Despite the noticeably longer hours of daylight spring in Europe can still feel a million miles away One of the welcome signs of the lighter and brighter season that’s soon to come is blossoming beauty so why not plan a getaway to a place where buds and flowers are about to make their first appearance It is the 23rd municipality in the region to receive the distinction three new towns were awarded the “Plus beaux villages de France” (Most Beautiful Villages in France) label One of these is Bormes-les-Mimosas in the Var which is recognised in particular for its authenticity “The work carried out in terms of restoring facades developing public spaces and greening,” according to the label’s website the ‘Forêt du Dom’ and the ‘Massif des Maures’ the medieval village has a wide range of landscapes to offer Fine sandy beaches are only a few minutes away from forest trails Not forgetting the ochre-coloured houses with their colourful shutters which provide an extra measure of typical Provençal charm Discover the treasures of the Mimosa Route The best way to discover Bormes-les-Mimosas is to stroll through its narrow streets and many squares Place Gambetta and Place Lou Poulid Cantoun all have something special about them Another must-see is the castle of the Lords of Fos with its panoramic views over the whole town After following an ancient ‘chemin de croix’ (Way of the Cross) dotted with oratories your efforts will be rewarded with a breathtaking view Don’t Miss a Single Sparkling Moment! Sign up for The Court Jeweller Newsletter The Court Jeweller Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World 03.21.2025 by thecourtjeweller // Leave a Comment Birthday wishes go out today to Princess Claire daughter-in-law of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg We’re joining in the celebrations with a look at a spectacular pair of heirloom emerald earrings that she wore for a recent family wedding In April 2023, Luxembourg’s royal family headed to the south of France for the wedding of Princess Alexandra the only daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa The bride’s brother and sister-in-law live about an hour away in a chateau in Lorgues so they made an easy journey with two of their children Claire wore a summery red gown from Zuhair Murad paired with a special pair of earrings loaned to her for the occasion by her parents-in-law The earrings feature diamond and emerald studs and impressive diamond and emerald cluster pendants The jewels have been in the family for almost a century. They were first owned by the Grand Duke’s grandmother, Princess Astrid of Sweden, who was Queen of the Belgians during her marriage to King Leopold III. Here, she wears the emerald earrings with the Nine Provinces Tiara and pieces of her jewelry have been treasured by her descendants as mementos of a mother lost too soon Most recently, the earrings have been spotted on Joséphine-Charlotte’s daughter-in-law, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. She notably wore them in December 2024 for a ceremony celebrating the reopening of the restored Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris Grand Duchess Maria Teresa loaned the earrings to Princess Claire for Princess Alexandra’s wedding she has really opened the vaults to her daughter and daughters-in-law I love seeing royal ladies sharing such fabulous heirloom jewels which deserve to be worn as often as possible Categories // luxembourg Enter your name and email address below to subscribe to our weekly newsletter Sign up for my new subscriber-supported community, Hidden Gems, delivered directly to you each Saturday! Copyright © 2025 THE COURT JEWELLER LLC France (AP) — A wildfire near the French Riviera killed two people and was burning out of control Wednesday in the forests of the popular region Over 1,100 firefighters were battling the flames and thousands of tourists and locals were evacuated to safer areas The fire started Monday evening 40 kilometers (24 miles) inland from the coastal resort of Saint-Tropez Whipped up by powerful seasonal winds coming off the Mediterranean Sea the fire had burned 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of forest by Wednesday morning told reporters that two people were killed The local prosecutor said the bodies were found in a home that burned down near the town of Grimaud An investigation has been opened to formally identify the victims The French newspaper Var-Matin identified one victim as a man have suffered smoke inhalation or minor injuries from the blaze Authorities closed a highway north of the fire area on Wednesday afternoon due to the thick smoke The wildfire has forced more than 7,000 people to flee homes sending them to sleep in temporary shelters Among them were over 1,000 people who stayed around a gym in the seaside resort of Bormes-Les-Mimosas where authorities supplied food and water were evacuated early Tuesday from a campground where they had been vacationing someone knocked at our door and told us to take our belongings and leave we could see the red flames,” he told The Associated Press Bartoletti said his 6-year-old son was “very anxious” about the fire that we’ve been moved to a safe place” in Bormes-Les-Mimosas while the family was on vacation on the Italian island of Sardinia a major blaze there for three days threatened the town where they had rented a house They did not have to evacuate but endured smoke in the air and saw water-dumping planes and helicopters going back and forth repeatedly who has been vacationing in a nearby coastal fortress visited the fire zone on Tuesday and praised the firefighters for their work French officials warned that the fire risk would remain very high through Wednesday because of hot Temperatures have reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) in recent days Wildfires have swept across the Mediterranean region in recent weeks decimated large tracts of pine forest for a third straight day hundreds of hectares (thousand of acres) have burned over the last month Police reported Wednesday that a former deputy minister has been arrested for arson authorities in the central region of Castilla y León said firefighters had established a perimeter around a blaze that has consumed at least 12,000 hectares (29,650 acres) this week A fire on the Canary Islands was also brought under control after singeing 300 hectares (740 acres) of farmland While the Mediterranean is known for its sunny scientists voice little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal oil and natural gas is driving extreme events such as heat waves Such hardships are likely to happen more frequently as the Earth continues to warm © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins the traditional “Corso Fleuri” flower parade in Bormes-les-Mimosas pays tribute to Provence’s iconic mimosa blooms in a festive atmosphere heralding the first days of spring There’s no doubt about it, Provence is a master of the art of colourful and fragrant events! Among them, the “Corso Fleuri” flower parade in Bormes-les-Mimosas is a delightfully authentic heritage celebration etched in the local culture of the Var area The first edition of the parade dates back to 1920 no less when the inhabitants of Bormes-les-Mimosas decided to celebrate the mimosa that blooms everywhere in the hills around the village from January to March The flowers were arranged on carts pulled through the village streets by donkeys The word “corso” actually means “high street” in Italian with tractors then floats replacing the original donkey-drawn carts today’s parade offers a magnificent display of anemones They are used to decorate around fifteen floats each bedecked with 10 to 15,000 blooms the renown of this delightful Provencal celebration has stretched far beyond the borders of France what’s on the menu of the “Corso Fleuri” in Bormes-les-Mimosas Plenty of fun and plenty of good food of course the mimosa market sets up home on Place Gambetta biscuits and ice cream… You’ll find a plethora of great mimosa-based goodies there why not take part in a creative workshop or simply stroll the village lanes admire the local troupes and enjoy the music it’s time for the parade and flower battle Be sure to grab some mimosa to make your own bouquet