France

ART & CULTURE

Idyllic beaches, hiking trails, moonlit walks and free open air cinema, Porquerolles Island off the coast of Hyères offers the feeling of a true getaway without having to go very far! In our new ‘Staycation’ series, we give you tips on where to get away without really leaving. A true paradise only two and a half hours by car from Nice, so there are no excuses!

A change in setting never hurt anyone; in fact, reality demonstrates quite the opposite. After months in confinement, summer is in full swing, the waves lapping on the shore are calling and it’s time to step outside to soak those happiness-vitamins. So, even if it’s just for a weekend, pack those bags and go discover the beautiful island of Porquerolles. Plus, with the location brimming with relaxing and entertaining activities, the short ferry from Hyères will transport you far away!

A must-see at Porquerolles is the Notre-Dame Plage. Its location, which is almost a forty minute walk from the village, makes it completely secluded on the island. The vibrant colours of the natural wilderness and the clear blue water will make any wanderer feel like they’re on the Caribbean. It’s a paradise that was actually nominated the most beautiful beach in Europe (2015) by the European Organisation of Culture and Tourism. This beach is this island’s treasure, though it shouldn’t dissuade you from visiting the other beaches which are just as beautiful. These other beaches are: la plage de la Courtade, la plage du Langoustier, la plage noir du Langoustier, and la plage d’Argent. 

Ultimately, activities on the island range from cultivating to relaxing. There are exhibitions to visit, beaches to tan on, trails to hike or bike through, and deep waters to dive in! Between entertaining events and a preserved environment to discover, the Hyères tourism agenda is busy and varied. Plus, the website has multiple enticing trip offers which invite visitors to discover both Hyères and the island of Porquerolles.

Even a simple day-trip to the island is beautiful to discover by foot or on a bike. The island has multiple trails that take you around various sights to discover: the trail by the fort, the trail by the hills, the trail by sea, and the trail to best enjoy the landscape. But some of the most unique are only available is you stay the night.

In terms of overnight trips, the island has multiple options that might appeal to visitors. There are a few local hotels as well as multiple residences that can be rented for a flexible amount of time. Staying the night offers much more truly unique experiences, like the full moon night-walks in Villa Carmignac’s gardens, or enjoying a an evening of the first-ever Porquerolles Film Festival.                                                                                              

Villa Carmignac

A beautiful villa-turned-art museum displays the collection of the Fondation Carmignac and brings an impressive collection of contemporary artists to this island oasis. Visit their collection, the current exhibit and explore their gardens, which happen to include a wall mural by famous Portuguese street artist, Vihls – his only work in Southern France.

The Prix Carmignac: The current exhibition at the beautiful Villa Carmignac aims is to pay homage to the numerous photojournalists that have addressed in their work the irreversible upheavals that the planet is subjected to. The subject being human rights in the world and environmental issues, visitors will be invited to question the humanitarian crises and environmental upheavals that affect many countries today.

Additionally to the exhibited photos, two documentaries on the subject of climate change and its human consequences will be projected.

Until 1 November, this event will take place from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Mondays.

Tickets: 15 euros 

To learn more about this event or to reserve a ticket:  https://www.fondationcarmignac.com/programmation/prix-carmignac-10-ans-reportages/

Full-moon hike: For a few days around the full moon, you can take a hike through the Villa gardens, guided with a story narrated by Patti Smith and Charlotte Gainsburg. It is a truly magical experience! Next opportunity is Aug 1 – 5.

https://www.hyeres-tourism.co.uk/events/full-moon-nights-collective-soundwalk-villa-carmignac/

Film Festival: For the first time on the island of Porquerolles, the Villa Carmignac will open its doors throughout July and August for the staging of the Porquerolles Film Festival. This enjoyable event will take place every Thursday during the evenings from the 8th of July up to the 27th of August, 2020. 

