We've added the ancient Varvillage of Brasto Beyond. Sitting in an area of forests, rivers and vineyards,Bras villagehas chapels, castle and old-village ruins, and an interesting “pigeonnier”.

Just a couple of km out of town is the lovelyTombereau Falls, a waterfall at the junction of the Argens and Cauron rivers.

By Russ Collins

Weather alert issued in Alpes-Maritimes
rivieratimes.com says: The Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes has issued a weather warning for today. Residents should take caution close to the coast. Access to some coastal paths is prohibited due to strong winds and the high waves they cause.
Weather alert again today in Alpes-Maritimes
rivieratimes.com says: Following yesterday’s alert the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes has again issued a weather alert for today.

The little Var village ofMazauguesis now online in Beyond. Located in the hills southwest ofBrignoles, this small village has some nice hiking, a good café, a hotel-restaurant open all year, and an ice-making museum.

This photo is of the castle ruins at the site of the original village, overlooking the current Mazaugues.

By Russ Collins

We've added the town ofTourvesto Beyond. This little town is located between St Maximin andBrignolesin the western part of the Var (east ofAix-en-Provence).Tourveshas some excellent old fountains and lots of chapels and castle ruins sitting on hilltops all around the town.

By Russ Collins

Nice-Paris TGV fast train accident
rivieratimes.com says: This morning’s TGV n°6172 and the TGV n°2902, which left Nice is currently stopped between Aix-en-Provence and Avignon due to a person being hit at 9.20am.

We apologize but our ProvenceBeyond website will be offline for about 4 hours. Our host is doing a big technical update and transferring our site to new equipment.

Russ

By Russ Collins

Montessori open day opportunity
rivieratimes.com says: The region’s only bi-lingual Montessori school, Les Calibris, is having an open day on Saturday 27th February. During the day two debates are planned to discuss the benefits of this method of education which focuses on harnessing the potential of a child.

We've added the Var village ofBelgentierto Beyond. A Medieval village in the lush Gapeau valley north ofToulon,Belgentierwas famously visited by the Sun King, Louis XIV, in 1660. Less famously, the royal party include the Mousquetaires Comminges and D'Artagnan.

A Saturday visit on a cool winter day, the trees were bare and the sun was low, but this is still a colorful village. A few houses in the old village are especially brightly painted, and the large fresco on the side of the church,

By Russ Collins

To catch a swindler and a swine
rivieratimes.com says: The Riviera Times have joined the hunt for a dangerous criminal, convicted of fraud in the UK and wanted under a European arrest warrant. Since 2008, Mogens Hauschildt, 68, has been on the run with one million pounds belonging to 87-year-old widow, Pamela Schutzmann.

We visited the Var village ofMéounes-lès-Montrieuxon Saturday, one of the rare sunny days during the 2010 monsoon season in the South of France. Méounes-lès-Montrieuxis a small villages tucked in a very green valley north ofToulonin the Var department.
By Russ Collins