in memory of this festive family event in an exquisite setting set clinging to a hill face at an altitude of 154 metres Plunge into its maze of little lanes lined with typical this picture-postcard site remains beautifully authentic You’ll find mimosa there in winter of course while oleander and bougainvillea take centre stage when spring comes around Bormes-les-Mimosas is a genuine concentrate of Provence lifestyle Place Saint-François invites locals and visitors alike to indulge in a game of pétanque Place Gambetta is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy people-watching the clock towers proudly flaunts its old stones The village lanes unveil magnificent vistas over the Mediterranean Sea and islands of Le Levant and Port-Cros… Tuesday World Subscribers only Israel prepares large-scale Gaza offensive to achieve lasting occupation World Subscribers only Romania enters government crisis amid election World Subscribers only In Zurich the leaf blower war or the anti-'woke' backlash World Subscribers only Germany's Friedrich Merz is embracing pragmatism World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts France Subscribers only Macron announces citizens' convention on school schedules France Subscribers only 21 charged over French prison attacks as investigation narrows in on drug traffickers France Subscribers only French mosque stabber was driven by 'morbid fascination,' prosecutor says France Subscribers only At the trial of Kim Kardashian's robbers Videos World expos: From Paris 1855 to Osaka 2025 Videos How the Trump administration is attacking scientific research in the US Videos Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas as calls to boycott Musk's company grow worldwide Videos Can France's nuclear deterrent protect Europe Opinion Subscribers only 'The American dream is dying' Editorial European call to aid foreign researchers is too modest Opinion Subscribers only John Bolton: 'The term chaos is commonly used to describe the top of the Defense Department' Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky the American helping couples balance the mental load Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar 2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris Room 303 of the hotel Le Mirage offers a panoramic view of the Mediterranean coast and its lush landscape By Hélène Brunet-Rivaillon The palm-lined pool at Hotel Le Mirage, in Bormes-les-Mimosas STÉPHANIE DAVILMA 38, Rue de la Vue-des-Iles, Bormes-les-Mimosas. Open from April to October. About €370 per night in a Deluxe room, breakfast included. lemirage-hotel.com Located around 10 kilometers from the Fort de Brégançon – aka the summer residence of French presidents – the hotel Le Mirage was built in the 1970s A young man from the Drôme department in southeastern France recently took over as manager – Jules Brenier who trained in hotel management at the Glion Institute in Montreux a breath of fresh air has been blowing through the corridors of this 35-room establishment Room 303 boasts a large white terrace with panoramic views of the pine forest We have a view over the water to the private island of Île d'Or The song of cicadas enters the room through the patio doors The decor is simple and calming – with a queen size bed a small desk in light-coloured wood and a basket chair Decorative touches evoke the spirit of St Tropez in the Sixties – a retro mirror You have 70.5% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information Evacuated people take refuge on the beach and look at a fire burning the forest in Bormes-les-Mimosas 2017 at 5:38 PM EDTBookmarkSaveLock This article is for subscribers only.Bormes-Les-Mimosas France (AP) -- Backed by planes dropping water and fire retardant more than 1,000 firefighters battled wildfires Wednesday that billowed smoke into the sky over France's southern Cote d'Azur coast and forced the evacuation of at least 12,000 people French authorities have evacuated more than 10,000 people from parts of southern France ahead of several raging wildfires along the Mediterranean coast Hundreds of firefighters are engaged on the ground and in the air chasing fires driven by strong winds and tinder-dry conditions Photos here are from the past few days along the French Riviera We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com A collection of winning and honored images from this year’s nature-photo competition A collection of amazing recent images made with the Hubble Space Telescope Mourners of Pope Francis gathered at the Vatican scenes from the the second weekend of Coachella 2025 and landscapes of the Earth’s arctic and subarctic regions the stunning road brings a different kind of sunshine to the French Riviera when the region breaks out in giant brushstrokes of rich yellow As the snow-capped peaks of the Maritime Alps faded into the distance behind me, I followed my guide Maddy Polomeni further along a corridor of golden mimosa blossoms as we hiked towards an abandoned quarry in the Massif de l'Esterel mountain range Although it was the latter end of the flowering season there was still an abundance of blooms along this trail unlike many of the other mimosa circuits higher up in the peaks behind us The correct term for each bud is glomerulus featherlight balls that filled the late February air with the sweet aroma of marzipan "I feel like spring is already here," she said a 130km road trip that starts in Bormes-les-Mimosas and finishes in the perfume-scented town of Grasse in the Cannes hinterland an itinerary best travelled between January and March when the region breaks out in giant brushstrokes of rich yellow Known as wattle in its native south-eastern Australia mimosa was introduced to the French Riviera by British aristocrats who flocked to its resort towns in search of winter sunshine the Acacia dealbata (or silver wattle) they brought in their luggage quickly took to the acidic soils of the French region's mountainous western terrain "Having found the same growing conditions as back in Australia the plant spread," horticulturist Julien Cavatore told me "One of the things I love most about mimosa is that it blooms during a period of the year when you don't get any other flowers," Cavatore said The Route du Mimosa was created in 2002 along existing secondary roads, and while I was surprised to find that it isn't obviously signposted, a brochure is available in local tourist offices (and online) that serves as a guide to the various waypoints and activities Cavatore said that people often ask why there are not "huge forests of mimosa" as they head off from Bormes-les-Mimosas – in fact the landscape is the dusty greens and winter browns typical of the season a showcase of eight towns and villages that have each developed cultural ties to a plant that has become a symbol of winter on the French Riviera where French presidents have vacationed since Charles de Gaulle first visited in 1968 a two-lane road heavy with holidaymakers in search of clean air and sandy beaches in summer but which Bypassing Saint-Tropez for Sainte-Maxime (its low-key but charming neighbour across the bay) the D559 continues past pétanque courts and waterfront restaurants towards the popular resort town of Saint-Raphaël The 30km stretch between Saint-Raphaël and Mandelieu-La Napoule where majestic red ochre rocks tumble into the sparkling Mediterranean Sea below is one to savour: known as the Corniche d'Or the road mimics the twists and turns of the craggy coastline before opening out onto the Bay of Cannes • The return of France's lost lemon • Marseille: France's 'good natured' city • The Hardknott Pass: Britain's wildest road first drew inspiration from the colourful blooms surrounding his kitchen last year creating a mimosa-flavoured macaron that became a menu mainstay during the 2021 flowering period he's added a delicate cake to the seasonal selection I've placed a caramelised peanut inside and finished with a white chocolate ganache," he said Less than 2g of the distilled flower essence is used in each individual pastry yet the bitter-almond and orange-blossom flavours of mimosa are distinct another creation that shows the many possibilities of mimosa will be unveiled," he promised The array of artisanal products that highlight the plant's