Christmas Markets in the South of France

This is such a lovely time of the year in the South of France, the days are crisp, the skies are blue and there are wonderful Christmas markets to explore.

Cannes Christmas Market - on the port in Cannes, the aromas of Christmas spices waft through the array of stalls selling everything from hand made leather goods to locally produced wines and champagnes.

Monaco Christmas Market - Another 'must visit' at this time of year and with all the fun of the fair for the children.

Aix en Provence - In the centre of town on the Cours Mirabeau, this is a very Provencal Christmas market with all the delights of Pain d'Epices and locally made nougat for sale.

Christmas markets and villages pop up throughout the South of France at this time of year and it's well worth checking with local tourist offices if you are visiting to ensure that you don't miss out on this most wonderful of traditions.

Raining in the South of France

The South of France is known for the region where we enjoy over 300 days of sunshine each year....except not today....and in fact not this week. November 2014 has been one of the wettest on record but also one of the warmest. And in a region where water is at a premium the Cote d'Azur is counting itself lucky that we may avoid the inevitable hosepipe bans next spring and summer.

Much of the regions water is stored in man made lakes such as the Lac St Croix and Lac St Cassian, both of which are beautiful 'natural' spots and ideal in the summer months for enjoying a range of activities such as fishing, boating or simply sitting on the shoreline and enjoying the exceptional views.

The Lake at St Croix

Lake St Cassian

And happily, the sunshine will make a welcome re-appearance tomorrow....

Christmas in the South of France

There are many wonderful traditions here in the South of France, not least some of the wonderful Christmas markets on the port in Cannes or over on the Cours Mirabeau in Aix en Provence. The markets are full of delicious Christmas treats, all part of the traditional French Christmas.

Decorations - Even the smallest of villages will be sporting Christmas lights, traditionally illuminated on the 1st December and in the larger towns and cities there is a distinct sense of competition for the largest and most impressive displays. Here is a recent photo of the Christmas lights in Monaco in the most celebrated of locations, Casino Square.

Food and Drink - This is the land of gastronomy and Christmas is a time when even the most humble of households will be serving platters of fresh seafood, delicious 'Buche de Noel' or Christmas logs in chocolate, chesnut or vanilla flavour and possibly one of the most common delicacies over the festive season is Foie Gras - and of course everything is accompanied with a delicious champage and selection of wines. 

Creche - In Provence there is a tradition of each household having their own creche, complete with Provencal village. The characters in the creche are known as santons and are an integral part of Christmas in this part of the world. There are many famous santon designers and makers and there are many markets dedicated to santons throughout Provence. 

Event Management in the South of France - Adams & Adams

Event Management is a skill all of its own. Organisation, contacts, flexibility and more are all the hallmarks of a great event management company. At Cote d'Azur Villas we are delighted to partner with Adams & Adams, who pride themselves on offering innovative solutions and delicious catering for all event organisers here on the Cote d'Azur.

Adams & Adams, founded in 2003 have worked with many blue chip companies who visit the region for some of the many glittering annual events held in the region each year. Cannes Film Festival and of course Cannes Lions are two of the most important in the 'Cannes Calendar' and Adams & Adams bring their own special touch to each and every corporate event.

Weddings and private parties are also two areas at which Adams & Adams excel and they can offer a range of services from a complete wedding co-ordination service to crafting a stunning birthday cake.

Cote d'Azur Villas offer a stunning range of villas for the many events held here on the Cote d'Azur and are delighted to be working with Adams & Adams to create wonderful events.

Cannes Accommodation for Lions 2015

Cannes Lions is one of the most important annual events to be held in the town each year. It's the time when all the advertising, marketing and creative agencies (and many of their clients) come to Cannes.

The main event takes place at the Palais des Festivals on the seafront and the many Cannes apartments and rental villas are booked well in advance. The most popular apartments and villas are of course the ones within walking distance of the Palais and these can be rented 12 months in advance with many companies confirming their booking for the following year before they leave from their current stay.

Villa du Festival - Ideal for the Cannes Lions

Cannes Lions 2015 Facts & Figures

• Registration opens - 15th January 2015
• Entries open 22nd January 2015
• Over 12,000 people from 94 countries will attend the event
• 
  

So the message is to book your Cannes Accommodation early for Cannes Lions 2015. 

5 Reasons to Book Early in the South of France

The South of France continues to be a very popular choice for those seeking a wonderful spring or summer holiday. There are over 300 day of sunshine each year, the azure waters of the Mediterranean lap against white sandy beaches and of course there is the gastronomy of France to enjoy. But the key to enjoying a great holiday is to book your South of France villa early.

