Hosted at Vieux Port in Cannes, this summer families can enjoy free events that demonstrate the old tradition of provençale joutes.
Joutes provençales originate from the Egyptian era; fishermen from the French Riviera originally set up a ladder on their boats and over time it has become a true festival with nautical combats and dives, practised in Provence.
The city of Cannes acquired two jousting boats in 1949, suitably named Le Sainte-Marguerite and Le Saint-Honorat, but with a lack of jousters the boats remained in storage from 2004. After the election of David Lisnard to the position of Mayor, he relaunched this Cannois tradition in 2014 to support local culture and encourage visitors to Cannes.
Today, the sport is hotly contested by 16 joutes provençales companies from the Var and Côte d'Azur including Cannes, Théoule, Agay, Fréjus, La Ciotat and Saint-Raphael with the 'rules' being that opponents stand on a boat and try to send their opponent into the water using a wooden spear (opponents wear a wooden breastplate to protect them).
One opponent is the 'jouster' who stands on a raised platform called a teinteine; the other team member ensures the jouster does not catch the spear. Contestants must place their left food forward of a white line on the platform, otherwise if their right foot crosses the line at the time of joust they are disqualified.
When are the 'Joutes Provençales' in Cannes?
Starting from tomorrow (18 June) and running until 18 August, Cannes will host 5 Joutes Provençales events on various Friday nights and all-day selected Sundays.
What is the definition of a 'Hero'?
When you have two young boys like myself, the concept of a 'hero' alludes to a superhero, typically the Marvel Avengers kind with impregnable armour, superhuman qualities or super tools such as grapple guns.
For the rest of us, a hero or heroine is someone who can be admired for their noble values, courage or outstanding achievements. They are not always victorious, but they are often regarded highly for great acts and bravery.
On Saturday 10th June, residents on the French Riviera will have the opportunity to attend a fundraising day with a group of Heroes.
Who are these 'Heroes'? The Heroes are a group of 10 soldiers who have all served in active service abroad and were wounded in war zones. All have been medically discharged ; some will have visible injuries, amputations, loss of sight, some will have mental injuries, PTSD, disassociation disorders and they will share their inspirational stories of how they are moving forward in life.
The day is organised by Rachael Dickens, a public figure on the French Riviera and business owner at the English Osteopath, who is Lead Medical and a key member of the committee for the Supporting Wounded Veterans Foundation (formerly Skiing with Heroes) that supports the rehabilitation of veterans on the path to reemployment.
Supporting Wounded Veterans (formerly Skiing with Heroes) is a charity that helps wounded veterans get back into civilian life and occupation. Founded in 2012 as 'Skiing with Heroes', their initial activity was the organisation of a rehabilitation ski week and, since the first one in Klosters in 2013, the charity has been able to increase the number of veterans taken each year; last year over 100 veterans applied for the trip and there are already 60 applicants for next year.
Because each of the veterans require differing levels of ongoing support and encouragement, SWV have created a needs-based Occupation, Training and Employment (OTE) Programme which the veterans join following the ski trip. They have also recently opened a Pain Management Clinic, specifically for wounded veterans.
Many of the veterans take up sports after their injuries and share their triumphs via the SWV Facebook page including 3 that have been selected to represent Team GB in the 2017 Invictus Games to be held in Toronto in September.
Villeneuve Loubet is located between Nice and Antibes and for tourists it may not seem instantly appealing with less restaurants and accommodation than other French Riviera towns.
However, there is plenty to see and do with lots of free activities and paid attractions that will keep your family happy on a weekend or holiday.
Villeneuve Loubet is divided into 2 main areas: Marina Baie des Anges on the coast, and Villeneuve Loubet Village situated 10 minutes drive inland. The town also takes care of Parc Vaugrenier and Parc Natural Rives du Loup.
One of the best reasons to visit Villeneuve Loubet is because the town has a great network of walking and cycle paths. You can walk beside the sea at Baie des Anges, cycle beside the river closer to the village or wander through Parc Vaugrenier or Parc Natural Rives du Loup.
