What are must see's/do's in the South of France????
 

I will be in the South of France for aprox 12 days in September. What are the things I absolutely have to do and the places that are a must see??? Thanks for your help! Also, any good hotels in Nice you would recommend?

Rose: My family and I spent two weeks in the south of France last summer. We stayed in the old part of Antibes, which I would really recommend. Nice is just another big city and Antibes is only 20 mins. by train. We stayed at the Relaise du Postillon (8, rue Championnet, 06600 Antibes, France). Fax#93 34 61 24. The rooms were reasonably priced and Yves-Jean, one of the owners was very helpful to a mostly non-french speaking family. While the rooms are reasonable, the restaurant can be pricey but worth it. Save up for a couple of fabulous meals at the hotel. Antibes has a fabulous sandy beach, which we used every morning (afternoons are only for the natives! Too hot.) We especially liked Mougins and a castle ruin in Grimaud. Worst advise we got - don't drive. We wished we had rented our car for longer. We drove to St. Paul de Vence (all the books said not to, Yves-Jean said no problem). We found parking for less than the cost of two of us to ride the bus! E-mail me with any other questions you might have. You're going to love the south of France!

Hi, Rose: You are absolutely going to love the South of France, and I think you are going at a great time. Hopefully it won't be too crowded. I was there at the end of September 2 years ago and at the end of October 1 year ago and am eager to go once again. Here are some guidelines: fly into Paris and relax overnight. Take the TGV to Marseilles and pick up your rental car there. Be sure to have one of the agents show you how to UNLOCK the ignition. Drive toward Nice by visiting Cassis (eat lunch on the waterfront) and stay at the Relais and Chateau in Le Levandou overnight. Drive up to Bormes Les Mimosas --breathtakingly beautiful! Drive on through St. Tropez if you must, eventually get to Moulin de Mougins for the night (in town of Mougins). Eat at the incredibly expensive restaurant (worth it to eat the truffles) there, sleep over, and then set off for St. Paul de Vence, as mentioned before. Stay in the Relais and Chateau there. You'll be in a medieval hotel overlooking cobblestone streets, cemetary with grave of Marc Chagall is nearby. QUAINT, WOW. Buy things that you know you want and have them shipped home. 16 days is still not enough once you get into the relaxing mode. We took a drive from Nice to Italy (Bordighera) for lunch at a seaside cafe and we were actually sitting over the water eating great food cooked by two cool guys speaking no English. We had changed just enough francs to pay for the meal and a bottle of wine. They liked us so much they poured a few more drinks on the house. Balmy weather, lazy life. Makes me want to get out of Chicago as I type this! Have a great trip and take lots of photos. <BR>

Go to Avignon if you get the chance: it is an absolutely beautiful old walled city, and one of my favourite places in the south of France. It has a great deal of style but without the expense and pretensions of some of the other French cities. Masses of history (check out the bridge and sing the song!), lots of great cafes and restaurants, funky shops and a fantastic festival. Montpellier also is worth a look at if you're in that area.

One more great experience in Antibes: the Grimaldi Museum with its wonderful Picasso collection and exquisite setting. <BR>

If you enjoy Gregorian chants, do go to a service at one of the monasteries (no, not all in southern France). Perhaps Carcasonne (in southern France), another walled city. I have been enchanted with this music form from the first time I heard it.