Provence – or to be more correct – Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur (PACA) is a popular area for foreign investors. Its chic and lavish reputation encourages investors from around the world.

PACA is divided into Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhone,Var and Vaucluse. Strangely no department for the Cote d’Azur or French Riviera. The Cote d’Azur area stretches from the Italian border to east of Toulon including playgrounds of the rich and famous. Cote d’Azur property is expensive.

Inland Provence property prices tend to drop significantly. The Luberon, however, remains very expensive. The Luberon was made famous by Peter Mayle, and has attracted many buyers and visitors. The Var department is lovely and is worth investigating for property that is more competitively priced.

It’s time to Tango
It’s time to dust off those dancing shoes and prepare to swing the hips for the first-ever International Tango Festival. For four days, the city of Nice will vibrate with traditional Argentinian dancing and music for the ‘Festival International de Tango des illuminations argentines’ from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th May.
Port Canto becomes a garden of paradise
Residents and visitors are invited to explore a new tropical haven set within the second port of Cannes following a series of renovation works. This beautiful harbour is undergoing a major revamp but it’s also under threat of losing it’s original, hereditary name.
Fire rages in the port of Antibes
Forty firefighters were called to the port in Antibes to help control the flames of a fire that began onboard one of the harbour’s yachts earlier today. Owners of nearby vessels were evacuated for fear that their boats may too succumb to the blaze.

France drops sexual harassment law
The French High Court has decided to repeal the country’s sexual harassment law on the grounds that the definition was too vague and confusing. While the system is refined and reworked, victims’ lawyers have been told to pursue other grounds for prosecution including attempted sexual assault.
Beaches are clean and ready to go!
With summer fast approaching, the French Riviera, famous for its sizzling temperatures, soft white sands and pebble beaches, is getting ready to accommodate sunseekers by cleaning up the coast.
Hit the open road in your 2 CV
Wind down your windows and roll back the roof to enjoy a countryside drive through France’s prettiest villages this May. A pack of classic 2 CVs are taking to the French rural roads this month on a tour that will trace a route through some of France’s most charming regions and towns.

TheRoman Temple of Verneguessits in a beautiful glade in the woods, northwest ofAix-en-Provenceand just northwest ofLambesc. Most in ruins, but one tall Corinthian column remains, along with some walls and an adajcent Medieval chapel built into the temple walls.

By Russ

Unemployment hits record high
Unemployment in France has soared to its highest level in over 12 years, revealed the Labour Ministry yesterday. The latest statistics showed that last month the number of registered jobseekers rose by 16,000 to reach a record 2.88 million.
Bank Holiday! But what to do?
A bank holiday is always great news but it also means more time to fill. Check out our special selection of events and low cost activities, so that you can “bank” on a fun weekend!
Raising money for cancer research
For a biomedical research institute that hasn’t opened yet, The Francis Crick Institute has got a lot to live up to. It’s named after one of the greatest medical scientists and founded by six of the most prestigious science institutions in the UK, including Cancer Research UK – the world’s biggest public funder of cancer research. But the founders are confident it’ll pass all expectations within years of its opening in 2015. That’s because it’ll house the greatest scientific minds

How did PACA vote?
Socialist leader François Hollande has taken the lead in the first round of the presidential election. But it was incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy who scored consistently higher in our region, followed closely by the Front National’s Marine Le Pen.
New breast cancer treatment centre in Nice
A new clinic specialising in breast cancer treatment has opened in Nice. The centre provides an entire programme of care to patients and will be the only unit in the country to use such advanced cancer technology.
Mystery corpse identified
A man’s body found floating in the Var river near Lingostière in the west of Nice has been formally identified as 52-year-old worker Michel Fuentes who disappeared during the tragic floods which swept across the region last November.

How did PACA vote?
Socialist leader François Hollande has taken the lead in the first round of the presidential election. But it was incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy who scored consistently higher in our region, followed closely by the Front National’s Marine Le Pen.
New breast cancer treatment centre in Nice
A new clinic specialising in breast cancer treatment has opened in Nice. The centre provides an entire programme of care to patients and will be the only unit in the country to use such advanced cancer technology.
Mystery corpse identified
A man’s body found floating in the Var river near Lingostière in the west of Nice has been formally identified as 52-year-old worker Michel Fuentes who disappeared during the tragic floods which swept across the region last November.

How did PACA vote?
Socialist leader François Hollande has taken the lead in the first round of the presidential election. But it was incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy who scored consistently higher in our region, followed closely by the Front National’s Marine Le Pen.
New breast cancer treatment centre in Nice
A new clinic specialising in breast cancer treatment has opened in Nice. The centre provides an entire programme of care to patients and will be the only unit in the country to use such advanced cancer technology.
Mystery corpse identified
A man’s body found floating in the Var river near Lingostière in the west of Nice has been formally identified as 52-year-old worker Michel Fuentes who disappeared during the tragic floods which swept across the region last November.

Jewellery robbery at a sushi shop?
He thought he was going to a business lunch with a client and had no idea he was being set up. That’s what a jeweller has told police, saying his guest stole a bag full of precious jewels worth 500,000 euros while they sat in a sushi restaurant in Cannes.
More parking for Nice
Following the demolition work that begun in January, construction has finally begun on the six-level car park on Rue Sulzer in Vieux Nice. The new parking facility will ease Nice’s notorious parking problems by adding 455 spaces to the historic Niçois district.
Stargazing on the Côte d’Azur
Nice’s Week of Astronomy begins tomorrow, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 16 space mission. This year’s line up honours the role of women in the scientific field and will run from Thursday 19th until the 29th.

TheRoman Temple of Verneguessits in a beautiful glade in the woods, northwest ofAix-en-Provenceand just northwest ofLambesc. Most in ruins, but one tall Corinthian column remains, along with some walls and an adajcent Medieval chapel built into the temple walls.

By Russ

Toulouse victim returns home
The teenager shot by suspected gunman Mohammed Merah outside a Jewish school in Toulouse last month returned to his family home in Nice yesterday afternoon where, according to his elder brother and lawyer, he will continue with his recovery process.
Nice Jazz Festival performers revealed
The line-up for this year’s Nice Jazz Festival has been announced, and as promised, there’s an eclectic mix for young and old during the five-day musical event, with a strong show of American performers.
The date is set for Nice-Thiers station revamp
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has announced the start date for renovation works on the region’s dated Thiers train station. The 60 million euro facelift is expected to get underway in January 2013, with the construction of an innovative new forecourt and parking zone.