All of the events will begin at 8 pm with a welcoming reception. Visitors will have the option to have their dinner on-site or simply enjoy a nice beverage in a pleasant atmosphere. Without too much prolongation of the anticipation for the screening, the session will start at 9.30 pm. Located in the beautiful gardens which were transformed to create an open-air cinema. The portrayal of this event promises an unforgettable experience. An experience made even more special as on this occasion, the Jazz à Porquerolles festival has also taken the initiative to participate in creating a musical atmosphere in the gardens of the Villa Carmignac. 

The theme behind this festival is to spotlight environmental as well as heritage films. It will resonate with the themes of climate change and environmental issues that the Foundation Carmignac exhibition “Carmignac Prize for Photojournalism: 10 years of reporting” creatively illustrates. 

Additionally, in commemoration of its opening convention, the Porquerolles Film Festival will be paying tribute to two significant actors. The first being the actress Anna Karina who played in the cult film “Pierrot le Fou”, where some scenes were not only filmed in Hyères but also in Porquerolles. The second being the actor Jean Rochefort; a notable movie personality who happened to live on the island. 

Ultimately, on the 27th of August, the “Porquerolles Prize” will be awarded by a jury composed of celebrities from the world of cinema and environment. The award will be given to the film with the best representation of the environment to memorialize the closing ceremony. 

Reserve cinema seats for free via the link: https://billetterie.villa-carmignac.com/

For more information on organizing a trip on the island of Porquerolles, including ferry times, lodging and activities, visit: https://www.hyeres-tourisme.com/les-iles-dor/porquerolles/.

And tell them Riviera Insider sent you!

– Charlotte Gillet

GOURMET

Whilst taking a stroll on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the idea to spend the rest of the day by the sea might make itself too tempting to resist. In that case, whether it is with friends, family, or perhaps even a lover, the new beach “Les Canailles” will be pleased to receive you in its charming setting between 10 am and midnight.

Inspired from the beaches of Saint Tropez, the recently renovated restaurant and lounge area is styled with a coastal theme in the colours of the French Riviera. The fun yet relaxing image of the Côte d’Azur invites visitors to take a seat at the bar or rent a sun bed by the sea. Otherwise, a more playful option is an entertaining game of petanque under a shaded arbour.

For those who simply wish to relax, guests are welcome to book a place out of the 200 lounge chairs on the beach or the pontoon with continuous service all day.

The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner where you can enjoy a meal from the menu created by Chef Stéphane Laurin. Trained at Hôtel Matignon in the service of the French Prime Minister in Paris, Stéphane Laurin brings his unique expertise to the south where he collaborated with the greatest chefs in the region including Didier Aniès, starred chef and Meilleur Ouvrier de France. In 2014, Chef Laurin joined Château Le Cagnard before finally joining Les Canailles beach. 

The Mediterranean inspired menu is prepared with the freshest seafood: grilled octopus with salsa verde and quinoa, prawn brochettes and Asian salad, ceviche or their whole fish in a salt crust. From the land: Italian-style tartar, entrecôte with cajun spice or roast cockerel with vadouvan spice. Finally, the dessert menu offers multiple daily suggestions including fruit plates and ice cream sundaes.

– Charlotte Gillet

GOURMET

Three honey-licious events will celebrate and raise awareness on beekeeping as well as honey making. Provençal cities organise traditional honey festivals every year but 2020 has proved difficult for these events. Now, two of three festivals will be happening in August and the third will be coming up in October. Open to all and free of charge, everyone is encouraged to participate and learn more about respecting the all-important bee and the liquid splendour they produce.

As a result of the painful sting that bees sometimes provoke, they are often misunderstood regarding their significant role in our ecosystem. Their part in pollination, which is very important for both ecological and commercial reasons, is still not very well known by the general public. Consequently, honey festivals are an extremely enjoyable way to learn more about this precious endangered species. They manage to raise awareness on bee’s impact on the environment as well as beekeeping in fun and enlightening ways through various activities.

