Archive for 'Day Trips in France'

This incredibly striking beauty is Verdon Gorge, one of the finest natural attractions in all of France and part of the hilly, or Alpine, portion of the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Beyond the perfect beaches and glamorous seaside towns of the Riviera and the lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards of Provence you will find a landscape that is a little wilder, more rugged, less pastoral but no less stunning. Head north of Nice or East from Avignon and you're going to quickly move from fields to hilly landscapes to the limestone massifs of the Alpine foothills, where rivers flowing down from the peaks of the Alps have carved deep and impressive valleys into the land over millions of years.

Cue the Verdon Gorge, created by the Verdon running from its source near the Italian border south to Castellane and then west to meet with the Durance, near Manosque. Between these two towns of Castellane and Manosque, we find the most exceptionally picturesque creation of the Verdon, a deep canyon that is considered the second largest in the world after America's iconic Grand Canyon and which attracts thousands of visitors annually who come to enjoy various leisure pursuits and to simply enjoy the view. If you have found a vacation rental in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and are a nature-lover enjoying the wonderful scenery of the region, be sure to pull yourself away from the softer, picture-perfect landscapes of lavender fields and beaches and come discover the more dramatic and breath-taking panoramas of this part of France.

Those who have found a vacation rental in Provence-Alpes-Côte D'azur - or a holiday rental in Cannes or a rental in Marseille, in particular - who are looking for fun adventures to be had and things to see and do along the French Riviera, should consider planning a trip to the utterly beautiful island of Porquerolles. The largest of the three Îles d'Hyères islands in the Parc National de Port-Cros, Porquerolles is located off the coast of the region, between Marseille and Cannes. It is home to one village, founded in the 19th century, which was purchased, along with the whole island by the Belgian explorer François Joseph Fournier as a gift for his wife Sylvia. When she passed away in 1971, the French state procured 80% of the island, making it a national park and protecting its incredible natural beauty forevermore. Development and cars were both banned and, today, it is a bucolic paradise of perfectly picturesque Provençal landscapes and perfect beaches. Those spending time in this part of France who make the trip to this amazing place are certain to never forget her plentiful charms…

Nice is home to lots and lots of truly beautiful buildings and wonderful architectural gems both in and around the city. There are plenty in the city itself and if you have found a vacation rental in Nice, you don’t have to go far to refresh your eyes and soul with manmade architectural wonders. However, if you fancy experiencing the “around” part of “in and around the city” and venturing a bit further afield then why not go exploring the French Riviera and take a trip to the stunning Villa et Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild, which really does make for a perfectly dreamy daytrip destination.

Home to a rich fine and decorative arts collection located inside a Belle Époque Italian-style palazzo and an incredible surrounding park that boasts nine distinct gardens, this gem on the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is a truly magical place. It was built by the heiress Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild at the beginning of the twentieth century over the course of seven years during which ten different architects were hired and fired in turn, the whole thing eventually came together in perfection and served as her residence and party villa until the 1930s. In her will, it was bequeathed to the Institute de France for use as a fine art museum and today displays over 5,000; from fine furniture to paintings and statuary to porcelain dinnerware.