|
Factfile
South of France See
also Riviera
realty from French Property News September 2006
See
also Places to see and visit in the South of France 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 See
Buying a property in France
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. Telephones
in France - Mobile phones - All
mobile phones start with 06. Calling a mobile from a land line can be very expensive.
If you are visting France for a while instead of relying on your home country
mobile you can buy a "nomad" Pay as you go sim card. You will need a
French address. Landline
phones - The
French telephone network is run by France Telecom. Peak hour (heures pleines)
rates run from 8am - 7pm Mon-Fri. The weekends, national holidays & hours
between 7pm & 8am are classed as off peak (heures creuses). FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NICE CLICK
HERE FOR OUR NICE FACT FILE
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 - Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
Midem (Marché International
du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale) the international music market from all genres
for all professionals providing 5 days of business and networking marketplace
in Cannes
More information on MIDEM 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.
©jml
property services 08/04
Jazz
à Juan
- Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival
Fact
File Nice
Places
to see and visit in the South of France Click
Here Biot
and the local area Click
Here 
Cannes
Film Festival
Historic
Monaco Grand Prix
Nice and the South of France in January
Riviera
realty from French Property News September 2006
Click Here 
Home Page Cote d'Azur Rental
Images of the South of France
| 
