France spells romance, history and intrigue — all at the same time. Little surprise then, that some of the most visually delightful films such as Amélie, Midnight in Paris and Before Sunset, among other brilliant works of art, have given us a peek into the enchanting land. This summer, I decided to check out South of France.
All Things Nice
Nice, our first stop turned out to be as beautiful as promised. Fashionable and quaint at the same time, Nice has many wonderful things to do. We stayed at the Westminster Hotel on the famous Promenade des Anglais. Boasting beautiful architecture and history, it is one of the innumerable majestic pastel coloured hotels lining the sea face. The view from our room of the Mediterranean sea across the Promenade was breathtaking. Tiny quaint lanes, little cafes and eateries lining the streets, the delicate aroma of freshly baked French breads and other goodies fills up your soul.
When here, you must visit the flower market at Cours Saleya — it is flooded with the most delicious scented flowers every weekend. Its old buildings and tiny alleys give you a glimpse into the enchanting beauty of France that poets through the centuries have not got tired of romancing.
Mesmerising Monaco
Our next stop was Monte Carlo in Monaco. A tiny principality, Monaco is the world’s second smallest country, the first being Vatican City. Hollywood actress Grace Kelly was also the former queen of Monaco. Home to the richest and the most affluent from across the world, Monte Carlo is also famous for the Casino Royale, Hotel de Paris, Café de Paris and Salle Garnier (the casino theatre which is the home of the Opera de Monte Carlo.)
It is interesting to know that the permanent population of Monte Carlo quarter is about 15,000 people only. What a wonderful change from the population overdrive in our country! The essence of Monte Carlo is captured in the four famous buildings of Hotel de Paris, Café de Paris, Opera de Monte Carlo and Casino Royale. These historic buildings are around just a single roundabout.
Cannes Do
The next stop was Cannes. The place is nothing close to the drama that has been built around it owing to the film festival it hosts every year. The topographical beauty is very usual and the place where the festival takes place is rather insipid without the glamorous lights and film stars. The very famous Carlton Hotel where the who’s who of the world prefer to stay is not as well-maintained as one would imagine it to be. The beaches are very commercial too.
However, I immensely enjoyed Antibes, just an hour’s drive from Cannes. Stunning pure white sands against crystal clear blue water, this was a town that was a real find. Old architecture, French cafes, delightful people and delectable French sweets. What a treat!
A French Paradise
Finally, we got to the most-awaited part of the trip — a few days in Provence and the French Riviera, a cluster of many tiny little towns and villages. Some of the prettiest medieval villages with cobbled lanes and tiny streets, old architecture, loads of folklore and pleasantly, lots of cats made our stay a memorable one.
My favourite medieval towns were Eze and Grasse. This is the region where most of the exotic perfumes and skin care cosmetics are made in France. I had a wonderful opportunity to get a peek into the perfume world. It was delightful to know the French source some vital flower essences from India.
I even had the opportunity of meeting a world famous Nose. (The professional who creates scents for designer brands across the world). He is someone who can identify and differentiate between thousands of fragrances. There are all of 10 Noses in the world. Provence, is surely the epitome of what south of France is known for. What a trip this was.
The writer is a fashion designer with a keen eye for all things beautiful.