In Provence, beekeeping is regulated to remain ethical and guarantee a reasonable but quality market. Throughout the PACA region, there are 3,600 Provencal beekeepers that operate around 163,000 hives which, in the end, produce 2,500 tonnes of honey every year. What else is there to say other than that it’s quite a dynamic organization!

Here is a chronological list of events in the PACA region which are organising honey and bees festivals:

2 August, Forcalquier

This event, which has been taking place every year for the last two decades is characterised by the great diversity of honeys presented at its market. Open to all, everyone will have the opportunity to learn about all the scents and flavours of honeys made in Provence from the local producers and beekeepers. From common lavender flower honey to the more unusual honey made from strawberry trees, the vast variety of regional products will most likely be a delightful surprise to visitors.

Event opens at 9 am at the “Place du Bourget”.

9 August, Mouans-Sartoux

A reviewed version of the Mouans-Sartoux Honey Festival has been optimally organised without further delay. Normally occurring in April the event is planned around multiple interactive activities dedicated to inform visitors about all subjects concerning bees, beekeeping, and honey making. However, this year’s event will be predominantly demonstrative to respect health regulations.

Activities to look forward to: live extraction of honey by professional bee-keepers, honey tasting and, of course, cooking demonstrations from collaborating beekeepers and renowned chefs !

Market opens between 5 pm and 11 pm.

Early October, Les Arcs-sur-Agens

Happening every year on the first weekend of October is the honey festival in les Arcs-sur-Agens in the Var. Here is what to expect from the festival (in the hopes that loosened health measures will be applied):

–       Stations for honey tasting.

–       A demonstration in a glass-enclosed environment where professional beekeepers will take care of their colony of bees.

–       Live honey extractions with experts illustrating their methods and techniques simultaneously.

–       Workshops for children designed to be fun and informative regarding the subject of bees and their role in the ecosystem.

–       Photo contest where the theme will be “beekeeping.”

–       A market with farmers representing the regions local products: wine, olive oil, cheese, etc.

Event will be at the Place Général de Gaulle.

– Charlotte Gillet

MONACO

Entertaining events have been organised in Monaco to ensure that its visitors and locals enjoy summer to the fullest- without worrying about safety measures that is. Between the cultural heritage sites of the city, the musical concerts, and Monaco’s open-air cinema, there are still things to do and see.

Every night – Films under the open sky

Monaco’s open-air cinema reopened in the mid-June and projects films on the roof terrace of the Parking des Pêcheurs, next to the Oceanographic Museum. A film flickers on the screen every evening in summer.

Supposedly Europe’s largest open-air screen, the ‘theatre’ shows original versions (with subtitles) of top films from recent years, including “The Dark Knight”, “Joker”, “Bohemian Rhapsody” and also newly released films. But above all, no repeats.

Monaco’s open-air cinema was founded as early as 1948, on the site where the Fairmont Hotel stands today. It is run by the third generation of projectors, Thierry Fréhet and his son, Arthur.

Films are shown every night during the summer until mid-September, starting at 10 pm (9 pm in September). For well-known reasons, this year there are fewer than the usual 550 seats.

Tickets cost between 8 and 15 euros.

For the full schedule:https://cinemas2monaco.com/index2.php?page=30

31 July – A floral jazz concert

This short list continues with a jazz concert at the Princess Grace Rose Garden. Initiated by the Direction de l’Aménagement Urbain, their objective this summer is to take advantage of Monaco’s beautiful public gardens for festive and cultural events. As a result, it’s in a splendid setting that the Jazz Trio of the “Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince” will be playing lively tunes on Friday 31 July.

Starting at 7 pm, this event is open to all and free of charge. Unfortunately, there will be a limitation of available spaces to comply with social distancing regulations. Therefore, all music- and especially jazz- lovers are recommended to arrive earlier to ensure themselves a spot at this event.

