On the Côte d'Azur, flowers are even more precious in winter, blooming even in February. Between Nice and Grasse, we're setting off in the footsteps of a chef, a mimosist (expert in the cultivation of the mimosa flower) and a costume designer from the Nice carnival who demonstrate their passion for floral art de vivre on the Côte d'Azur.
On the Côte d'Azur, flowers do not wait for spring to charm the daily lives of locals and visitors. The star of winter, the mimosa, bursts into bloom with its thousands of small golden petals against the blue sky, perfuming the air with its divine scent.
Chef Yves Terrillon, for whom "flowers are a great source of inspiration," uses his floral muse when he concocts his recipes. "The region is beautiful in all seasons, especially winter, which offers very mild temperatures" he testifies. Logically, his dishes are decorated with mimosas and violets, floral symbols of the region.
A great-quality mimosa on the Côte d'Azur
Fabien Raynaud has been a mimosist on the Côte d'Azur for three generations. There, he grows these fragrant flowers and explains: "The region is famous for its mimosas because of their very good quality; it is a passion, therefore a pleasure."
Marc-Antoine Corticchiato founded his house, Parfum d’Empire, in 2002. Even if his lab is based in Paris, this plant lover looks to the south – towards the hilltop town of Grasse on the Côte d’Azur, where he sources his natural raw materials, and Corsica, his native island. Two of his recent creations, Corsica Furiosa and Tabac Tabou, were voted ‘best fragrance from a niche brand’ in 2015 and 2016 at the Fifi Awards, the Oscars of the profession. We chat to him.
Winter is also time for the Nice carnival, a must-see festivity with its flowery floats and flower battles, a tradition that dates back to 1876, as Caroline Roux, costume designer of the carnival, recalls. Every year, between mid-February and the beginning of March, the public attending the show prepares to be showered by thousands of flowers.
Winter's light on the Côte d'Azur
From the Nice carnival to gastronomy, from markets to flower stalls, blossoms are everywhere during the winter on the Côte d'Azur. It is an extra opportunity to discover the region when it is bathed in incomparable light and softness—and millions of petals!
Like every year, the Nice Carnival offers a fabulous opportunity to party on the French Riviera in winter. The 2024 edition will pay tribute to the king of pop culture from 17 February to 3 March. Imagination and magic take over for the most beautiful of live shows! We take you to the heart of the parade...
By France.fr
The magazine of the destination unravels an unexpected France that revisits tradition and cultivates creativity. A France far beyond what you can imagine…
