Events
Provence is the stage for some of the most wonderful and famous events in France. One of these events is the worldwide known Cannes Film Festival, which not only attracts a large crowd each year, but also some of the most famous people in the film industry.
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Cannes Film Festival
Info: Best known for starlets on the beach, stars on yachts and fractious bun fights at controversial screenings, the festival also has a proud history of upholding artistic standards within an industry increasingly dominated by the bottom line.
When: May
Where: Palais des Festivals, Cannes
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Festival d’Avignon
Info: Set in the former Papal capital with its spectacular walled medieval architecture, the Festival d’Avignon is a huge multi-arts celebration - France’s equivalent to the Edinburgh Festival.
When: July
Where: Avignon
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Festival de Marseille
Info: First held in 1996, the annual Marseille Festival takes place over four hot weeks throughout the bustling port. It’s a culture vulture’s paradise, with performances ranging from contemporary dance, theater and music to classic film.
When: June - July
Where: Marseille
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Nice Carnival
Info: The Nice Carnival is the top winter event on the French Riviera. The city comes alive during a fortnight of festivities, with carnival processions, flower parades, prestige soirées, concerts and fireworks, attracting over a million spectators.
When: February - March
Where: Nice
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Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Info: Formerly a traditional sailing competition known as the Nioulargue, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez has moved upmarket and now boasts both a classic yacht race and a modern regatta.
When: October
Where: Saint-Tropez
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Festival of Maritime Film and Exploration
Info: The secrets of the deep are revealed at the annual Festival of Maritime Film and Exploration, held in Toulon’s Palais de Neptune. The ten-day festival shows exclusive footage taken in some of the world’s most remote regions and, of course, close-up images of the underwater world.
When: September - October
Where: Palais Neptune, Toulon