attributes as a culinary ingredient is steadily increasing In Mandelieu-La Napoule's tourist office a display of locally made mimosa products includes chocolates honey and even a vodka-based liquor called Mimocello the profession of mimosistes – or the people who cultivate mimosa – is at risk of disappearing there were 80 growers working out of Le Capitou whole railroad cars of cut mimosa would leave Cannes and La Napoule for flower markets as far away as Moscow and London the precious blooms placed protectively inside baskets woven from cane and willow mostly growing the flowers in the land around the Massif du Tanneron Tanneron and Pégomas known as the 'Golden Triangle' of mimosa In a quiet cul-de-sac in Pégomas, a village dating from the 16th Century just inland from Mandelieu, I found Cécile Reynaud at La Colline des Mimosas She was busy wrapping bouquets laden with freshly cut branches for a steady stream of passing customers Reynaud is a third-generation mimosiste: her grandmother first planted mimosa to sell to perfumeries in the 1930s supplying more than 100,000 bouquets a year to a mix of individuals and professionals "I'm so infused in mimosa that during the season I stop being able to smell it," she said Mimosistes like Reynaud are masters of their art their ability to manipulate the plant developed over a lifetime of harvests Nowhere is this more evident than in the forcerie – a temperature-controlled room where branches of yet-to-open buds are "forced" into flowering in hot The technique extends both the life of the cut flowers by up to 10 days and the growing season The talent of the mimosiste is knowing exactly how long to leave the flowers in the forcerie – "if we leave it too long there is a point of no return and the flowers fade," she said I drove the short distance through residential neighbourhoods towards Grasse and the rose iris and jasmine gardens that supply perfume houses like Chanel and Dior with their raw product Much of the mimosa currently found in perfumery is synthetic since its pom-poms are so lightweight that the quantity required to extract enough essence is considered too labour-intensive to use its true form But there are hopeful signs this is changing: Reynaud was preparing for a visit the next day from a "grand nez" – a perfumer recognised for their ability to compose scents "Now that Grasse's perfume-making techniques have Unesco World Heritage status there's an increased demand for the area's other flora," she said then Grasse's place as the final stop on this floral route is set to acquire an even greater significance La Route du Mimosa can easily be covered in a day but two days (the average time most people take because the real delights of this southern French road trip are found off the main roads and outside of the car – in the forests greenhouses and kitchens where these tiny rays of winter sunshine have firmly taken root The Open Road 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Running from Inverness to Britain's most northerly junction, the Far North Line passes through sheep meadows, traditional villages and the world's only Unesco-listed blanket peat bog. Wildfires also devouring swaths of forests in Corsica Summer wildfires are once again blazing across southern Europe, forcing the evacuation of 12,000 people on France’s Mediterranean cost and devouring swaths of forests as far afield as Corsica, Portugal, Italy and Albania. Authorities in the Côte d’Azur region decided to move people out of tents, campsites and holiday homes around the hilltop town of Bormes-les-Mimosas after a fire broke out in the surrounding forests on Tuesday. Some of the 12,000 people displaced by the flames sheltered in gymnasiums, village halls and schools while others huddled on local beaches. a mother of four from Pas-de-Calais who was on holiday with her family in the area said they had been ordered to leave their holiday centre at about 10.30pm on Tuesday “The sky was all red,” she told Le Monde “It was a huge blaze with enormous flames spreading everywhere.” After hearing gas canisters exploding at a nearby campsite guests at the centre in La Manne were told they needed to evacuate “We left everything there except for the baby’s bottle and nappies,” Dolczewski added After marching calmly in single file down to the beach they were taken to the village hall in Bormes-les-Mimosas People walk along a beach near Bormes-les-Mimosas Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty ImagesLocal journalists photographed several people curled up in sleeping bags on the sand while smoke from the fire could be seen in the distance more than 4,000 firefighters and troops backed by 19 water-bombers had already been mobilised to extinguish the flames At least 12 firefighters have been injured and 15 police officers affected by smoke inhalation since the fires broke out on Monday With strong winds and dry brush creating a dangerous mix the government asked its European partners to send two extra firefighting planes – a request immediately fulfilled by Italy But one union official denounced what he said was a lack of spare parts that was preventing all the aircraft from being put into action Gerard Collomb, the interior minister, said France would be adding six more firefighting planes to its fleet He made the announcement on Tuesday during a visit to the French Mediterranean island of Corsica Eric Martin of the Var firefighting unit told the BFM-TV channel that nearly 600 firefighters were trying to contain flames that had run through 1,300 hectares (3,210 acres) Four tracker planes and a firefighting aircraft were sent in as thick black smoke billowed above the skyline a city 25 miles (40km) from Bormes-les-Mimosas which sits on a rock off the coast of Bormes The wildfires began raging along France’s Mediterranean coast two days ago with flames reaching a corner of Saint-Tropez A fire in nearby La Croix-Valmer was under control by Tuesday evening The blaze had already consumed 400 hectares of coastal forest in an area dotted with homes More than 200 people had to be moved from the area described a desolate landscape of blackened headlands fringed by charred umbrella pines where green forest had once framed the azure waters of the Mediterranean “We are going to find burnt shells,” he said 300 hectares of pines and oaks went up in smoke near the village of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume A local official accused the authorities of failing to regularly remove dry undergrowth flames ate through 2,000 hectares (4,950 acres) of forest on the northern end of Corsica more than 2,000 firefighters were battling nine major wildfires on Wednesday high temperatures and strong winds fuelling the flames Another 1,000 firefighters were conducting mopping-up operations at 37 different Portuguese woodland blazes Ash floated in the air and vast plumes of smoke covered areas of central Portugal about 125 miles (200km) north-east of Lisbon The Civil Protection Agency said 24 water-dropping aircraft were in action Serta is close to Pedrógão Grande, where 64 people died in a wildfire last month No injuries have been reported in recent days as the blazes raced through thick eucalyptus and pine forests Large wildfires are a common occurrence in summer in Portugal where thousands of firefighters are on duty in the hottest months firefighters responded to 26 requests for water and fire retardant air drops on Tuesday The Coldiretti agriculture lobby said 50 billion bees were destroyed along with their hives in fires on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius Coldiretti said another 20% of the bee population is estimated to have become disoriented and died as a result Albania’s interior ministry said 130 firefighters were battling 18 fire spots around the country on Wednesday said fires were blazing in five western and central districts damaging 15 hectares (37 acres) of pastures military personnel and local authorities have been fighting about a dozen wildfires every day in Albania since the end of June Authorities have arrested several people accused of starting fires “Compared to a year ago we have increased public awareness and have also had better communication with the communities and local authorities,” said Bita Set