Ah! The French Riviera!  Located in the eastern-south of France, and boarded by the mediterrannean sea.  The French Riviera (Cote d’Azur) with its tropical island looks is one of the most visited site in the world.  thousands of tourists all over the world are flocking t the French Riviera every year.  The French Riviera is “The Spot” in France where a great number of famous artists, French and others are spending time to relax.  Few days before a death Princess Diane was spotted there.  Many famous french actors and singers are spotted there every year.  Of course that is besides the fact that the famous film festival ( Festival de Cannes) is also held there.

Origin Of The French Riviera’s Name

The name “Cote d’Azur” was giving by writer Stephane Liegeard in 1888 in his book “La Cote d’Azur” . “Cote” (coast) and “Azur” which is a shade of blue.  the blue of the mediterranean sea.  The name said after that.  It is not a coincidence if the French Riviera became the home of some of the most famous French painters such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and August Renoir to name just a few.  They all have painted some of the beautiful landscape of this beautiful peace of land.

The French Riviera’s Climate

The French Riviera benefits of the best climate in France; sunny hot and dry summers and mild winters.  The air gets cooler as you get closer to the sea and warmer and warmer as you get away from it.  There are rarely any snow falling in the French Riviera.

Principal Cities of the French Riviera

Nice is the biggest city of the French Riviera and is called the capital.  Nice is the city where you can walk on “La Promenade des Anglais” (Promenade of the English) a beautiful avenue with palm trees and beaches on one side, and luxurious hotels and restaurant on the other.  The name was given because in the 18th century many wealthy English people were spending the winter in Nice and were seen walking along the cost boarding the mediterranean sea.

Cannes, of course is known for its famous Festival, The Cannes Festival where the all Cinema of the country as well as all over the world are gathering in the spring of every year.

Monaco, even though not part of the French territory in itself and having is own government is still located in the middle of the French Riviera and part of the seen.   Prince Rainer III ruled in Monaco from 1949 to 2005 year of his death.  Prince Rainier married actress Grace Kelly in 1956 and had three children, Caroline, Albert and Stephanie.

Albert de Monaca took over the reign of his father after his death.

Monaco is also famour for its casino in Monte Carlo, one of the small district of Monaco.

The beauty of the French Riviera includes much more than these, but you can read more about the the French Riviera HERE.

Victor Hugo is probably the most famous writer of all time in France. As a matter of fact when Andre Gide, another famous French author himself, was asked who was the most famous French writer, his answer was, Victor Hugo. Victor Hugo’s works is HUGE and includes poetry, novels, political reviews, articles and more. His best known work here, in America are Les Miserable (1831) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1862).

Victor Hugo was born in 1802 in Besancon, France. He started his writing very early in life and his dramatic poetry work in his teenage years. Victor Hugo, was not only a famous writer, but also a political figure in the second half of his life, as he supported the republican form of French government of his time. In 1841 his was elected at the Academie Francaise.

Victor Hugo was also known to be a family name, he was devoted to his children ( 5 in total) and was devastated when his eldest daughter, Leopoldine drawn in la Seine with her new husband in Paris at age 19. Victor Hugo was so saddened by the death of his daughter that his work was affected by it and his writing seriously diminished for a whole decade.

Victor Hugo was so famous by the time he died in 1885 at age 83 that his funeral was that of a sate man. He was laid in a tomb next to Emile Zola other famous french novelist and journalist.

Today, Victor Hugo is still inspiring musicians, movie directors and other artists.  well over a thousand musical compositions and movies, and plays have been made from several of Hugo’s work.

Read more about Victor Hugo, most famous French author.

The author of this blog was born in France and what she misses the most in the country is probably the food and the wine.

France is the country of food. Lyon, the city where I was born is even called the capital of food.  It is famous for its wonderful “saussisson sec” and “saussisson cru”.  Saussisson sec is a dry salami sausage, as you would call it here, and saussisson cru is a raw salami sausage that is to be cooked before serving.  This saussisson cru is also served breaded.  The saussisson is first boiled in water and then rolled in a bread dough like and baked.  It is called “saussisson brioche”

Saussisson in itself might not be what we can call “healthy” food in itself, but as a whole France is the country where food is not processed and fast done away with.  Food is very much meticulously prepared at home and sandwich is usually not on the menu.

As we all know, Good food is actually healthy as opposed to bad food which is not.  Good food also helps maintain your weight at a stable level, as for bad food makes you gain weight.

Sugar drinks are a killers for your health and for your weight as well.  Sodas are FULL of sugar and responsible for a big part of overweight problems.

Wine, when consumed with moderation is a very healthy drink.  The best wine as for your health is concerned red wine which is actually good for your heart.

Why is the French population as a whole more fit than the American population, when they spend more time at the table and drink wine which contains a LOT of calories?

The answer is that it is not so much HOW MUCH you eat that will make you gain weight but really it’s WHAT you eat.

For example, wine might contains a lot of calories, but remember it’s completely sugar FREE.  Of course, we are talking about dry wine here.

A tall glass of soda  contains as you might or might not know or not 10 table spoons of sugar.   More one weight effective loss HERE

Spending a long time at the table is NOT what makes you fat, but what’s ON the table.  French people eat smaller portions with more courses, which is exactly what your body is build for.  We are not meant to eat a HUGE portions of one food at one take, our body is meant to eat less of several different foods.  This is one of the secret of staying slim.