Welcome to our What's New in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in 2024 Press Kit! As you will see, this year's edition contains several special features: “Welcome to the Olympic Games in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur”, “Explore Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the footsteps of artists…from Impressionism to Street Art!”, “Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the cycling El Dorado”, “80th Anniversary of the Allied Landings in Provence”, “The Côte d'Azur, winter is the new summer” and “Responsible + tourism = Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur”.
Plus an exclusive selection of what's new in art & architecture, hospitality, gastronomy, artisan tours, culture and sport. Enjoy!

WELCOME TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR

The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are taking place from July 26th to August 11th and August 28th to September 8th this year and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region is set to welcome the largest number of Olympic events after Paris! But the adventure begins long before the actual competitions! Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur's climate, lakes, mountains and excellent amenities make it a genuine sporting paradise and many athletes live here all year round. Of course, the region's official Land of the 2024 Games towns and Games Preparation Centres will be pulling out all the stops to welcome competing athletes and ensure the public enjoy the palpitating sporting line-up to the full.

EXPLORE PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ARTISTS...FROM IMPRESSIONISM TO STREET ART!

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is a vast artists' studio! Cézanne, Matisse, Van Gogh and Picasso all fell in love with the region's unique landscapes and quality of light, and frequented many fellow painters, friends and patrons here.
Over 60 museums and collections, many outdoor, testify to a creative dynamism that continues to inspire artists and craftspeople alike.
You can admire art on our streets too, accessible to all at every hour of the day, in towns such as La Seyne-sur-Mer in the Var area.

PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR, THE CYCLING EL DORADO

Whether you're enjoying a relaxing day out along Mediterranean shores, tackling one of the region's many mountains or even taking part in the Tour de France, our two-wheeled friend reigns supreme in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. What's more, as this year's Summer Olympics are taking place in Paris, the finish line of the Tour de France on July 21st has been moved to Nice's Promenade des Anglais!
Cycling in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur isn't just about performance: the region is criss-crossed with countrified cycle paths and long-distance routes perfect for getting around while honouring the natural environment.

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALLIED LANDINGS IN PROVENCE

Launched 70 days after the Normandy Landings, the Allied Landings in Provence on the night of August 14th to 15th, 1944 caught the German troops posted on the coast and inland by surprise.
Provence was freed in less than two weeks, but the operation, which mobilized 350,000 Allied soldiers including 260,000 French troops, lasted over three months. It was pivotal in two ways: firstly, it gave political legitimacy to the new French State presided by General de Gaulle at the Liberation. Secondly, as it was mainly conducted by French troops – the B Army – it allowed France to position itself among the victors and claim its current seat at the UN Security Council.

THE CÔTE D'AZUR, WINTER IS THE NEW SUMMER

The delights of winter on the Côte d'Azur… A well-kept secret known only to insiders until now! Nice and the Côte d'Azur promise marvellous travel experiences from November to March. The sky is bluer, the air is purer and you'll find less people on our Mediterranean shores.

Our recent “Winter is the New Summer” advertising campaign repositions Nice and the Côte d'Azur as a winter sun destination, just like it was between the 18th and early-20th century. So very chic! Winter is the new summer.

RESPONSIBLE + TOURISM = PROVENCE-ALPES-CÔTE D'AZUR

Home to 60 % protected areas, a record number of producer-to-consumer direct sales, an ever-better slow mobility
offering and the possibility of getting around by bike all year long, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is proudly upholding its
status as a pilot region for the energy transition.
In 2023, the region was also top of the podium in terms of sustainability labels (Green Key), low-carbon transport and slow mobility, as well as organic farming (Vaucluse and Hautes-Alpes).

But we're not ready to sit on our laurels yet! Welcome to the green new world of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur!