Longing for a short but exciting winter reprieve? Try the French Riviera! Both NICE and neighboring MENTON offer wonderful treats every February, and slightly further afield the region of MARSEILLE/PROVENCE is named 2013 capital of culture with more than 400 cultural events planned throughout the year.
100% made from citrus!
The annual Fête du Citron in Menton coincides each year with the Carnival de Nice, so you can easily enjoy both activities. The LEMON FESTIVAL, now in its 80th year, chooses a theme each year around which its 7000 tons of citrus fruit, principally from Spain and Morocco, are used to fashion dramatic floats and breathtaking sculptures. What more fitting theme this year than Around the World in 80 Days? Begun in 1934 as a way to advertise the prolific growth of its lemon trees, the city of Menton launched a parade and an exhibit to show off its gardens and fruits. An overnight success, the festival took off and developed an aura of its own. You’ll be amazed at the incredible variety and creativity of the giant sculptures and floats. Feb 16-March 6.
The Carnival in Nice is quite an amazing extravaganza to watch. One of the world’s largest
Nice Carnival: the famous “grosses tetes”
carnivals, it takes place each year in February, and recently the carnival time has been extended to a three-week period from two. The NICE CARNIVAL is categorized by giant floats and very large burlesque figures, often fashioned by prominent artists mocking present-day figures in the news. There are a series of programs both public and private to watch, like the Battle of Flowers and the Corso carnavalesque illuminé. Hotels are often crowded at this time of year, but if you travel to the backcountry Riviera you can also find less expensive and less crowded housing. Feb 16-March 6.
Further west, the region of Marseille/Provence has been designated the 2013 EUROPEAN CULTURE CAPITAL. Several events are planned in different cities in Provence throughout the year. Here’s an example of how the town of Aix en Provence celebrated the
Culture 2013: trees dressed up!
opening of the event, by decorating its trees.
