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Life.Style Journal

Christmas on the Côte D’Azur; from the beach to the Alps

28 Nov 2018


Christmas cards tell stories of snow-covered roofs and children in woolly hats and wellington boots – but the picture on the Cote d’Azur each year looks a little different.

Look out your window at Parc du Cap and you’ll see the magic twinkling of the Mediterranean ocean. A bright blue sky and warm winter sunshine makes all the difference.

Kicking off Christmas

In the South of France, Christmas day can begin on the beach. If you’re spending Christmas at Parc du Cap, you can use the opportunity to head to Nice’s Ruhl Plage. Make sure to wear your best festive swimwear for an invigorating dip in the sea. If you don’t fancy taking the plunge, why not relax on the promenade and watch the children test-ride their brand new bikes and roller skates. Afterwards, when everyone is warm and dry, stop at Le Negresco. It’s a time to wish the merry-go-round horses on the terrace a merry Christmas, while you enjoy a celebratory glass of champagne with an oyster or two.

Local knowledge

There’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy Christmas lunch together back home at Parc du Cap, but first, it’s time for presents! You’ve probably enjoyed browsing the local Christmas markets for gifts throughout November and December. Think about traditional wooden toys in Antibes’ Bonhomme de Bois or exquisite perfumes from Tanagra, Nice’s tranquil haven of scent. Christmas shopping is always a joy on the Riviera.

If you haven’t already visited, Lucéram is a magical place to spend Christmas afternoon. This beautiful medieval village north of Nice proudly hosts the Circuit des Crèches every day throughout December. Follow a trail of 450 sparkling nativity scenes of all shapes and sizes, each as unique as the last, through the quiet, traffic-free streets. The displays are carefully constructed of everything from wool and pinecones to bread, and will delight the whole family. Even the village’s old wash-houses and fountains bear floating crèches throughout the season.

Hit the Slopes

For some of us, it’s just not Christmas without snow. If that’s you, fear not: at Parc du Cap you’re within a couple of hours’ drive of the spectacular ski resorts of the French Alps.  Isola 2000 is one of the largest resorts nearby, and is very popular with families at Christmas. Indeed it’s Santa Claus’ favourite stops on Christmas Eve, being the home of Le Decente de Flambeaux. At around half-past 7 the man himself descends the mountain, guided by a long line of bright torches, to meet the crowd gathered in Centreville. The atmosphere when he arrives in a shower of candy is unbeatable.

Valberg is another wonderful option for families that dream of a white Christmas. It’s not all about skiing here. Lots of families like to spend their time sledging and building snowmen amongst the pine trees before cosying up in a chalet with a glass of hot spiced wine in the afternoon.

In summary

We hope that the festive season brings you and your loved ones pure joy this year. From all of us at Parc du Cap: Joyeux Nöel.

See more from our Life.Style journal and keep up with the region’s sparkling calendar of festivals and events here.



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