off on a discovery of the riches of mimosa the symbol of a wintery but light-filled Côte d’Azur A sunny yellow against the backdrop of a deep blue sky its delightful fragrance perfumes the coast and its forests and also lights up the Corniche des Maures Some of its species have settled in so well that they colour gardens and hills with their sparking yellow There are more than 1200 varieties of mimosa in the world With its flowering period from December to July 18 million mimosa stems are produced every year in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes you can even see leaves in the shape of pine needles the temperature must not be colder than 10°C below the Fête du mimosa which is also held in February in Bormes-les-Mimosas is still the most emblematic People come from far and wide to admire one of the most famous flower parades and wander around the medieval village with its view over the Mediterranean Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Estérel Côte d’Azur (@esterelcotedazur) Une publication partagée par Domaine du Rayol (@domainedurayol) Bormes-les-Mimosas is home to France’s leading mimosa grower with over 200 different species and varieties The team at Pépinières Cavatore welcomes you all year round to show you around its greenhouses and show garden there’s a world mimosa tour with a gardener in store for you A beautiful event with an evocative name: l’Odyssée des Mimosas guided walks or photography walks in the Massif de l’Estérel Drive along with its delicate floral fragrance around you… On the Route du Mimosa our senses are awakened all along the 130 km this itinerary is made up of 8 town stages between the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes and illustrates the gentle Provencal lifestyle a meeting with a producer or a gourmet break a walk among the flowers or a show with a parade there’s something for all tastes in Provence The adventure begins in Bormes-les-Mimosas after having gone through the Jardin Botanique des Myrtes in Sainte-Maxime This winter road trip on the “Route d’Or” that winds through the biggest mimosa forest in Europe The contrast between the yellow mimosa and the blue sea will be imprinted on your memory Une publication partagée par Beguier Yves (@beguier_yves) Une publication partagée par Mimocello (@mimocello) use the flowers in recipes and to-die-for desserts For his traditional speech in Bormes-les-Mimosas for the anniversary of the village's liberation from Nazi occupation the president dwelt on 'this war that is thundering at our doors' and on 'devastating climatic disasters.' By Sofia Fischer Emmanuel Macron, in Bormes-les-Mimosas (Var), on August 19, 2022, during the commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the village, on August 17, 1944. ERIC GAILLARD / AFP The winter will be harsh, according to the French president. A few hours after speaking with Vladimir Putin a worried Emmanuel Macron made an appearance on the heights of Bormes-les-Mimosas (Var) to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the village's liberation on August 17 During an interview on July 14 the president had already told the French to prepare for a difficult autumn and winter due to the risks of energy shortages and soaring prices resulting from the war in Ukraine for his first public appearance after a few days of rest at the nearby Fort de Brégançon he reiterated his pessimism about the days to come who will need great fortitude to face the coming times to accept the pay the price of our freedom and our values," the president said and imperialist motivations are resurfacing from the past to force themselves on the daily life of our Europe Macron also denounced "Vladimir Putin's brutal attack" on Ukraine and mentioned his telephone calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and then with his Russian counterpart "to seek to obtain the necessary commitments to maintain nuclear safety on Ukrainian soil." In a war he said was "thundering at our doorstep," the head of state praised the "heroic resistance" of the Ukrainian people in the face of the "terrible assaults from the Russian army and its auxiliaries." this anniversary on August 17 commemorates the tens of thousands of soldiers who landed in 1944 on the shores of Provence to put an end to the German occupation It has become a traditional summer stopover for the president This year's celebration was delayed by two days due to weather warnings the ritual has been sadly marked by climate events Corsica was still reeling from the violent storms that killed five people on Thursday Regarding what he described as "devastating climatic cataclysms," the president seemed almost resigned they threaten to intensify and repeat themselves," he said He sais his priority is to "rethink our warning and security systems and the organization of forests." To journalists who questioned him about the autumn's agenda Macron repeated that it was necessary "to work on our energy sovereignty so as to accompany the French people and our companies in the context of this war." He repeated that "there is war in Europe (...) do everything to stop [the war]." He made a reference to his government's planned proposal on unemployment insurance which would tighten requirements to access benefits "We can move toward full employment but we must continue to carry out the necessary reforms," he added He also announced the new "National Council on Refoundation" would be launched on September 8 and promised a "dialogue" on public services such as education and health Sofia Fischer Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version Blooming into a thousand little winter suns This emblematic tree flourishes in the expert hands of our passionate growers You can also admire it along the alleys of the Var’s finest parks and gardens Open your eyes wide and breathe in deeply to honour this pure floral treasure Une publication partagée par bormeslesmimosastourisme (@bormeslesmimosastourisme) le 2 Févr. 2018 à 12 :44 PST Une publication partagée par Anne De Cannes (@anne_de_cannes) le 17 Févr Une publication partagée par J-c Cadastrin (@jc_cadastrin) le 26 Févr. 2019 à 10 :43 PST In Provence, some towns hold a floral parade called the “Corso Fleuri”, where decorated floats parade through the streets. Discover these very popular local festivals, which combine tradition and conviviality! In the south of France, noble families used to drive their carriages down the main avenue on Sundays. Originating in the 17th century, this tradition disappeared during the Revolution. The custom was revived at the beginning of the 20th century for carnival parades. After WWI, the people of Bormes-les-Mimosas decided to honour the mimosa that blossomed in the surrounding hills at the end of winter. The carts are decorated with flowers and drive through the village, offering a festive and convivial moment for the whole population. The Corso Fleuri is held every year at the end of February and attracts large numbers of visitors. The floats are decorated with an average of 10,000 to 15,000 flowers. There’s plenty to see and do on the Saturday, with a craft market and entertainment. Spectators can watch the parade on Sunday, then take part in a flower battle and leave with a bouquet as a souvenir. Une publication partagée par Corso Fleuri Bormes (@corsobormes) Une publication partagée par Digne-Les-Bains Haute-Provence (@dignelesbains_hauteprovence) Since 1929, Digne-les-Bains has celebrated the end of the lavender harvest, the emblematic flower of Haute-Provence and a major source of income for local growers. The event made a comeback in the aftermath of the Second World War, and has now been running for several decades. The festivities take place over several days at the end of July and beginning of August. Float parades, fireworks, funfairs, parades, dances and concerts take place throughout the year. Access is free for all. Every year, the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors who come to watch the daytime and night-time parades, the two fireworks displays, the funfair and the international parade. On the first evening, the parade opens with music, followed by fireworks and a grand ball in the Place Général de Gaulle. Saturday is devoted to the grand parade of folk