We usually park at Baie des Anges and walk along the seafront boardwalk to Cagnes-sur-Mer. The boardwalk at Villeneuve Loubet is wide enough for baby strollers and wheelchairs, and there are accessible toilets at a few stops along the length. You can also find GPS navigation to this itinerary via GPSmyCity.
There is a beach volleyball court near the Fighière carpark on boulevard Eric Tabarly, and always ducks and birds at the far end of the boardwalk where the bridge for the River Loup starts.
The beach itself is large pebbles and drops off quite steeply so I don't recommend it for swimming (in warmer weather!) for families with toddlers but for older kids who are water confident it's fine. There is also a sailing school where you can take sailing classes or windsurf; recommended for older kids and adults.
There are a handful of beach restaurants – most are only open in holiday season or summertime. Yesterday, the beach restaurant beside the port at Marina Baie des Anges was open and they serve hot and cold drinks, crêpes, ice creams, paninis etc and have a big outdoor deck with tables and chairs. The view reaches across to Nice and is a great location if you have kids who love watching planes because you can see Nice Airport runways so lots of take-off and landing action! This restaurant is accessed across the stones; it's manageable with a baby stroller but not possible if you are immobile or in a wheelchair.
If you have bikes, you can cycle from Marina Baie des Anges to Villeneuve Loubet village via a well-marked cycle path named 'La Villeneuvoise'. It is 10 kilometres return and recommended for children 6 years upwards.
Or, the cycle pathway extends all the way to Nice from Marina Baie des Ange; the distance is 15 kilometres.
4. For bike rental, Holiday Bikes at Marina Baie des Anges offers a 20% discount on day rental between April and October if you tell them you are doing the Family Cycle Pathway to the village, called 'Rallye Vélo Famille'.
Take the kids to the fun parks in the Rive du Loup (entry fee applies): Les Bois du Lutins, Village des Fous, Canyon Forest. All of them have play equipment, climbing activities, inflatable structures and in summer they turn on water jets and water play zones. Click on each link above to see opening hours and admission prices.
If you enjoyed this blog post, it is published on iTunes and can now be downloaded via the GPSmyCity iOS app. You can read the downloaded article offline and upgrade it to obtain GPS navigation to the sights described in the article. To access it, you can download it here at GPSmyCity – Villeneuve Loubet. (Disclaimer: I appreciate you reading my blog post and I will receive a small commission if you upgrade to the GPS navigation option on the app).
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13 Sep: 10am onwards – Tournament of Provençal jousting. A fun display at the port of jousting on purpose built boats.
Say what you will about the French Riviera in the summer. Sure, there are traffic jams, crowded public transport, longer queues at attractions, sweatier tourists, and pricier airfares, but there's also ice-cream on the seafront, dining al fresco in village squares, open-air concerts and firework displays in the warm evenings, and most important, no school for eight weeks.
If you are visiting the French Riviera with children, it's a great time to bond as a family and experience first-hand history, art, traditional festivals and nature; and develop a real appreciation for French culture.
However, travelling with children is a whole different ballgame to travelling solo or as a couple and it's vital to plan ahead so your Riviera trip is more incroyable than catastrophe.
For flights, I print out a map of the world and put stickers on from the origin to destination and little ones can follow the flight path and circle each 'stopover' when you arrive – it builds anticipation and if they have their own 'map' they feel involved in the process.
Keep any train or bus tickets for their 'travel bag' so you can invent games later on.
The French Riviera is an excellent family-friendly destination, and while it's easy to blow your budget at theme parks and attractions, it is also a viable destination on a small budget.
Plan outings at the beach, evening strolls around hilltop villages when many of the historical buildings are lit up and look spectacular, and mix up the transport you use if you can – trains, buses, ferries, petit train (the little tourist trains) may seem boring to you but kids love transport!.
There are some excellent national parks in the region that are perfect for biking and hiking, and you can find an overview of many of the Riviera's playgrounds here Playgrounds on the French Riviera.
Bear in mind the length of guided tours especially in summer as little ones can get hot and bored quickly.
Visit websites such as http://www.cotedazur-en-fetes.com/ for information and dates of local events.
Consider your child/children's normal routine and try to stick to similar times for meals, naps, bedtime.
