The Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur is a region in the south east of France it was once the French province of Provence, it is made up of six departements: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Hautes-Alpes, Var and Vaucluse

To the east the Provence Alpes Côte-d'Azur borders Italy and along the south it meets the Mediterranean Sea, some stunning coastlines and the fashionable and well heeled French Riviera. The Rhone river marks its most western border.

The Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur has a warm Mediterranean climate in the south, to the north are the cooler the mountain ranges of the Alps. The summers are warm and dry with temperatures often reaching 30c and above. The winters are cold but often bright with plenty of winter sunshine.

There is an unusual weather condition, an icy cold wind called the Mistral which sweeps down off the mountains to the north although the Mistral quickly dispels any clouds it can make temperatures plummet. The Mistral is most likely to blow between the months of March and May.

The main cities include the Riviera resort of Nice where some people still speak the local dialect of Nicard a Provençal language spoken in some southern regions of France.

Cannes also situated on the coast is well known for its film festival, lively culture and night life.

Marseille the regions capital is the second largest city in France and its largest commercial port, its history goes back as far as 600 B.C. when it was founded by the Greeks.

Quote this article on your site