Holidays on the Côte d’Azur… Yes, but… The French Riviera goes from Menton to Saint-Tropez. No, it’s the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var. But anyway, everyone knows that it goes from Hyères to Genoa… It’s an endless debate that you may have already had: where does the Côte d’Azur start and where does it end? We will try to make you understand.
Côte d’Azur or Riviera? To Saint-Tropez, Toulon, Cassis? As far as Menton, Bordighera, Genoa? Just the Alpes-Maritimes? The Var, inside or outside? What about Marseille then? The coastline with or without the hinterland? You have to believe that each Azurean has his own definition of the Côte d’Azur.
It is often the subject of heated debate under certain posts on social networks.
The term Côte d’Azur appeared in 1887. It was invented by Stéphen Liégeard who recounts in his book “Côte d’Azur” his travels which go from the east of Marseille to the limit of Genoa.
The work does not, in fact, really set strict boundaries. But it creates a phenomenon.
“Liégeard was from the region of Dijon, in Côte-d’Or (now Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)we can think that he had in mind the name of his department when he created the term Côte d’Azur” explains Jean-Christophe Gay, geographer, Professor at the Côte d’Azur University and Scientific Director of the Côte d’Azur Tourism Institute.
Very quickly, at the beginning of the 20th century, the term was taken up and asserted itself in promotional campaigns. So much so that other coasts will copy the name. Thus will be born the Emerald Coast, the Flowery Coast, the Opal Coast, the Silver Coast, the Vermeille Coast, the Love Coast, the Blue Coast etc.
And internationally too. Starting with the Costa Brava or the Costa del Sol in Spain. The French Riviera (translation of Côte d’Azur abroad) is growing. With the rise of tourism, Florida is called the American Riviera at the end of the 19th century, the surroundings of Santa Barbara: the Californian Riviera. And Cancún and its surroundings in Mexico: the Riviera Maya. Tourist destinations are inspired by our coastline.
The Varois also claim it. It’s completely legitimate and it starts a debate
Jean-Christophe Gay
Geographer, Professor at the Côte d’Azur University, Scientific Director of the Côte d’Azur Tourism Institute
But back to our sheep, finally our borders.
In 1942, the CRT (Regional Tourism Committee) were created. In the region, two branches, Marseille (which manages the Var) and Nice (only the Alpes-Maritimes). “This area, which until then was indistinctly called the Côte d’Azur, will gradually be claimed by the CRT des Alpes-Maritimes, which will appropriate it. For the committee, the Côte d’Azur therefore goes from Menton to Théoule- sur-Mer. But the people of Var also claim it, and obviously, Saint-Tropez works very well in the appellation. The coast of the Moors too. It’s completely legitimate, and it starts a debate. “
Historically, it is therefore very vague. From an administrative, tourist, territorial point of view or for Liégeard, the Côte d’Azur has variable limits.
It’s a marketing approach, a tourism approach and not a territory
Claire Behar
General Manager of CRT Côte d’Azur France
For the Regional Tourism Committee, the limits of the Côte d’Azur are precise: from Menton to Saint-Tropez. Point.
“It’s a marketing approach, a tourist approach and not a territory. It’s not an administrative area. We are in a customer approach, so we adapted. The offer adapts to the demand” explain Claire BeharGeneral Manager of the CRT Côte d’Azur France.
“We also registered the Côte d’Azur France brand in the INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) register in 2016. It is an umbrella brand for other brands that are already very strong. Very attractive cities are known individually : Saint-ropez, Nice, Menton, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes-Juan-les-Pins.”
About twenty companies and nearly 150 products are also associated with the Côte d’Azur France brand. This allows the promotion of local and regional products.
And the high country then?
Should the term Côte d’Azur be confined to the coast? Another big question that has no official answer. Yes according to Jean-Christophe Gay. “When Liégeard speaks of the azure, it is not the blue of the sky, but the blue of the sea. The Côte d’Azur is the coastline. Then the arrival of tourists who will develop the rear -countries and related activities.”
However, the inhabitants of the Alpes-Maritimes call themselves the Azurians whether they live on the coastal strip or in the hinterland. “It is a capture of the expression by the Alpes-Maritimes. They are Maralpins” adds the Scientific Director of the Côte d’Azur Tourism Institute.
French Riviera, Riviera. French Riviera, Italian Riviera. Is the Riviera part of the Côte d’Azur, or is it the other way around?
The Riviera is the coastline on the Italian side. This is the official name. There are several (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera di Levante, Riviera Romagnola…), but what interests us is the entire Gulf of Genoa, commonly known as “the Italian Riviera”. According to Liégeard’s definition, the Riviera is therefore partly included “in” the Côte d’Azur. Not according to the Regional Tourism Committee.
The confusion also comes from the term French Riviera (translation of Côte d’Azur in English, more difficult to pronounce by foreigners, although sexier… La Coooote d’Aziuuuuuwwwww).
In conclusion: we leave you with all that. Good luck and happy holidays (maybe) on the…
(Article first published in May 2022.)
#Côte #dAzur #start