1. CHOICE - Book early and you have the pick of some of the most beautiful villas to rent

2. LOCATION - Book early and choose a villa in one of the prime locations such as St Tropez, St Jean Cap Ferrat or Mougins

3. SPACE - If you're travelling with family and friends and need a larger villa to rent then these are the ones that book first

4. FLIGHTS - We all know that the earlier you book the more reasonable the flight prices are

5. DATES - The key summer dates are always first to book, especially if you are travelling with children during the school holidays.

So it may be grey and wet outside and the Christmas advertising all over the television but the message is if you want to enjoy a wonderful villa holiday in the South of France then you need to book early. Contact the team at Cote d'Azur Villas for a choice of over 300 villas to rent in the South of France and Provence.

Family Villa Holidays in the South of France - Bastide de la Veyriere

The South of France remains the choice of many when choosing their summer family holiday destination. And why not? With white sandy beaches, over 300 days of sunshine each year and of course an exceptional range of wonderful villas to choose from then there is something for all the family to enjoy.

Bastide de la Veyriere is a wonderful family villa and includes a heated pool, tennis court and a billiard / games room. The villa is also just outside of the popular village of Valbonne with many restaurants, cafes and a wonderful weekly Provencal market.

Relax by the Pool

Enjoy a game of billiards

...or a game of tennis

Inside there are 7 bedrooms spread over 3 floors and 5 are air-conditioned. There are spacious, modern bathrooms and great open plan living areas. And just in case you didn't think there was enough to keep the family occupied there is a home cinema room and a home gym. 

But making the South of France your holiday destination means outside living and the Bastide de la Veyriere is set in over 5,000 Square metres of garden, there is a lovely BBQ and covered outside dining and living area and of course a large, heated pool. 

Outside Dining on the Terrace

Heated Swimming Pool

The Bastide de la Veyriere sleeps up to 14 guests and is the ideal choice for a family holiday here in the South of France. 

South of France Public Holidays

France is awash with public holidays,  the difference being that they always strictly adhere to the date rather than a day of the week. This means that public holidays may fall at weekends or in the middle of the week when the French will take what is known as the 'pont' or bridge, taking the days between the public holiday and the weekend as additional time away from work.

For those of your visiting France or renting one of our South of France Villas to rent, then here is the list of public holidays for 2015, bear in mind that supermarkets, most shops and of course all public offices will be closed on these days.

For 2015, here is the list of the public holidays in France

New Year’s Day is on Thursday, January 01, 2015
Easter Monday is on Monday, April 06, 2015
Labour Day in France is on Friday, May 01, 2015
Victory Day 1945 France is on Friday, May 08, 2015
Ascension Day is on Thursday, May 14, 2015
Whit Monday is on Monday, May 25, 2015
Bastille Day France is on Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Assumption is on Saturday, August 15, 2015
All Saints’ Day is on Sunday, November 01, 2015
Armistice Day is on Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Christmas Day is on Friday, December 25, 2015

South of France Villa Romarin Summer Holiday Rentals

New to the summer rental market is Villa Romarin in the South of France. A sumptuous property in the hills above Cannes, this is the ideal villa to rent for up to 10 people.

Having been recently refurbished the villa boasts a billiard room, a home cinema room and of course a wonderful swimming pool and pool terrace - ideal for enjoying the outdoor lifestyle of the French Riviera.

The 5 bedrooms are all air-conditioned and the kitchen is equipped and fitted to the highest of standards.

This villa in the South of France is sure to book quickly for summer holiday rentals 2015.

Blue Square Villa Sales in the South of France

Our property sales partner Blue Square and their multi-lingual team are going from strength to strength with the launch of their new website and new offices throughout the Cote d'Azur. 

Mougins - The new office in Mougins offers clients a selection of the finest properties for sale in and around the pretty perched village known as the home of gastronomy. Villas and apartments for sale in Mougins offer a quieter alternative to properties directly on the coast and many offer wonderful views out over the hills and valleys and also down to the Mediterranean.

Valbonne - The village of Valbonne offers a truly international location for those living and working on the Cote d'Azur. Close to international schools and teeming with restaurants, bars and shops, this is the location that many international clients choose when buying a home for a permanent move to out beautiful region.

Sophia Antipolis - This is the head office of Blue Square and in the heart of the business district of the South of France. It's also in the same business park as the team at Cote d'Azur Villas so extending our villa rental, property management and property sales co-operation is easy.

New Website -  The new website, launched just a few days ago, offers the finest selection of villas and apartments for sale throughout the French Riviera. From the edge of Monaco and out to St Tropez, the multi-lingual team at Blue Square offer unsurpassed customer service and an after sales service.

Mushroom Season in the South of France

At this time of your as you drive out into the hills and countryside that surround the Cote d'Azur then you will doubtless see hunters and foragers. Not only has the hunting started in earnest but it's mushroom season and the French are out searching for the many types of mushrooms that grow wild throughout the South of France and Provence.

