Bandol wine

Bandol is a popular harbour town on the French Riviera, with an extra attraction – the wines for which it is very well known.

After exploring Bandol itself and before venturing out to experience the rest of the of the Var, be sure to tour the vineyards. For anyone accustomed to the glitzy tasting rooms of Napa filled with expensive glassware and expansive displays of wine-related do-dads, it will be an experience to remember.

Here, in most cases, you will follow a simple rustic sign to a modest house or barn where, after ringing a bell, you will be welcomed into a simple tasting room, by the proprietor or a member of the family who will offer you generous pours of whatever wines suit your fancy.

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Les Restanques, holiday village – review

If you are looking for a family holiday somewhere on the Bay of St Tropez then the Pierre and Vacances holiday village, Les Restanques is well worth considering. I can say that with confidence because we just spent a week there ourselves and I’m very happy to recommend it, having had a great time!

The holiday village has about 500 apartments and villas and is set out on a hill overlooking St Tropez and the bay of Saint Tropez. The villas and apartments have been built in the style of the region and the 25 acre site has been planted with a mass of Acacia trees, Oleanders, Agapanthus etc and is very attractive.

There is a very large wave pool which was a huge hit with my children. If you are looking for something quieter there is a smaller pool nearby which I found great for an early morning swim. There are also tennis courts, football pitch, volley ball, Roller Park etc available and an outdoor theatre where regular events take place.

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Does that look Nice?

Hot on the heels of our comments about the characteristics of the various coastlines of southern France, here is a photo of the most popular seasort resort in France – Nice.

Nice is also a great place to visit, with both easy access to the sunny Mediterranean, and plenty to amuse you in the town when you can’t bear the sea any longer…

…some of the highlights of Nice include:

- the little cottages behind the harbour – once little storage sheds they are now glamorous boutiques and restaurants

- the Promenade des Anglais, a long established walk along the seafront

- the market on Cours Saleya, just behind the Promenade des Anglais

- the cathedral and pedestrianised squares in the older part of the town

- the sophisticated Cimiez region to the north of Nice

- the impressive Matisse museum

and much more besides.

The downside, as you see from the picture, is that the seafront itself – especially in central Nice, can become just a teensy bit crowded and it might not always be easy for your children to run around as much as they might like on the beach…

Beaches of southern France

France has over 3000 kilometres of coastline, and a great deal of it is accessible. In the south of France the main areas of coast include:

• the French Riviera / Cote d’Azur section that runs from Marseille to the Italian border
• the Languedoc coast, also on the Mediterranean, that runs from the border with Spain around to the Camargue (on the border between Languedoc and Provence regions)
• the Atlantic coast, that stretches in ann almost unbroken line from Arcachon the coast west of Bordeaux) down to the border with Spain at Hendaye, beyond Biarritz

But which should you choose…and why?

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