed during your holiday.
While some regions have a great history, fantastic coastline or a beautiful natural environment, Provence is quite simply the region that has it all!
A Few Places to visit when in Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur
With over 100,000 inhabitants in each Toulon, Nice, Marseille and Aix-en-Provence are the largest cities in the region. The wealthiest part of the region lies within Nice’s metropolitan area. There are a number of towns and cities which you may enjoy during your stay which are listed below:
Cannes - One of the best known cities of the French Riviera this busy tourist destination is home to the famous Cannes Film Festival that happens each year. This lively city is also famous for its large number of luxury shops, bars, restaurants and hotels. With its waterfront avenues and its picturesque beaches lined with wonderful cafes, restaurants and boutiques Cannes should be high on your list of places to visit during your holiday rental in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur.
Marseille - Capital of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region Marseille is also France's largest commercial port. Located south east along the Mediterranean coast of France, Marseille has been designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and it’s a city that is very proud of its differences compared with the rest of France. Marseille today is the regional centre for entertainment and culture with its important opera house, historical and maritime museums, art galleries and a number of cinemas, restaurants, clubs and bars.
Nice - Being the 5th largest city of France with a population of approximately 350,000 Nice is the largest city of the French Riviera. It is the city’s magnificent landscapes and impressive climate that attracts the tourists every year. The brits have been visiting Nice since the second half of the 18th century. Nice is the ideal place for a relaxing stay with its main seaside promenade and picturesque surroundings.
Avignon - Located in the Vaucluse department in southern France this city is situated on the left banks of the river Rhone. This large oval shaped city is not fully populated and is covered by a number of parks and beautiful gardens. Avignon is well known for its Palais dez papes (Palace of the Popes); there were several popes that lived here from the early 14th to early 15th centuries.
Toulon - Capital of the Var department the town of Toulon is situated along the Mediterranean coast in southern France and is home to a large military harbour with its major French naval base. An important centre for naval construction, wine making, fishing, printing, shoes and the manufacturing of aeronautical equipment. The old town is the historic centre of the town with its pedestrian area with a number of winding narrow streets, small squares and magnificent fountains. Also home to the Toulon Cathedral and a Provencal market which takes place every morning on the Cours La Fayette where you can purchase a wide range of locally produce products.
National Parks – France has six national parks and three of these are in Provence - The Parc National du Mercantour, The Parc national des Ecrins and The Parc National de Port Cros. They are all situated on the very edge of the region.
Other towns and cities of interest include Draguignan, Grasse, Le Cannet, Frejus, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Hyeres, Martigues, Mougins, Villeneuve-Loubet, and Mandelieu-la-Napoule.
Due to its location in the south east of France the Provence Alpes Cote d`Azur region is known for its hot and pleasant climate throughout the year. The summer months in particular are known for being dry and sunny all season with the temperature reaching an impressive 35 °C. Being lined by the Mediterranean Sea the region soaks in the warmth that the Mediterranean climate has to offer. The region is the hottest in France and see approximately 2835 hours of sunshine every year but here is a noticeable different between the weather on the coast, inland and the mountains. The weather along the coast remains really hot were as the cool fresh climate can be enjoyed up in mountains. The inland parts of the region tend to experience a dry and muggy climate. Rainfall is very rare in the region but when is does occur it tends to be pretty heavy. The winter months remain mild and to be fair the only unfriendly aspect is the mistral, a dry cold wind from the north which can last between three and nine days during the spring or autumn and can bring sharp falls in temperature.
Most people can get to the Provence Alpes Cote d`Azur region by flying to Nice’s airport which is only five minutes from the city of Nice. Alternatively you can fly in to Paris and get a Europe or France rail pass which is most likely to cost alot less. You can take a train direct to Provence. TGV now connects Paris and Avignon which makes the trip dramatically shorter. If you want to explore all of the smaller towns during your experience in Provence Alpes Cote d`Azur and its wonderful countryside you may consider driving or renting a car.
Overall this wonderful region that lies in the far south of France and stretches along the Mediterranean is a fantastic destination for your visit to France. Its Cote d`Azur is a long succession of marinas, wonderful beaches and fashionable resorts. There are a huge number of activities available for all tastes which can be enjoyed all year round. There really is a special charm to this region of France with its warm climate, clear light and varied landscapes.