It can be hard with many summer events on the French Riviera starting late in the evening so choose one or two events where you can stretch to a late night, but don't try to cram too much into one day or you'll find you're left with overtired and grumpy kids which will quickly make your holiday stressful.
Tourist offices are a wealth of knowledge and can advise about entry discounts for groups or families.
Search on the internet and social media for family passes, '2-for-1' deals or last-minute specials.
Kids learn languages much easier than adults. Teach your child a few basic French phrases – it's amazing how responsive wait staff or shop assistants are to a small child saying 'Merci'.
We love the free French lessons at Monde des Titounis in our house as they are short duration and fun (it's aimed at preschool kids with animated vocabulary lessons).
Make use of Google Translate and apps such as Duolingo.
France is not particularly well known for specific children's menus – you will see A LOT of frites (French fries), basic pasta and chicken nuggets on kids menus here.
Many restaurants will however split menu costs from the a la carte menu for a smaller portion size so don't hesitate to ask, and it pays to take along a few snacks to restaurants in case your child completely turns their nose up at what is on offer.
Also, a trip to the French Riviera is an opportunity to try new foods that they may not be familiar with – I know 3-year olds who love escargot cooked in butter and garlic, marinated artichokes and steak tartare so try to be flexible about what is on offer and what they are used to at home.
For vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free travellers and people with food allergies or intolerances you may find dining in France is a bit trickier but do some research online first and you'll find plenty of other travellers who have 'been done and done that' so are more than happy to recommend restaurants.
Holiday rentals are ideal for families travelling with small children, because you can cook some of your own meals and unpack and spread out. Most holiday rentals on the French Riviera have excellent proximity to beaches or towns so you are never far away from supermarkets and essential shops.
French campsites are generally in scenic locations and have good facilities such as swimming pools, games rooms, restaurants though try to book ahead especially in peak season.
Also, explore the idea of staying in themed accommodation that will intrigue little ones – you can stay in a yurt (Mongolian tent), treehouse, tepee, castle, restored chapel or old mill so think outside the box if your budget and patience for research allows it.
Sometimes travel can make you complacent about basic safety. Ensure your holiday accommodation is safe for your family (e.g. cleaning chemicals locked away, electrical cables out of reach of little fingers, smoke alarms installed etc) and don't hesitate to ask the landlord in advance what safety precautions they have in place for families.
It can be extremely tempting to leave doors and windows open all night at your hotel/B&B/apartment/villa but exercise caution as burglars do prey on the fact there is warm weather and they are experts and can be in and out before you blink (and sometimes even striking when you are on site!).
I morally ummed and ahhed about including this next piece of advice, and while I think every tourist office along the Riviera coast (and certainly every town mayor) would state otherwise, I believe it's important to honestly inform tourists of potential hazards or dangers.
As with every destination, there are some undesirable people you'll come across on your travels and the French Riviera is no exception. Don't be surprised to see homeless people, tramps and gypsies especially at areas of high pedestrian traffic and where money is transacted frequently (they sit outside supermarkets, beside ATM machines, outside banks, at bus terminals etc).
I'll put it out there and state that 9 out of 10 times homeless people and drunks here on the Riviera are harmless – unlike experiences in other countries, here in France they usually do not verbally abuse you if you don't give them money or follow you down the street. However, exercise caution in all circumstances.
Families should be cautious around gypsies as they are renown for pickpocketing people with baby strollers and/or lots of luggage – be extra alert if you travel on the train or bus as families often stand in the doorways (as it's convenient for getting your stroller on/off) and this is when many pickpocketing incidents happen at the stops when the change of people getting on and off the train/bus creates a diversion.
Finding inexpensive souvenirs can be fun when you're travelling – encourage your child to find souvenirs when you're visiting towns and cities. Some popular souvenirs for the French Riviera are postcards, pretty soaps, keyrings, santons.
Visiting a vide grenier (car boot sale/flea market) or local antiques market can unearth some fantastic retro toys such as tin cars, comic books or vintage airplanes.
Older children may enjoy keeping a travel diary and writing about highlights of their day, and you can always buy them a disposable camera or two so they can take their own pictures of the trip.
It's easy to get caught up in the idea of having a full itinerary and seeing everything in a tourist hotspot, but you'll find some of the best experiences will be when you slow down and go with the flow.
