And while all of these places and their reputations are well-deserved, most of the region is actually quite more laid back and easygoing - towns and villages filled with locals, French tourists, families and pensioners, and the odd travel writer from Europe's largest publisher of locally-produced city guides (we're walking of course about ourselves here, ie In Your Pocket).
Or at least this was the case recently, when we went for a weeklong visit with the family of an old friend, who spend about half the year in the town of Le Lavandou.
Playing Pétanque
Arriving late at night, and having to spend the morning working, our introduction to the French Riviera consisted of a homemade family lunch (some mouthwatering steak frites if you were curious), followed by a rousing 3.5 hours spent playing pétanque with the residents of the local community. Getting teamed up with Jean-Luc and then going 3-0 against all the competition was a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to the sport. Although we were informed that for any real action, we'd have to head into the town. Alternatively, with an internet connection and a device, real money games of chance are never far away - including some with no deposit casino bonuses. But we digress.Bormes-les-Mimosas
The neighbouring - some might even say rival - town of Bormes-les-Mimosas is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful small towns in this part of the country, or really anywhere for that matter. And that's not just locals talking, as it's home to the official summer residence of the President of France! While Fort de Brégançon is usually only open to the public for a very limited time each year, the upper part of the town is a medieval wonder, with narrow streets and stairs winding around the entire hilltop, offering spectacular views down towards the sea.Meanwhile the lower part of the town is a more modern resort, with a large marina, and a very lively atmosphere during the summer season. We were lucky enough to visit during one of the Escapade Gourmande food festivals, which was one of the most delicious culinary events we've ever had the good fortune to tuck into!
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