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Factfile
Situated
in the south-east of France, Provence’s coastline stretches
from Bandol to Menton, on the Italian border . The region,
covering an area of approximately 30,000 sq km, contains five
‘departements’ [counties] – Bouches-du-Rhone, Vaucluse, Alpes
de Haute-Provence, Var and Alpes-Maritimes - and has a population
of some 4,275,000 people.
The region has some 300 days of sun per year.
Considering
purchasing a Property?
Costs involved in purchasing property include expenses
due to the public notary [invoices settled by the public notary
on behalf of the purchaser], transfer tax [taxe de mutation]
equal to approx 5% of the selling price, property registration,
stamp duty, and VAT on a new construction. Costs amount to
between 8% and 10% of the selling price. In addition, an annual
amount of property tax, called Taxe d’Habitation , similar
to ‘rates’ in the UK, is payable each year on January 1. There
are exemptions for people over 60 years
Swimming
pools and safety measures. If you’re thinking about purchasing
a property that has a swimming pool, you should be aware of
the new French law concerning safety measures. Not only must
all children be supervised by an adult when at a [private]
swimming pool, but every pool must either have fencing around
it or have an alarm system. In each case, the system must
be approved by the appropriate French authorities. The local
Mairie [town hall] will have details.
Setting
up a business in the south of France? The Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Nice has established a specific department,
La Maison des Enterprises [Companies Association] to help
companies in setting-up an organisation on the Riviera.The
British Chamber of Commerce Cote d'Azur is well worth contacting
and their website is BCC
Cote d'Azur
Wine
With the exception of the superb red wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape,
Provence has not traditionally been noted for its great wines.
only recently gained its status for fine wines. Formerly it
had carved itself a reputation for agreeable wines and in
particular for its rosé. But, more recently, an increasing
number of wine growers are making first-rate products to challenge
those from Burgundy and Bordeaux. Particularly good are the
reds and rosés from the Bandol area, located between Marseille
and Toulon.
Golf
There are many first-rate golf courses in the region.
Here is a selection:
The Monte Carlo [33 (0)4 93415070] boasts some wonderful
holes and has dazzling views; Golfe de Sainte Maxime
[33 (0) 4 944926], with magnificent views over the bay towards
St Tropez;Esterel [33 (0)4 94 825500] designed by Robert
Trent Jones; the challenging Saint Endreol [33 (0)4
94992299]; the longest established golf course in the south
of France, the Cannes Mandelieu Old Course [33(0)4
92973200]; The Riviera Golf Club [33 (0)4 92974949]close
to Mandelieu, where accuracy is of the essence; the pricey
and dramatic Royal Mougins [33 (0)4 92924969]; the
pleasurable Saint Donat [33 (0)4 93097660], also designed
by Robert Trent Jones;
Cannes Mougins [33 (0)493757913] is an
satisfying and fairly demanding course; Close to Grasse at
600 metres is Claux-Amic [33 (0)4 93605544], which
offers fine views and excellent golf. The Gary Player designed
Taulane [33 (0)4 93603130] is considered by some to
be the greatest course in the south of France.
Boules
Especially popular in Provence, boules is played throughout
the year. Most villages throughout the region boast at least
one ‘piste de boules‘. Although many of the players are in
their 60s and 70s plus, the game is attracting an increasing
number of young
players. Pastis, Marseille’s most famous drink, is synonymous
with the game as the après-match drink but chilled rosé is
as popular.
Museums
and Galleries For art lovers, Provence is also a delight. Those who have left
some of their treasures from their lives in this region include
leading lights of the Impressionist movement, Paul Cézanne
and Pierre Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, cubist Fermand Léger,
Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso. The tourist office in each
town supplies full information on what’s on, where and when
but here is a small selection to consider: Musée Picasso in Antibes; Musée National Fernand Léger in Biot,
Musée Fragonard in Grasse, Musée Matisse in Nice, the Fondation
Maeght in Saint Paul de Vence and the Musée d’Art Moderne
et d’Art Contemporain also in Nice.
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What’s
On
Additional
to the plethora of museums, many of which have constantly
changing exhibitions, there are a multitude of events throughout
the year. For those with eclectic tastes, time will be the
only limiter to around the clock entertainment.
January has The Monte Carlo Rally.
February
the Mardi Gras Carnival in Nice
March
the International Flower Festival in Cagnes-sur-Mer
April
the Féria Pascale in Arles to celebrate the beginning
of the bullfighting season
May
the Cannes Film Festival, the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters
and the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Historique (every
other year).
June
the Son-et-Lumière in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Juan les
Pins and Nice devote much of July to their celebrated
Jazz Festivals
August
the Fete du Jasmin in Grasse and sparkling firework displays
all over
September
the Montgolfiades Internationales in Haute Provence for balloonists,
October
the Foire international de Marseille with music, folklore,
arts and crafts, Monaco celebrates its National Day with spectacular
firework displays in November, and the Fete du Vin
in Bandol in December. And those mentioned are but
a fraction of this feast of events throughout the year.
mlpropertyservices08/04
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