Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

56  INTRODUCING PROVENCE

Provence at War

After the economic drain caused by World War I, Tourism
Provence enjoyed increasing prosperity as the As swimming in
the sea and sun-
tourist industry boomed. While much of the bathing became
interior remained remote and rural, the vogue fashionable
for sea-bathing drew crowds to resorts such as pursuits, resorts
Cannes and Nice from the 1920s onwards. along the Riviera
attracted many
Provence continued to build on its image as a new visitors.
playground for the rich and famous, attracting In the 1930s
visitors from Noël Coward to Wallis Simpson. a nudist colony
The 1942–44 German occupation brought an opened on the
Ile du Levant.
end to the glamorous social life for many, and
some towns, including St-Tropez and Marseille,
were badly damaged by Germans and Allies.

Monaco Grand Prix
This race around the principality’s streets was
started on the initiative of Prince Louis II in
1929. It is still one of the most colourful and
dangerous Formula 1 races.

Precious ammunition and arms
were dropped from Allied planes
or captured from the Nazis.

La Résistance
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry After 1942 the Résistance (or maquis after the
France’s legendary writer-pilot scrubland that made a good hiding place) was
disappeared on 31 July 1944 active in Provence. The fighters were successful in
while on a reconnaissance Marseille and in preparing the coastal areas for
flight (see p33). the 1944 Allied invasion.

1930 Novelist D H
1925 Coco Chanel Lawrence dies in Vence
arrives on the Riviera
Coco Chanel
1920 1925 1930
1930 Pagnol
begins filming
1924 Scott and Zelda Marius, Fanny
Fitzgerald spend a year 1928 Camargue and César trilogy César trilogy César
F Scott on the Riviera National Park created in Marseille
Fitzgerald