But how do you now which are delicious and which are dangerous? Easy! You take them to your local pharmacy and they will identify them for you, separating those that you can safely enjoy and those which are not.

And of course there are many delicious recipes in which you can use your carefully collected treasures.

5 Exceptional South of France Villas

The South of France is renowned for it's opulence and never is this more apparent than when looking at villas and property throughout the Cote d'Azur. Here are our top 5 of the most opulent villas available for holiday rental in the South of France.

Villa Oxyene 

This exceptional contemporary villa is on the waterfront at Cap Ferrat and comes complete with a whole team, including your personal chef. 

Chateau de Saint Tropez

In the heart of St Tropez, the chateau has every service of a 5 star hotel and more

Villa Jasmine

Within walking distance of the home of French gastrononomy, Mougins, Villa Jasmine comes with it's own tennis court. 

Le Castelet

The former home of Brigitte Bardot, set in the hills above Cannes with not one but two pools, a main house and of course a guest house

Les Trois Iles

Exceptional St Tropez luxury, panoramic sea views and views out over the island of Porquerolles

If you are seeking luxury, then it has the be the Cote d'Azur. 

Provence Villas to Rent in Hidden Provence

Provence, land of sunflowers, crisp rose wine and inspiration for some of the worlds finest art produced by the impressionist school. Van Gough is the epitome of all that symbolises Provence but did you know that Van Gough spent much of his time in Provence painting from the now famous asylum on the outskirts of St Remy de Provence?

Just behind the hospital is a hidden gem, Lolo's Restaurant.  Lolos’s family have lived in this ‘trogdolite’ house, built into the rocks of an ancient Roman quarry, for over 400 years and started cooking 20 years ago when he retired aged 70!There is no menu but the food is copious and delicious as is the local wine. There are many restaurants like this in Provence, where you just trust that as it's full with local French families that the food will be delicious and it usually is.

Delicious food and wine at Lolo's

St Remy is celebrated for art and antiques and there are many wonderful 'brocante' to explore throughout this very pretty Provencal village.

Some of the wonderful villas to rent in Provence with the team at Cote d'Azur Villas

Mas Glycine - Gordes

La Platane - Roussillon

South of France Weddings

The South of France is a popular location for 'Destination Weddings' and with some of the most amazing scenery to be found anywhere in Europe then it's no surprise that many couples choose this beautiful region to celebrate their weddings each year.

The coast and the beach are of course an amazing backdrop to any wedding celebration and the reception afterwards. Choose a ceremony on the sand or with the azure waters of the Mediterranean in the background. Cannes, the Cap d'Antibes and St Tropez all offer exceptional villas and venues on the water front.

Villa Alexandra in Cannes

And if you prefer the Provencal hills and mountains with panoramic views on into the French Alps then villas in the hills above Cannes, St Paul de Vence or over into the Luberon and Provence will fit the bill perfectly.

Le Castelet in the hills above Cannes

Chateau St Georges, a taste of opulence

The team at Cote d'Azur Villas can also put couples in touch with wedding planners, caterers, DJ's, Florists, in fact everything that you need to ensure that your wedding is perfect in every detail. 

Luxury Winter Ski Chalets from Cote d'Azur Villas

Thank you to everyone who stayed with us this summer on the Cote d'Azur and in Provence, we hope you all had a great holiday. For those of you now thinking about winter ski and snow fun then we now offer an exceptional range of winter ski chalets throughout the most prestigious regions of the French Alps.

Megeve, Meribel, Courchevel and Verbier offer some of the most exceptional skiing in Europe and Cote d'Azur Villas offer a range of luxury ski chalets, fully catered and ideal for you to enjoy a winter ski holiday.

Arrive at the airport, be collected by your personal chauffeur, be welcomed at your chalet by yur chalet manager and of course an arrival glass of champagne. Then simply sit back and enjoy the skiing knowing that everything else is taken care of.

Golf Villas South of France Launches Today

If you play golf then this is for you. Come and play golf in the South of France, enjoy some of the best courses in Europe and enjoy discounted rental rates on many luxury villas to rent.

What better time is there to play golf than in the balmy Indian summer of the French Riviera. Blue skies and sunshine abound throughout September and October but the temperatures are a little cooler, the golf courses less crowded and of course villas to rent are more affordable than ever.

Some of the most spectacular courses are to be found in the South of France. The Royal Mougins, Cannes Mougins, Monte Carlo, Saint Donat at Grasse and of course Chateau de Taulane just a drive away. Take advantage of reduced green fees at many of the local courses and enjoy the golfing holiday you've always dreamed of. For a complete list of local courses, click HERE

There are villa rentals in Valbonne, Grasse, Opio and many more, all close to local courses. From smaller 3 bedroom villas, to properties for larger groups then the team at Cote d'Azur Villa Rentals will find your perfect villa close to your chosen golf course.