Five unique things to remember the French Riviera by
The French Riviera with its fresh air, warm sea, fine cuisine combined with the very relaxed Riviera vibe is always a pleasure to visit and a hard place to beat. The only difficulty is leaving!
So, to remember your visit you may like to consider taking home with you one or more of these unique gift ideas from the French Riviera.
Fine French Wines
Thanks to its excellent all year round temperatures and nutrient rich soils, the south is arguably one of the best places in France to harvest wine. If you’ve experienced fine French cuisine you’ll have no doubt had a glass of wine from the region to accompany it. One of the best southern wine regions to visit is Languedoc-Roussillon. If possible, try to visit a few local vineyards and join one of the many excellent wine tours and tastings events on offer. Click here to see all the vineyards in the region.
An Original Drawing by Sylvie T
In a small alley in Nice, local artist Sylvie T offers her original pen/ink drawings created using her signature ‘vibrant colours’ and ‘simple lines’. The majority of her drawings showcase the scenery in and around Nice and she has an incredible ability to capture your imagination. Her original artworks cost around 300-500 Euros, but you can also by prints, postcards and books at a smaller fee. You’ll find her gallery at 14 rue right, 06300 Nice, which is open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 to 18:00.
Provenҫal Pottery
Almost every village in Provence will have a shop that sells locally-made pottery, but there are two distinct areas we recommend you visit to pick up some truly spectacular pieces. In Cliousdat near Valence they have been making decorative pottery since the 10th Century and still use many of the same techniques today. To arrange a visit to their workshop go to: www.poteriedecliou.com. Aubagne is another village in Provence famous for its pottery that is well worth checking out – make sure you visit Ravel, a family run business based in Aubagne that has been creating signature clay pots for 170 years.
Within these regions you will also be able to purchase extremely rare, original pieces that are centuries old.
Nicolas Alziari Olive Oil
Established in 1868, Nicolas Alziari Olive Oil has become a staple of tourists and inhabitants of Nice alike. There are two stores where you can purchase Nicolas Alziari Olive Oil, a shop on Rue Saint Franҫois de Paule (old town, Nice), or the larger shop on Boulevard de la Madeleine, also in Nice. At both stores you can enjoy free tastings. Click here for the Alziari website.
Henri Matisse Prints
Situated on the hill of Climiez in Nice, The Henri Matisse museum is a place you should certainly visit if you appreciate fine art. The building houses the majority of Henri Matisse’s works of art left by the artist and his inheritors who donated the collection to the city of Nice. Matisse’s paintings and drawings were inspired by the colours and contours of Nice’s inhabitants and places and throughout the decades alter from classic pieces of art to more contemporary pieces.
Once you have visited the museum, you’ll be able to purchase prints of Matisse’s famous works and his interpretations of Nice from the museum’s gift shop.