21-23 August – Art3F Contemporary art fair 

For the first time in Monaco, Art3f is organizing a contemporary art fair to promote the exchange between collectors, art lovers, and artists. The latter are selected by the committee to expose their works and get recognition for it in a convivial setting. Art gallery members will also be showcasing some renowned contemporary art pieces as well.

Whilst observing and discussing artworks, a restaurant and terrace will also be available for visitors yearning for small gourmet breaks.

Opening times:

Friday – 4 pm to 11 pm

Saturday – 10 am to 8 pm

Sunday – 10 am to 7 pm

Tickets: 10€ at the door, 7€ online, and free for minors -18.

To access the website: https://www.art3f.fr/index.php/en/visitors-infos-monaco/item/959-art3f-monaco-on-the-spot

*Note: The Steve Hackett concert planned on the 18^th of September at the Opera Garnier Monte-Carlo has been postponed. No alternative dates have yet to be released.

– Charlotte Gillet

ART & CULTURE

Outdoor cinemas during the hot summer evenings are always a favourite, but this year it takes on even more importance as we are faced with reduced events and many of us are still not willing to step inside the closed space of a cinema room. A hard choice considering going to the movies is certainly one of many people’s favourite activities. After all, it’s relaxing all the while being a friendly outing. The majority of cities in the PACA region have taken note and our summer cinema options have multiplied! Here’s a list of local cities that are offering cinemas under the open sky, in full health safety. 

Aix-en-Provence: “Les instants d’été”

The program has been redesigned with regard to the confinement in mind. This summer it will focus on comedy and travel. The aim is to give the public a place to escape and laugh out loud after these troubling times. Short films, documentaries, fiction, animation… Les instants d’été program presents a wide selection of films borrowed from several film genres and running from the 50s to today. 

The festival is held in a unique place: the gardens of the Pavillon de Vendôme. The audience will be reduced to 100 people in order to allow for social distancing to be respected. Films start at nightfall and a deckchair will be provided to people with their reservation. It will therefore not be necessary to bring your own seat.

To reserve a spot: www.Billetto.fr

Full schedule: www.frequence-sud.fr

Cannes: “Ciné Quartier 2020”

The program of the Ciné Quartier offers a rich amount of choices for free outdoor movies this year! Established in partnership with the Cannes Cinéma association, it allows you to discover or rediscover recent films that are popular with the general public. The screenings are held outdoors, without competing with local cinema owners (the films shown are not shown in cinemas), in a decor inspired by the “Cinéma de la Plage” which takes place during the Cannes Film Festival, with deckchairs and red carpet. 

This free entertainment is part of the municipality’s desire to liven up the city for the benefit of the quality of life during these difficult times and the attractiveness of tourism. The theme of cinema is an essential element of the events policy deployed throughout the year and makes up the DNA of Cannes.

• Every Thursday on the market square of Cannes-la-Bocca. 
• Every Friday on the square in front of the Palais des Festivals and Congresses of Cannes.

Films are free, but space is limited so get there early!

Full schedule: www.cannes.com

Mouans-Sartoux: “Cinéma plein air”

Every Monday evening, enjoy projections on a giant screen outside in the park of the Château.

Films start at 9.30 pm, the ticket office opens 30 minutes before. Single rate: 5€.

Full schedule: www.mouans-sartoux.com

Valbonne: “Cinéma plein air”

The outdoor cinema is held at the Pré de l’Hotel de Ville. Viewers are asked to bring their own chairs and blankets. Masks obligatory.

Full schedule: www.06.kidiklik.fr

Villefranche-sur-Mer: “Cinéma de plein air”

Held at the Théâtre de la Citadelle until 31 July. Films begin at 9:30 pm. Tickets 6€.

Full schedule: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Drive-In-Movie-Theater/Cin%C3%A9ma-plein-air-La-Citadelle-694031220668936/

Make sure to check your local town’s Facebook page for local events. 

-Charlotte Gillet