Place Masséna, Nice
Winter Festivals on the French Riviera
While the rest of France is cold and some regions are still covered in snow, festival fever breaks out on the French Riviera. There are three major festivals that warm up the winter days in the South of France in Nice, Menton and Mandelieu-la-Napoule.
Here's what you need to know about each of them so you can plan your next winter trip to the French Riviera to enjoy these hugely popular and artistic festivals.
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The old part of Nice with its coloured buildings
Carnaval de Nice or Nice Carnival in Nice
The biggest winter event in Nice, and indeed all of France, is the Carnaval de Nice. The festival features more than 1,000 international musicians and dancers making it one of the largest carnivals in the world. With all these performers and associated activities, the festival runs for three weeks to fit everything in.
Usually starting mid-February to early March, the city of Nice comes alive. Colourful parades fill the streets day and night as they make their way to Place Masséna. Each year the theme changes and floats, dancers and activities revolve around the new theme.
To find out more visit the Nice Carnival website: www.nicecarnaval.com
Menton harbour
Fête du Citron or Lemon Festival in Menton
Getting into the party spirit from mid-February to early March is the Riviera town of Menton. It hosts the Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival, which celebrates the region's famed production of citrus fruits.
Every day and night there are parades of impressively decorated floats made from thousands of oranges and lemons. Some designs have been recorded as requiring 15 tonnes of fruit to be constructed and reaching a whopping 10 metres in height. Each year the Festival has a different theme and floats and sculptures showcase the designers creativity within the theme.
Read my full blog post on the Fête du Citron and plan your trip with the official Fête du Citron website: www.fete-du-citron.com
Castle in Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Fête du Mimosa or Mimosa Festival in Mandelieu-la-Napoule
The bright sunny yellow Mimosa flower is the star attraction at the Fête du Mimosa in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. The vibrant coloured Mimosa flower comes into bloom early each year and heralds the arrival of spring in the South of France.
The festival dates from 1931 and features floats decked out in the bright yellow flowers that are a familiar sight along the Mediterranean coast at this time of the year. The celebrations run from mid-February for just over a week with the grand finale of a flower procession through the town and along the promenade.
You might also like to go on a guided tour in the Massif du Tanneron, which is the home of the largest Mimosa forest in Europe. Tours are conducted by the tourist office.
To find out more visit the Fête du Mimosa website: www.mandelieu.com
Our full blog post on the Mimosa Festival in France is a great read and will help you when planning your trip. You'll love the bright cheery flower photos too!
A guide book that you might find helpful when touring the region is the Rick Steves Provence & French Riviera Travel Guide from Amazon.
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