With winter and cold weather slowly blowing away, it is surely time to start thinking about your holiday plans for the coming year.
Is there any place better to start off your 2014 holiday season, than Saint Tropez in the South of France. A place where the Sun shines for over 300 days a year. It is not just the sunshine which allures people to this amazing place on Earth. This region is famous for exciting events and festivals, making it perfect to visit literally any time of the year.
The picturesque town of Saint Tropez is a fantastic place to base yourselves in the South of France as you are never too far from the action – yet far enough to head to a beach if you fancy a day of calm or retreat to the terrace of your holiday villa. Below is a list of the Top 10 unmissable events scheduled for 2014 to whet your appetite when considering where to spend your holidays:
1. Nice Carnival & 2. Citron Festival in Menton
February/March: After Rio in Brazil, the Nice Carnival is arguably the largest and most colourful in the world, with amazing floats and animations sweeping through the seaside city from 14th February to March 4th. It’s an intoxicating scene, drawing crowds of more than one million people who line the streets to catch a glimpse of the giant puppets who appear to dance in the sky overhead.
This year, the theme of the carnival is King of Gastronomy so expect some delicious Nicois food as you watch the gigantic figurines march by. Talking of food, there is also the fantastic Citron Festival in Menton to brighten up a stay on the French Riviera in the winter. This event – where more than 145 tons of oranges and lemons are used to decorate the town – will take place between 15th February and March 5th.
3. Monte Carlo Rolex Masters Tennis Cup in Monaco & 4. Top Marques show in Monaco
April: Spring is a particularly beautiful time of the year on the French Riviera, and where better to stay than in a luxury apartment in the heart of Monaco so you are easily placed to take advantage of the principality’s packed agenda. First on the calendar is the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters held in the salubrious Monte Carlo Country Club from 12th to 20th April which attracts some of the biggest names in tennis such as Monaco resident Novac Djokovic and British favorite Andy Murray.
Another great event not to miss is Top Marques Monaco, the world’s most exclusive supercar show which offers VIP guests the chance to test drive their dream vehicle on parts of the Formula 1 circuit. This unique event will take place from 17th to 20th of April.
5. Cannes Film Festival & 6. Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
May: Our next unmissable event needs no introduction. The Cannes Film Festival is without doubt one of the most important dates in the movie world and an infectious time to visit this beautiful city. Taking place this year from May 14th to 25th, it regularly attracts the biggest names in Hollywood who come to promote their films, compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or award and party. It was announced this week that New Zealand-born director and producer Jane Campion will preside over the elite jury for the film industry’s biggest accolade.
Just as the Cannes film festival is wrapping up, it will be time to head to Monaco again for the Monaco Grand Prix; the most electrifying and anticipated race on the Formula 1 circuit. The event, which sees drivers like Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton race through the streets of the principality at speeds of up to 280km per hour, will this year overlap slightly with the film festival, taking place on May 25th. So if you want to fit both in, why not charter a private helicopter to get you there in just 15 minutes. Simple.
7. Jazz Festival in Juan-les-Pins
July: One of the highlights of spending the summer on the Cote d’Azur is the chance to tap into its rich musical heritage, and no venue is as spectacular as under the giant pine trees on the shores of the Bay of Cannes in Juan-les-Pins. It is in this unique setting that musicians such as George Benson, James Blunt and other top international musicians perform during the Jazz à Juan Festival. The program of this popular festival has yet to be announced but the confirmed dates are from July 12th to 20th.
8. Jazz Festival in Ramatuelle
August: More jazz, this time in Ramatuelle, a delightful medieval village a stone’s throw from Saint Tropez and the perfect attraction for those holidaying in private villas on the water’s edge at Pampelonne, which is actually in the same commune as Ramatuelle. The Jazz Festival Ramatuelle will be played out in the historic Theatre de Verdure and surrounding gardens between August 15th and 19th this year.
9. Monaco Yacht Show
September: In many places September signals the end to summer but not in the South of France, where temperatures linger in the mid 20Cs until the end of the month. A hugely popular event to seek at this time of year is the Monaco Yacht Show, the world’s most exclusive boat extravaganza featuring many of the most spectacular yachts available for sale and for charter on the globe. It’s a great chance to marvel at superyachts such as Kokomo, a magnificent 58 metre sailing yacht which was last year presented at the show by Fraser Yachts. This year’s show will take place from September 24th to 27th and will feature 15 more berths than ever before.
10. Les Voiles de St Tropez
September/October: Our last unmissable event for 2014 continues along the sailing theme with Les Voiles de St Tropez Regatta, one of the most anticipated yachting events on the nautical calendar. Organised by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the race attracts top racers and sailing enthusiast from all over the world who come annually to battle it out in the waters off Saint Tropez. This year’s regatta will take place from September 29th to October 5th.