groups from all over the world (Sweden, France, Russia). The Lavender Corso is one of the highlights of Digne-les-Bains’ cultural and tourist calendar. Lavender has been grown for centuries in the Enclave des Papes region, alongside vineyards and orchards in the former Comtat Venaissin. The town of Valréas also celebrates this emblematic flower with several days of festivities. The Valréas Lavender Corso features several parades of floral floats, concerts, a fair, an antique market and a funfair. This event takes place on the first weekend in August, and is an annual treat for locals and tourists alike. Contact the Valréas Festival Committee for details of the programme for next year’s event. Une publication partagée par Yani Fuki (@yanitakostova) Une publication partagée par Office De Tourisme (@cavalairetourisme) The town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer has also adopted the tradition of the corso, with a parade of illuminated floats. In February, spectators can take part in the various events organised throughout the weekend. The evening parade is the high point of the Corso des Lumières, with several illuminated floats passing through the streets and performances by street artists, strolling to lively rhythms. This carnival takes place in a friendly, family atmosphere, with parades, music and concerts. Contact the Cavalaire-sur-Mer tourist office for details of the programme for the next edition. Known the world over, the Nice Carnival is one of the most famous in Europe. Every year in February, a huge carnival parade is held. Delighted spectators can watch the parade of floats, marvel at the entertainment and dances, and enjoy watching the big-headed characters evolve. The carnival parade offers a festive and convivial interlude, immersing you in an imaginary and magical world. In the evening, from 8.30pm onwards, the floats light up for a parade of visual extravaganzas. You can also take part in the flower battles, where characters on floats decorated with flowers throw a shower of flowers at the spectators. You can find all the information and the programme for the next edition on the official Nice Carnival website: https://www.nicecarnaval.com/. Une publication partagée par Explore Nice Côte d'Azur (@explorenicecotedazur) 04.29.2023 by thecourtjeweller // Leave a Comment Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg tied the (rest of the) knot today in a private ceremony in the South of France—and there was a tiara included in her wedding ensemble Princess Alexandra married Nicolas Bagory in a civil ceremony at the Hotel de Ville in Luxembourg the couple married in a religious ceremony in Bormes-les-Mimosas in Nicolas’s native France Alexandra arrived for the wedding on the arm of her father as well as lots of well-wishers and members of the press were gathered outside the church to congratulate the newlyweds Alexandra secured her tulle veil with a tiara that dates back three generations in the grand ducal family: the Chaumet Choker Tiara but Alexandra left those off for her wedding Alexandra has also worn the tiara on multiple occasions herself. Here, she pairs the all-diamond version with her mother’s diamond wedding earrings for the National Day Gala in 2016 She wore the tiara with its pearl toppers for a banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during the family’s state visit to Japan in 2017 More recently, we saw Alexandra wear the all-diamond version again for the New Year Gala in 2020 I expected to see Alexandra borrow her mother’s diamond wedding earrings for the religious ceremony wearing a pair of modern diamond and pearl drop earrings from the family collection instead They’re the same earrings that her sister-in-law, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, wore for her civil wedding ceremony in October 2012 Alexandra finished off the look with one more borrowed piece of family jewelry: a two-row pearl bracelet with a diamond clasp Here’s Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wearing the bracelet on her right wrist during a state visit to the Netherlands in April 2006. (She’s also wearing lots of other family diamonds and pearls, including the Empire Tiara.) For her daughter’s religious wedding Maria Teresa reached for emerald and diamond jewels from the family collection She wore diamond and emerald earrings and an emerald and diamond cluster ring with her black and green jumpsuit There were numerous other jewelry-wearing family members there as well, including Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, who wore the family’s diamond and sapphire earrings for the second weekend in a row Princess Claire wore major heirloom jewels: the diamond and emerald earrings that belonged to Queen Astrid of Belgium I also spotted members of the Jordanian royal family in the crowd including Prince El Hassan and Princess Sarvath The couple made their getaway in a charming vintage car with lots of cheering and flag-waving well-wishers all around them Morning Rundown: Movie tariffs met with confusion, the best Met Gala looks, and burger joints learn to cluck My NewsSign Out Sign InCreate your free profileSections news Alerts Tourists leave the beach with their belongings as a fire burns in a forest behind them in Bormes-les-Mimosas France's Mediterranean coast is particularly vulnerable to fires and Mistral winds blowing across the sea to fan flames Employees at a gymnasium speak to evacuated tourists in Bormes-les-Mimosas No injuries have been reported among residents or vacationers Tourists evacuate the beach in Bormes-les-Mimosas A fire burns behind a beach in Bormes-les-Mimosas An aircraft drops fire retardant over a fire near Bormes-les-Mimosas Tourists watch as smoke fills the sky above a burning hillside in Bormes-les-Mimosas A woman looks at charred debris of vehicles destroyed by fire at a camping site in Bormes-les-Mimosas Of the 10,000 people evacuated in the region Evacuated people taking refuge on the beach watch the fire burning in Bormes-les-Mimosas at sunrise on July 26 Related: Thousands Evacuated as Wildfires Rage in French Riviera You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. The 32-year-old daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg married for a second time in a religious ceremony in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, on Saturday as plumes of smoke rise from a nearby wildfire on July 26 French authorities ordered the evacuation of up to 12,000 people around a picturesque hilltop town in the southern Cote d’Azur region as fires hopscotched around the Mediterranean coast for a third day 2/12 A plane drops fire retardant over a forest near La Londe-les-Maures in the French Riviera 3/12 A man inspects the damage following a wildfire in Bormes-les-Mimosas 4/12 An aerial view shows plumes of smoke from wildfires in the outskirts of Bormes-les-Mimosas 5/12 Firefighters battle a blaze in Bormes-les-Mimosas 6/12 Men try to extinguish a fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas 7/12 Residents hose down hot spots following a fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas 8/12 A man inspects the damage to a burned-out house in Bormes-les-Mimosas 9/12 People try to extinguish a fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas 10/12 Residents inspect the damage to a home following a wildfire in Bormes-les-Mimosas 11/12 Wildfires continue to ravage the hillside in Bormes-les-Mimosas 12/12 Evacuatees take refuge on the beach on July 26 as a wildfire rages in the forest in Bormes-les-Mimosas Print Reporting from PARIS — Wildfires blazing across the south of France have forced the emergency evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists The French authorities said they had moved to safety around 12,000 people — most of whom are vacationing on its Mediterranean coast in camping sites and holiday homes — as flames swept through forests and firefighters struggled to stop them from spreading French officials said that more than 4,000 firefighters were mobilized to tackle the fires as they raged around the Côte d’Azur at the height of the tourist season Fires broke out along the popular seaside area on Monday forcing a few scattered evacuations and causing a scare on the edges of the celebrated seaside resort of Saint Tropez The latest and most serious conflagration started around the hillside town of Bormes-les-Mimosas on Tuesday and quickly spread across swathes of pine forest aided by strong winds and dry ground conditions caused by an ongoing heatwave On Wednesday four tracker planes and several water-dumping aircraft were dispatched to the region as billowing black smoke filled the sky Tourists and local residents used Twitter to share photos and videos from the region Emmanuelle Kremer of Bormes-les-Mimosas posted: “Fire still going on since midnight...this seems endless.” 