Guide to Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur

Soak in the Sunshine on the Côte d'Azur

The Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur lies between the mountains and the sea, stretching from the Mercantour National Park to the Rhone River delta and from the Barre des Ecrins to the Marseille Calanques. Made up of six departments, the region benefits from a spectacular coastline, plenty of sunshine, azure-blue sea, rich heritage, many ‘chic’ towns and stunning properties.

Stunning Mediterranean Coastline

The coastline stretches from the Côte d’Azur in the Var to the Camargue, with 40 km of fine sandy and pebbled beaches. Famous ports include Cannes, Nice, Saint Tropez, Marseille, Hyeres and Toulon, with smaller coastal villages like Sainte Maxime, Cassis, La Ciotat dotted in between. The superb islands and 33 sailing ports allow thousands of boats to moor year-round.

Water Activities and Leisure

The Côte d'Azur is also a major port-of-call for many Mediterranean cruises and all water-sports can be enjoyed there. The Riviera boasts nineteen beautiful golf courses that are open all year round. Those who enjoy fishing will find 1200 km of top-class rivers and streams. A bit further inland lays the Var department, or backcountry as the locals call it, with its quaint villages, artisan shops and dramatic landscape.

Skiing Fun Near to the Coast

The Alpine area includes wide-open protected spaces such as the Ecrins National Park and the Queyras Regional Park. It is full of small hamlets and villages where traditions thrive, as do rich and varied species of flora and fauna.

Ski resorts of the Azzure Alps are an hour away from the beaches, with the Southern Alps climbing up to 4,000 meters above Marseille. The Azzure balcony has more than 450 peaks over 2,000 meters. The foothills of the Alps have an original combination of Mediterranean scents and Alpine flora with a mixture of pastures, scrubland and pine forests.

The Heart of Provence

The true heart of Provence lies in the rolling hills that link the sea to the Alps. The unique Verdon River canyons are one of the natural jewels of Provence. In the backcountry, you will discover the fields and colourful landscapes which fascinated and inspired Van Gogh, Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, and Cocteau. Enjoy the pleasure of meeting artists and craftsmen in Biot, Vallauris and Grasse, who have revived old techniques and have given life to past arts such as the creation of precious ceramics, stained glass, carved wood figures, glass blowing and perfume-making.

Historical Legacy

The City of Marseille in Bouches-du-Rhône was founded by the Ancient Greeks around 600 BC. Then came the Romans, creating “La Provincia Romana”, leaving arenas, amphitheatres, archaeological sites, triumphal arches, aqueducts and bridges. The Roman cities of Arles, Orange, Nimes and Fréjus bear witness to this rich past, featuring vestiges now protected by UNESCO.

Taste the Delights of Provence

Discover the sumptuous traditional dishes and put a little sunshine on your plate: ratatouille, farcis nicois, pissaladière, anchoïde, soupe au pistou, beignets de fleurs de courge, artichauts barigoule, omelette de poutine, aïoli daube à la nicoise, barba-juan or bouillabaisse.

Renowned Wines of the Region

Provence is, of course, renowned for its rosés and table wines. The vineyards start from the southern part of the Rhone Valley and include the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Provence, where vineyards started over twenty-five centuries ago. Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Village, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Ventoux, Gigondas, Tavel, Côtes de Provence, Bandol, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence are just a few of the most popular red and rosé wines from the region.

Accessible Location

This varied region is less than three hours from Paris by TGV train and approx. seven hours from London Waterloo. PACA has good connections to other French regions and a motorway network to nearby Italy and Switzerland. Most budget and international airlines have regular flights from many UK, European and American cities to Nice and Marseille especially during peak season.

Facts and Figures

• Capital city: Marseille
• Population: Approx. 5.0 million  (around 7.5% of France's population, approx. 68 million).
• Area: 31,400 sq. kilometres (12,124 sq. miles), approx. about 5.7% of France's total area.
• Density: About 159 inhabitants per sq. kilometre, above France’s national average of 106

Tourism Information

• Number of Tourists per Year: Approximately 34 million.
• Km of Coastline: Approximately 900 km
• Mountains / Highest Peak: The highest peak is Mont Viso (3,841 meters) in Southern Alps.
• Sunshine Hours per Year: Around 2,700 hours
• Châteaux in the Region: Approx. 400–500 châteaux, ranging from medieval fortresses to Renaissance estates and  manor houses, notably the Château d'If (Marseille), Château de la Barben (Bouches-du-Rhône) and Château de Tarascon (Bouches-du-Rhône).
• Most Famous Landmark: The Palais des Papes in Avignon
• Over 70 golf courses in the Region

Getting to Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

The main cities are Marseille, Nice, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence and Avignon. They can be accessed using the road network (motorways, national and departmental roads), the train network, or by air. Here's a list of the region's airports and main train stations.

Airports

• Nice Côte d'Azur Airport
• Marseille Provence Airport
• Toulon-Hyères Airport
• Avignon-Provence Airport

Main Train Stations

• Nice-Ville Station
• Toulon Station
• Aix-en-Provence TGV Station
• Avignon TGV Station
• Marseille-Saint-Charles Station

Regional Tourist Hotspots

• The Palais des Papes in Avignon
• Marseille
• Aix-en-Provence
• Nice
• Cannes
• Saint-Tropez
• Arles
• The Verdon Gorge
• The Luberon Regional Natural Park

National Parks

• Parc national des Écrins
• Parc national du Mercantour
• Parc national de Port-Cros

Regional Nature Parks

• Parc naturel régional du Verdon
• Parc naturel régional du Lubéron
• Parc naturel régional des Alpilles
• Parc naturel régional de Camargue
• Parc naturel régional du Queyras

UNESCO Sites

• Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments
• Orange, Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the Triumphal Arch of Orange
• Historic Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge
• Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)

Economic Information

• Economic Strength: PACA is a dynamic region with a strong focus on tourism, technology, and services, making it a significant contributor to France's economic landscape.
• Gross Domestic Product: Approx. €160 billion (2022), around 6-7% of France's total GDP.
• Economy: Services, approx 75% (tourism, healthcare and education, technology and innovation with hubs for tech startups and research), industry 20% (aerospace and defence, shipbuilding and maritime, chemicals and pharmaceuticals) and agriculture with the remaining 5% (wine production, olives, lavender, fruits and fishing)
• Unemployment Rate: Approximately 8.5% (France’s national rate = 7.2%)
• Universities and Grandes Écoles: Notable institutions include Aix-Marseille University, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, University of Avignon, and the University of Toulon.
• Regional Specialties: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is renowned for its Mediterranean cuisine, including bouillabaisse (fish stew), ratatouille (vegetable stew), and aioli (garlic mayonnaise). The region is also famous for its wines, as well as its olives, lavender, and honey. Pastis, an anise-flavoured apéritif, is another notable speciality.

Bienvenue in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Warm friendships, excellent shopping, superb cuisine, fantastic wines and lively cultural life, in PACA, there truly is place in the sun for everyone. Click on the links on this page to discover a specific department of this sun-kissed region, use our handy draw map to narrow your search and browse through our properties for sale in Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur.