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Mediterranean culture, from field to plate TOULon
Base Camp
Whether laid out under a sunny sky or tucked away inside the food halls, the local markets for South Africa
are a real treat for the eyes and the taste buds. The most famous ones are in Nice, Embrun, Toulon will be hosting the South African team. This maritime
Avignon, Toulon and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. At the stalls you’ll find fresh garden herbs, town with the most gorgeous natural harbour in Europe is also
sun-kissed fruit, freshly-cooked vegetables and cheeses from local farms. Tourton pastry a rugby town, with its legendary stadium, Mayol.
parcels, pissaladières flatbreads and other regional specialities brighten up the apéritifs at
happy hour with their aromatic flavours. Not forgetting, of course, the region’s wines, which Discover Toulon
offer a range of prestigious appellations and secret vineyards (known as confidentielles),
created with native grape varieties. Rosé was born on this land and Provence dedicates
90% of its production to this iconic pink elixir with all its connotations of summer.
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Art old and new under the sun
In the South, art takes pride of place, regardless of the period it comes from. You can
go back in time at the Cosquer cave with its wood charcoal paintings that date back
over 30,000 years, or by visiting the stone sculptures of the Vallée des Merveilles (Valley
of Wonders), which are 5000 years old. The region has inspired and seduced artists since
time immemorial : Van Gogh, Picasso, Cézanne, Matisse and Chagall have all been
captivated by the incomparable light and infinite colour palette of the scenery here.
Vineyards, remarkable gardens and private foundations invite visitors to contemplate
works by famous names from the contemporary scene, from Jaume Prensa to Louise
Bourgeois. Every year, new works of street art adorn the districts of Nice, Toulon and
Marseille, and people pour in from all over the world to admire the Maison de celle qui
peint (the Painter’s House), by Roquevaire, with its ceramic decorations, or Le Corbusier’s
Maison du fou (The Madman’s House) - a UNESCO world heritage site.
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An Indian summer in France
From the Rhône delta to Menton, 835 kilometres of riverbanks offer up intimate bays, secret
coves and beaches that look out contemplatively on the deep blue sea. Whether you like Avignon
simple bathing, free diving or scuba diving, the Mediterranean is a magnificent place for
doing some exploring. Further inland, numerous lakes welcome sport-lovers tempted by Base Camp
the prospect of water-skiing, water-cycling, rowing, or a trip in a catamaran powered by for Uruguay
a thermal breeze. The skippers who will be taking part in the 2024 Olympics are already
getting ready by training on Serre-Ponçon lake, prior to going head to head in the bay of Avignon, a town in the South of France, vibrant and seductive,
Marseille. will be offering up its tranquil way of life to the Uruguayan team.
More info Discover Avignon
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