Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

PROVENCE THROUGH THE Y EAR  37

Average Daily Hours of Sunshine
Sunshine Chart
Hours The summer months are
12 guaranteed to be hot,
with the intensity
9 climaxing in July. Even
in the winter, coastal
towns can have up to
6
150 hours of sunshine
a month, but be warned:
3
it is often the icy Mistral
that blows the clouds
0 away in early spring.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Summer
The Côte d’Azur is essentially
a playground in summer,
particularly in August when the
French take their holidays.
Rafters take to the rivers and
scuba divers explore the varied
sealife. For laid-on entertain-
ment, there are music festivals
throughout the region.
Three national celebrations
are also manifest: fireworks and
bonfires brighten the skies on
the Fête de St-Jean (June 24).
Bastille Day (July 14) is Celebrating the Fête de St-Jean with fireworks over Marseille harbour
celebrated with fireworks while
Assumption Day (August 15) opera season is held in the dancing, jousting and wine
is a time for great feasting. acoustically perfect Roman wagons open for tasting.
theatre (see pp166–7). Fête du Jasmin (first week-end),
June Jazz à Juan (mid- to late July), Grasse (see pp70–71). Floats,
Fête de la Tarasque (last w/e), Juan-les-Pins (see p76). One of the music and dancing in the town.
Tarascon (see p144). According area’s top jazz festivals. Procession de la Passion (5 Aug),
to local legend, the Jazz à Toulon (mid-July– Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (see
early Aug
Tarasque monster once early Aug),), Toulon p102). Over 500 locals take part
early Aug
terrorized the region. (see p116–17). Free in staging Christ’s passion,
An effigy of the concerts in different enacted since the Virgin saved
monster is paraded squares every day the town from plague in 1467.
through the town. throughout the town. Le Festival de Musique (all
Festival International Recontres Interna- month), Menton (see pp102–3).
d’Art Lyrique (June & tionales de la Photo- Chamber music in the square.
July), Aix-en-Provence graphie (Jul–Sep),
(see pp152–3). Extensive Arles (see pp148–50).
programme of classical The legendary The National School of
music concerts and Tarasque Photography was set
opera is staged in the up in 1982 as a result
courtyard theatre of the of this festival, and each year
Archbishop’s Palace. the town is transformed into
a photographic arena.
July
Festival de la Sorgue (weekends (weekends (week August
in July), Fontaine-de-Vaucluse & Corso de la Lavande (first
l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (see p169). weekend), Digne-les-Bains
Concerts, boat races and floating (see p229).
markets on the river Sorgue. Véraison Festival – A Medieval
Festival d’Avignon (mid- to late Celebration (early Aug),
July),), Avignon (see p229).
July
July Châteauneuf-du-Pape (see
Chorégies d’Orange (all month), p168). A medieval market comes Holiday-makers on the crowded beaches
Orange. This long-established alive with 200 actors, music, of the Côte d’Azur