Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

PROVENCE THROUGH THE Y EAR  39

Average Monthly Temperature Temperature Chart
The Mistral has a
°C °F substantial effect on
30 Maximum temperature 85 the temperature. During
Minimum temperature the winter and early
24 75 spring, it can drop
65 10 C (18C (18 F) in only a
°
° ° °
18
few hours. The summer
12 55 heat can be uncom-
fortable, but the
6 45 evenings cool down
and are perfect for
0 32
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec sitting outside.
The annual festival in celebration
Winter of the medieval perched
There is an old saying in village’s favourite flower.
Provence used to describe Carnaval de Nice, (all month),
winter: “l’hiver a ges d’ouro,” Nice. France’s largest pre-Lent
“winter has no hours”. It is a festival (see p228).
time to open the jams of the
summer, to make the geese and Public Holidays
duck confits and to turn the
olive harvest into oil. New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
Snow soon cuts off mountain Easter Sunday and Monday
passes and, at weekends, locals Ascension (sixth Thursday
and visitors take to the many after Easter)
ski resorts, warmed by juniper Whit Monday (second
or wild strawberry liqueurs. Relaxing in the winter sun in the Monday after Ascension)
Christmas is heralded by the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Labour Day (1 May)
sale of santons, the figurines VE Day (8 May)
used to decorate Provence’s February
distinctive cribs. Epiphany is Fête du Citron, (late Feb–early Bastille Day (14 Jul)
another important festival, Mar), Menton (see pp102–3). Assumption Day (15 Aug)
when the Three Kings are fêted Floats and music fill the town All Saints’ Day (1 Nov)
with crown-shaped pastries. during the lemon festival. Remembrance Day (11 Nov)
Fête du Mimosa (third Sunday), Christmas Day (25 Dec)
December Bormes-les-Mimosas (see pp120–21).
Foire aux Santons (all month),
Marseille (see pp154–6). The
largest fair honouring the
symbolic clay figures that are
an integral part of Christmas.
Fête du Millesime – Vin de
Bandol (early December), Bandol
(see p116). Every wine-grower
in the town has their own stand
and there is free wine-tasting.
A different theme is chosen
every year with activities
and much merriment.
Noël and midnight mass (24 Dec),
Les Baux-de-Provence (see
pp146–7). A traditional festive feast
of the shepherds before mass.
January
Rallye de Monte-Carlo (late
Jan, pp96–7)pp96–7)pp96–7 . A major event
in the motor sporting calendar.
Festival du Cirque (end of month),
Monaco (see p98). Circus shows
from around the globe. A colourful creation at the Fête du Citron in Menton