Winter may be the most enjoyable season to visit the South of France, and we’re not just saying that because of the quieter towns, friendlier locals, unique colors and pleasant temperatures. Beside those wonderful perks, it is a lot of fun too! One of lesser-known but enduring traditions on the Blue Coast is the “Oursinades” of Carry-Le-Rouet, a festival that has been taking place the first three Sundays of February for four decades now. It all started rather innocuously in 1952 when some fishermen built fake scales to treat the then mayor to his weight in sea urchins (oursins). In 1960, the local government declared the first Sunday of February “Sea Urchin Day”. It did not take long for that special day to become so popular that February eventually turned into “Sea Urchin Month”.
This means that every year a huge tasting event is organized where you can not only gorge yourself with sea urchins and other shellfish, but also attend concerts, watch dance performances and browse many arts & crafts stands. The famous urchins are hand-picked by professional divers according to a very precise set of rules, making it the only small-scale fishing practice still going on these days. Book-ending the festivities in Carry-le-Rouet are similar ones in Sausset-les-Pins in January and in Fos-sur-Mer, near the Camargue area, in March.
If you want to experience this delightful celebration first-hand, New York Habitat has just the perfect temporary Provence accommodations for you.
For instance if you like picturesque settings but would rather be based in a large city, Marseille is only 35 kilometers away, and plenty of New York Habitat accommodations, in all sizes and for all budgets, are waiting for you there.
You can have a fully furnished 3-bedroom vacation rental – Marseille, South of France – (PR 1092) right in the 8th arrondissement near a subway station (Rond Point du Prado Line 2). This duplex apartment will become your personal abode with all the urban amenities! Shops and restaurants are just walking distance away and the beach, Plage du Prado, is less than 1 km away! This vacation rental features a large balcony, a fully equipped high-end kitchen and an outdoor swimming pool!
If you’re looking for a smaller place with a view, then you have to see our furnished 1-bedroom apartment in Marseille – (PR 441) on Endoume Rock, near the Corniche Kennedy. It is fully air-conditioned, but you won’t be willing to spend a lot of time inside once you got a taste of the large terrace and its incredible view over the majestic Mediterranean Sea and the Frioul Islands. From there, you can go straight into downtown Marseille or, if you prefer, leisurely enjoy the small fishing village of Le Vallon des Auffes and its rocky beach.
Off the beaten track and during the winter season is definitely a great combination to make the most of one’s vacation. Have you ever enjoyed the South of France during the off season? What did you think?
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