15:50 - The planes are FINALLY back in #BormesLesMimosas #wildfires #var #France pic.twitter.com/ElizRNvlpX Colonel Eric Martin of the local Var region firefighting unit told French television nearly 600 staff were trying to stop the blaze spreading It has already destroyed more than 3,500 acres of forest in the region The evacuated were given temporary shelter in local town halls was briefly closed Wednesday but has reopened France’s Mediterranean coastline is vulnerable to seasonal wildfires because of its inland forest fringe that becomes a tinderbox in the dry summers said several firefighters and police had been injured but no residents or holidaymakers have been hurt Devastating summer fires also broke out on the island of Corsica where nearly 5,000 acres of forest to the north of the holiday isle were consumed ‘For Charlie, it’s too late’: Parents of British baby abandon legal fight to get treatment in U.S. How an L.A. native learned to stop worrying and love — OK, tolerate — India’s monsoon Another victim of Venezuela’s unrest: Caracas’ once-renowned zoo 11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with staff reporting and the latest figures on acreage burned and firefighters deployed. This article was originally published at 6:25 a.m. California Hollywood Inc. World & Nation Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map The world has been given its first glimpse into James Middleton and Alizée Thevenet’s secret French wedding just over a week after the pair said “I do” wed his fiancée at the French village of Bormes-les-Mimosas on September 11 Magazine has shared the first snap from inside the ceremony revealing Alizée’s surprisingly low-key bridal gown Posting the world exclusive photo to Instagram fans flooded the outlet’s profile with excited comments The image showed James and his new wife beaming in the dappled sunlight whilst standing in a white car covered in flowers and foliage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HELLO! Magazine (@hellomag) James wore a cream-coloured suit with a blue shirt and tie while the bride opted for a chic yet understated dress that was also her “something borrowed” The off-the-shoulder frock that featured a fitted bodice and vertical seams running down the skirt along with delicate lacework along the neckline was worn by her new mother-in-law Carole Middleton on her own big day back in 1980 “It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life,” she told HELLO. opting for a natural beauty look and simple twists in her loose blonde hair Alizée wore only her ring and a set of dainty earrings as she beamed next to her new husband in the stunning wedding photo James Middleton and Alizée Thevenet wed in a secret French ceremony Speaking exclusively to Hello!, James opened up about the focus on his and Alizée’s big day “There are three important things for a good party: good music and wonderful people,” he told the outlet “We were lucky enough to have all three.” It was also revealed that the couple included two of their beloved pet dogs – Ella and Mabel – in the nuptials as four-legged flower girls The outlet also confirmed longstanding reports that Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attended the ceremony with their three children James and Alizée chose to tie the knot at the town hall in Bormes-les-Mimosas before hosting a beachside reception at a restaurant at the edge of the Léoube Estate James told the outlet that he couldn’t be happier to finally be a married man after having to postpone the wedding twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic “It was wonderful to finally celebrate with family and friends despite the challenges of a global pandemic,” he said Maddison is a senior journalist covering everything from celebrity news Sign up to receive the TV WEEK e-Newsletter and offers we choose to share with you straight to your inbox By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use All the months of the year are ideal for getting together again in the South of France They are colourful and filled with flavours and scents For Epiphany following tradition in the South we don’t share almond pie but instead the King’s brioche to name the lucky person of the day the beginning of the year is synonymous with the mimosa harvest let’s head for Mimosalia in Bormes-les-Mimosas A weekend where keen gardeners who want to make their garden their nature bubble the Outdoor Mix Winter Festival is back and promises a vitamin-packed cocktail of differoutdoor sports and free concerts for fun in the snow A great opportunity to enjoy the sea-urchins fished in the calanques of the Côte Bleue It perfumes and gives colour to the landscapes of the Var floats covered in yellow flowers and fronds parade in the streets during the Corso Fleuri while in Menton another yellow treasure is in the limelight La Fête du Citron (lemon festival) This event which is the only one of its kind in the world uses tons of citrus fruit for monumental designs The carnival corsos continue for the two weeks of festivities in the Carnaval de Nice and the colourfully costumed town hums to the rhythm of the shows each first weekend in March announces the Fête des Violettes Which means the end of the season for the producers and the arrival of spring The village is clothed in gorgeous colours and flowers a photo exhibition reminds us of pretty local tradition not forgetting guided tours on the themes of violets and the emblematic village buildings A Provencal market and a traditional meal will provide our taste buds with some delicious sweets and indulgences you can also make the most of the last descents Hop on your skis and head for the sunny runs of the South the Grand Prix de France Historique is back again in Le Castellet Pilots congregate behind the wheels of Formula 1s from the 50s tearing at top speed around the Circuit Paul Ricard An event which still gives its spectators a thrill For those who prefer antiques to racing cars the Foire Internationale Art & You awaits you in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue where updated vintage rubs shoulders with contemporary art and design the official selection and the stars walking up its steps make the headlines The Festival de Cannes lights up the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès and the whole town The prize distribution announces a plethora of artists who have come to pose on the red carpet And if you can’t wait for an autograph the Outdoor Spring Festival promises some great moments in Embrun Extreme sports and concerts in the Hautes-Alpes to set your hearts on fire the Valensole plateau is clothed in shades of violet-blue Lavender starts blooming in the middle of June and perfumes the roads with its woody Take a drive along the Routes de la Lavande to meet keen cultivators who grow and process the blue gold of Provence the myriad of fields of sunflowers takes on a lovely yellow-ochre colour These stretches of sun-kissed sunflowers in full bloom announce a rich vegetable oil the Festival d’Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence echoes on the walls of the town they offer lots of highly photogenic discoveries the Festival d’Avignon continues to give room to the performing arts with an even more surprising programme the biggest festival in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence It’s an outdoor festival to celebrate the delightfully scented plant which is part of the region’s economy fresh local products from the merchants dressed in period costume and who glide from one bank to the other on the traditional little “Nègo Chin” boats The harvest is starting in the South of France and the clusters