Introduction
The French Riviera is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe and there is no better time to visit than in the spring and summer. During these few months, when the weather is warm during both day and night, many festivals are held along the entire coast for visitors to enjoy. Whether you are a lover of art, music, poetry or the theatre, there will be a festival that suits you. Many of the events are held outdoors with magnificent background scenery, making the occasion all the more enjoyable.
In the first part of this article we will look at a few of the festivals that take place regularly on the French Riviera. In the second part, we will focus on the famous Nice Flower Festival. We will conclude by looking at some of the events that will mark Marseille’s time as European Capital of Culture for 2013.
Spring and Summer Festivals on the French Riviera
If you are into music, the festival scene on the French Riviera is definitely for you. There are jazz festivals in Nice, Antibes and Cannes, whilst contemporary music lovers will enjoy the Pantiero Festival in Cannes and Crazy Week in Nice. There is also the chance to see organ recitals, electronic music and, at the Menton Music Festival, great orchestral productions.
The French Riviera offers much more than simply music festivals, however. You can watch the fireworks displays of Antibes and also admire the stunning pyrotechnics at the famous Fireworks Festival in Cannes. Avignon holds its Dance Festival from February to March, whilst, for the shopper, there is the Cannes Shopping Festival, which is held throughout the month of March. During the entire month of June, Menton hosts its Garden Month, a festival of horticulture, attended by many keen gardening enthusiasts.
As you can see, there really is a festival to suit everyone on the French Riviera.
One of the most famous of the Riviera’s festivals is that which is hosted by Nice during the run-up to the Easter celebrations; the Nice Flower Festival.
The Nice Flower Festival
The Festival of Flowers is a central part of the annual Nice Carnival. It has been held since 1876, when young women held the Battle of The Flowers on the promenade, throwing carnations at one another and into the watching crowds.
From such modest beginnings, the Nice Flower Festival has developed into an exhibition of numerous themed floral floats. Stunningly coloured blooms are thrown from the floats into the crowd, in a modern day version of the Battle of the Flowers. The thousands of international visitors to the festival are treated to many examples of the flowers of the region, with the great majority of the blooms in the festival being produced locally.
If you are visiting Nice in the springtime the Flower Festival is an event that should not be missed.
Marseille, European Capital of Culture 2013
The city of Marseille, or to be more precise, the region of Marseille-Provence is the European Capital of Culture for 2013. To mark the occasion, over four hundred separate cultural events have been arranged for the benefit of locals and visitors alike. The main idea behind the events will be to celebrate the numerous young artistically talented people in Europe.
There will be several major art exhibitions, featuring the works of artistic greats such as Matisse, Rodin, Picasso, Van Gogh and Cézanne. For lovers of music and dance, there are classical concerts at La Roque d’Anthéron and operatic productions at Aix-en-Provence, as well as rock, jazz, groove and dance music.
Marseille’s waterfront will be transformed by the opening of several new cultural buildings, designed by some of the world’s leading architects. This transformation of Marseille’s waterfront into a dedicated centre for culture is worth visiting the city in its own right.
The events are not confined to Marseille city centre alone. The region also includes the cities of Aix and Arles and the towns of St Rémy, Martigues, Aubanne, Cassis and La Ciotat, all of which will play some part in the celebrations.
As there will be something to see on every day of the year, it doesn’t matter when you decide to visit; there really is something for everyone during Marseille’s year as European Capital of Culture.
Summary
The French Riviera is always a great place to visit. With the added attraction of Marseille’s status as European Capital of Culture, 2013 is probably the best possible time to do so. If you decide to witness some of the events in and around Marseille, you might try to combine it with a visit to the Nice Carnival and the famous Flower Festival. That way, you really will make the most of your trip to the French Riviera!
Sally Lynch helps to promote French and Spanish holidays. After living multiple years in the Reverie, she moved to the Balearic region where she organizes walking tours and cultural sightseeing. She is working on a new project related to luxury Menorca villas and scuba diving.