Stop for an ice cream or gelato. Grab some take-out pizza and sit on the beach watching the sunset. Let your kids play at the park, interacting with local children. Stroll along the harbourside quays and chat to the fishermen. Pause for a while to watch locals play petanque.
Most of all, enjoy your summer holiday on the French Riviera and spending time together.
Do you have other family travel tips to share? I'd love your feedback. Please share this post on Facebook or Twitter.
One of the main drawcards for visitors to the French Riviera is the proximity to the sea and beaches.
There are sheltered sandy beaches (Garoupe beach on the Cap d'Antibes), pebble beaches (Nice seafront) and wild, rugged coves for swimming (the Esterel coastline and Sentier Littoral walkways).
If you're looking for a quick boat excursion and you're visiting the French Riviera with children, I can recommend Visiobulle in Juan les Pins.
The Visiobulle is a glass-bottomed boat that cruises to the nearby Cap d'Antibes. The cruise is just one-hour long so it was perfect for a short trip, especially if you have an active toddler (like I did at the time I boarded!).
Look for this ticket office (see photo below), you show up to the ticket office 15 minutes before each departure to purchase your tickets. The boat operates every day except in bad weather and takes 58 passengers (and 2 crew) but it is very popular in high season especially the first departures each day.
The boat has shade covering so the seating is mostly covered for hot days. There is plenty of seating. There were families with baby strollers, and also a few passengers who were elderly or with restricted mobility and the crew were very helpful assisting them onboard.
The commentary is in French and English, but even though the crewmember had a microphone it was difficult to hear over the sounds of the engines so sit near the front of the boat if you really want to listen to the commentary.
The boat cruises to the nearby Cap d'Antibes past Port Gallice, plage des Ondes, Hotel du Cap Eden Roc and Pointe de l'Illette with the small lighthouse. You will cruise past private villas unreachable to the public, and see the rocky landscape of the Cap d'Antibes coastal walkway.
The boat spends approximately 20-25 minutes in the Baie des Milliardaires, at which time they allow passengers to head downstairs to the glass-bottomed viewing windows.
The descent is via approximately 10 (steep) stairs with handrails. Wait a few minutes for the sand that is stirred up to settle. It is not as extensive as a glass-bottom boat excursion in the tropics, but we saw various schools of fish, sea urchins, starfish, sea algaes and rock formations. There are display posters in the viewing area alluding to what may be seen. Unfortunately, I didn't take a clear photo of the viewing area as there were too many passengers onboard.
I noticed many families on board and my impressions were that children from toddler age to around 10-12 years were happily entertained, but teenagers were bored!
Access: Arrive to Juan les Pins by car: The nearest pay carparking is a few minutes walk from the ferry on avenue l'Esterel.
Arrive to Juan les Pins by train: Exit the train station, turn right and walk along avenue l'Esterel, then turn left onto avenue Amiral Courbet. Follow this road directly ahead to the seafront (about 400 metres), you will see a restaurant 'La Terrasse' and a kiosk selling fast food directly across the intersection. Ponton Courbet is located just to the right of these.
Arrive to Juan les Pins by bus: Bus numbers 1 or 30 (Envibus) from Antibes, alight at stop 'Ruban Bleu' in Juan les Pins, cross the road and Ponton Courbet is 50 metres past the restaurant 'La Jetee′. Bus number 200, alight at stop 'Regence' and walk down avenue Amiral Courbet to the seafront. Ponton Courbet is the jetty opposite the small roundabout.
Don't forget sunscreen, and also a warm top. We were on the boat on a hot sunny day, but once it was moving there was a strong breeze which was quite chilly.
For best viewing opportunities, sit on the left-hand side of the boat (as the boat is facing forward) to see the Juan les Pins coastline, then when the glass-bottom viewing area opens downstairs stay on the right-hand side of the boat as this is the side closest to the rocks that they cruise beside.
There is a toilet on board, but I would recommend using the automated accessible public toilet at the entrance of the Ponton Courbet prior to boarding. The pay toilet is located in the silver cubicle by the motorbike stand, cost 50 centimes.
There are no refreshments sold on board so take your own food/drinks especially water.