of sun-packed red and green grapes are being picked the Vendanges Étoilées devote three days to gourmet food the art of the table and AOC wines in a good atmosphere the Voiles de Saint-Tropez are heading out to sea often hundred-year old boats to the ultra-modern ones which are among the most beautiful in the world here again it’s a passion shared in a good atmosphere on land and at sea the emblem of Collobrières is once again in the limelight for the Fête de la Châtaigne Producers and artisans introduce the chestnut in all its forms – grilled pureed or iced – thanks to their work all year round 300 creators compete and present their world during the Festival de la Mode The truffle is back on the market stalls and at truffle producers this is a great opportunity to indulge yourself and embellish your dishes There are many much sought-after regional truffle markets that are an invitation to enjoy it we meet the manadiers at the Festival Abrivado des Plages in Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer with lovely demonstrations of their magnificent bulls and Camargue horses Provencal Christmas markets have people of all ages dreaming We recommend the foires aux santons in Marseille and Aubagne the town is lit up and promises a light-filled trip to the harbour where the yachts twinkle magically if you’re patient you might be able to watch their courtship ritual to find female companion About 12,000 people have been evacuated due to a wildfire in southern France The fire has consumed large areas of forest along the Mediterranean coast in the mountainous interior and on the island of Corsica About 12,000 people have been evacuated due to a wildfire in southern France. The fire has consumed large areas of forest along the Mediterranean coast, in the mountainous interior and on the island of Corsica Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Marion Leflour/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Pascal Pochard-Casabianca/AFP/Getty Images Princess Alexandra wore Valentino to marry Nicholas Bagory in a low-key royal wedding at Luxembourg Town Hall Arriving at the picturesque village church on the arm of her father, Princess Alexandra cut an elegant figure in a satin gown that is believed to be a custom Elie Saab creation Featuring distinctive pleated fabric cross-crossed across the bodice and waist the gown has a classic soft A-line silhouette The bride added an embroidered tulle veil and – in a crowning moment – a diamond tiara from the family collection Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg in the Luxembourg Chaumet Choker Tiara To commemorate King Charles’s Coronation, Buckingham Palace has shared three new photographs of Their Majesties The newlyweds leave the religious ceremony The happy couple were joined by family including the bride’s four brothers, Crown Prince Guillaume, Prince Félix, Prince Louis and Prince Sébastien. Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau were also in attendance. Crown Prince Guillaume, who recently became a father for the second time, was joined by his wife, Princess Stéphanie and their eldest son, Prince Charles. Their youngest son, Prince François, is just a few weeks old. Revered, progressive and head of an extraordinarily photogenic family, the Dragon King of Bhutan has plenty to be proud of the bride and groom left the church and were greeted by well-wishers and members of the press A waiting crowd congratulated the couple as they left the wedding in movie star style: in a vintage convertible decorated with fresh flowers As King Charles’s Coronation approaches, roles for key figures have been announced. Among them? The Duke of Westminster Alexandra is an active working member of the Luxembourg royal family and a professional linguist She is currently seventh in the line of succession following her eldest brother Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume his two-year-old son Prince Charles and his newborn son Prince François; and her brother Prince Félix and his children Following Alexandra is her younger brother the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s third son is not in line to the throne; the prince relinquished his claim to the crown before marrying Tessy Antony de Nassau Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah before divorcing in 2019 Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will be among the foreign royals at the Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images2/11Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, Prince Charles and Crown Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg Arnold Jerocki3/11Princess Amalia, Prince Liam, Prince Felix and Princess Claire Arnold Jerocki4/11Grand Duchess Maria Teresa arrives for the ceremony Arnold Jerocki5/11Prince Gabriel of Nassau, Prince Louis de Luxembourg and Prince Noah of Nassau Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images6/11Nicolas Bagory and his mother arrive at church Arnold Jerocki7/11Princess Alexandra arranges her dress before entering the church Arnold Jerocki8/11The couple are met by well-wishers after leaving the church Arnold Jerocki10/11The newlyweds leave in a vintage convertible Arnold Jerocki11/11A moment worthy of a Hollywood film London-born wife of Syria’s president faces possible trial in UK, pending outcome of probe Thick black smoke billows above horizon as hundreds of firefighters battle blaze Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Thousands of people evacuated from wildfires raging in the south of France have been left stranded in gymnasiums and on beaches. Some 12,000 people were told to leave houses around the picturesque coastal town of Bormes-les-Mimosas, as flames continued spread along the Mediterranean coast for a third day on Wednesday. British tourists were among a crowd of more than 3,000 people forced to take refuge at a beach close to the resort of Saint-Tropez, after a campsite was evacuated overnight. The wildfires began to burn along France’s Mediterranean coast on Monday, forcing smaller and more scattered evacuations. Eric Martin, from the Var firefighting unit, told BFM-TV that nearly 600 firefighters had conducted about 100 operations to try to contain the flames. He said they had burned around 1,300 hectares (3,210 acres). Four tracker planes and a fire-fighting aircraft were sent towards thick black smoke that billowed above the horizon. The airport in Toulon, a city 18 miles from La Londe, was briefly closed on Wednesday, as well as the Fort de Bregancon, a monument which sits on a rock off the coast of Bormes. To the east, reinforcements were sent in to battle a blaze in Artigues that burned up to 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of forest. Another fire was contained on Tuesday evening in La Croix Valmer, after burning two villas, seriously injuring one firefighter and devouring about 500 hectares (1,235 acres). Further south, flames consumed 2,000 hectares (4,950 acres) of forest on the northern end of the French island of Corsica, in what was the largest blaze in France. France’s Mediterranean coast is particularly vulnerable to fires, with its large forests – which are often dry in the summer – and strong mistral winds blowing across the sea to fan the flames. No injuries have been reported among residents and holidaymakers. The Foreign Office has advised tourists visiting the South of France to “monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities”. It recommended tourists should search on Twitter for the latest advice from regional fire services. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Sunbathers are evacuated from a beach in Le Lavandou on the French Riviera Link copiedShareShare articleBacked by planes dropping water and fire retardant more than 1,000 firefighters are battling bushfires billowing smoke into the sky over France's southern Cote d'Azur forcing the evacuation of at least 12,000 people Large swaths of Mediterranean forest had been left bare and blackened after three days of fires an atelier and several vehicles were burned in the blazes Residents and tourists were evacuated early on Wednesday (local time) after a ferocious fire whipped by strong mistral winds spread from La Londe-Les-Maures to dense forests around the picturesque hilltop town of Bormes-Les-Mimosas About 60 people were evacuated by boat from nearby Cap Benat An aerial view shows plumes of smoke on the outskirts of Bormes-les-Mimosas "There will be more fires tomorrow," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said flew over the devastated region and met with firefighting personnel Firefighting aircraft made more than 500 drops of water or retardant on Wednesday and only three fires remained active in the Var region out of dozens that started on Wednesday flames ate through 2,000 hectares of forest on the northern end of the French Mediterranean island of Corsica A woman and her daughter look at the smoke from fires in Bormes-les-Mimosas was among the evacuees awakened in the middle of the night who found shelter in a sailing club near Bormes Dozens of people initially spent the night on a beach but public spaces pressed into service as emergency shelters were filling up which hit at the height of the summer season challenged regional governments with economies that depend on tourism The town of Bormes tweeted a call for donations of towels for the evacuees staying in the local gymnasium Fires in other countries, such as Portugal, have killed dozens. In central Portugal on Wednesday, billowing smoke made visibility too poor to use water-dropping aircraft on the region's flaming pine and eucalyptus forests. More than 2,300 firefighters with more than 700 vehicles battled 13 blazes, with flames driven by powerful winds. In Italy, where wildfires have raged for weeks, firefighters responded to 26 requests for water and fire retardant air crops on Tuesday throughout central and southern Italy, including Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia, Lazio and Puglia. The Coldiretti agriculture lobby said 50 million bees were destroyed along with their hives in fires on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Coldiretti said another 20 per cent of the bee population is estimated to have become disoriented by all the smoke and died as a result. Topic:Food and Beverage Processing Industry CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The TimesFrench officials blamed arsonists yesterday for the wildfires on the Riviera that have forced thousands of residents and holidaymakers to flee to emergency shelters was last night visiting the scene of the fire which started on open ground beside a caravan site president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region said that the blaze was “without doubt of criminal origin” He added: “This is a disaster for the Var département [in Provence] We are going to do everything to find the people responsible for this fire.” Fast-moving flames destroyed vehicles in Bormes-les-Mimosas in southeastern FranceJEAN-PAUL PELISSIER/REUTERSFirefighters were at full stretch protecting houses and hamlets sometimes stopping the blaze a few metres from homes as the flames swept towards the resort of Bormes-les-Mimosas Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser By BEN WILKINSON and ARTHUR MARTIN and INDERDEEP BAINS ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA FOR THE DAILY MAIL and PETER ALLEN IN PARIS and JULIAN ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINE This is the terrifying moment a packed bus inched past a raging wildfire as it engulfed a roadside house on the French island of Corsica Tourists can be heard gasping and crying out as the coach drives slowly past the inferno at Biguglia on the island's fire-ravaged north east coast Footage shows huge flames sweeping through a property and sparks drifting across the road as frightened passengers film the blaze on their mobile phones The video emerged as families woke up having spent a second night sleeping on the beach in the French Riviera amid wildfires likened to Dante's inferno Pictures show makeshift camp beds lined up on the sand at Bormes-les-Mimosas and people asleep under their beach towels French authorities said this morning that they are close to containing the fierce blaze - but fear further flareups on this afternoon due to lack of moisture and a pickup in the wind Last night British holidaymakers told of their terror after fleeing for their lives as wildfires threatened upmarket resorts in the region It comes as it emerged two suspected teenage arsonists were in custody in the south of France today after 'criminal activity' was blamed for fires that have brought terror to thousands of holidaymakers This is the terrifying moment a packed bus inched past a raging wildfire as it engulfed a roadside house on the French island of Corsica Vast stretches of scorched earth creeps up to the fences of homes in Biguglia as firefighters desperately battle to save buildings from wildfires in the region Families are waking up after spending a second night sleeping on the beach in the French Riviera as firefighters try to tame wildfires likened to Dante's inferno This was the scene at Bormes-les-Mimosas this morning Holidaymakers who were forced to flee campsites in the area set up makeshift beds on the beach and slept outside for a second night running British holidaymakers told of their terror yesterday after fleeing for their lives as wildfires threatened upmarket resorts on the French Riviera Hundreds of firefighters - backed by water bombing planes - have been battling the fires which have ravaged Portugal They are thought to have set fire to parched shrub land on Tuesday causing one of the blazes that have engulfed more than 15 square miles of countryside president of the Provence regional council told FranceInfo radio station that many of the fires were ‘of criminal origin’ and that the ‘activity of arsonists’ had to be stopped More than 10,000 people – including celebrities and royalty – were forced from homes hotels and campsites in the middle of the night yesterday They described pine trees 'lit up like matches' as the tinderbox forests at the back of the Riviera went up in flames One said the night sky of southern France was 'like Dante's Inferno' leaving normally blue skies black with smoke one local politician said: 'It is a disaster area Tourists were forced to sleep on beaches in makeshift camps woke at a campsite in Bormes-les-Mimosas to discover the hills were ablaze 'We've been coming here for 34 years and I've never seen fires this big,' said Mrs Davies 'When I looked back the whole of the hillside was on fire particularly as I can't run that fast any more The beach was full of people fleeing from the fire and there must have been about 50 children in buggies with worried parents.' said she could see and smell the black smoke then cars came around with sirens and a Tannoy telling everyone to move to the beach' right: The wildfire in the south of France who was staying with her sister Julie Winslet (right) said she came out and 'saw the hills on fire and the sky lit up' Holidaymakers described pine trees 'lit up like matches' as the tinderbox forests at the back of the Riviera went up in flames her 76-year-old husband John and friends David Heslop were spending their second night on the beach Mr Heslop said: 'My biggest fear was the wind was going to change There must be 500 gas canisters and 500 petrol tanks in the campsite told the BBC the night sky was lit up 'like Dante's inferno' 'This was certainly larger than anything we had seen previously.' described 'an explosion with masses of black smoke.. to safety after the wildfire threatened their villa in Gigaro 'Within just two minutes the fires got completely out of control and were spreading fast,' he said was with her husband Bruce in their caravan at Camp du Domaine Pictured: Holidaymakers watch the smoke rise over Les Mimosas who fled in their car after a blaze neared their home in Saint-Tropez A firefighter stands in the middle of a road near flames blazing near the village of Sanguinheira A local man is seen amid forest fire in Bayindir district of Izmir where at least 600 acres of woodland have been destroyed then cars came around with sirens and a Tannoy telling everyone to move to the beach at a beachfront pitch near Camp du Domaine We came out and saw the hills on fire and the sky lit up If it wasn't for those water planes we would have been in serious trouble.' fled in their car after a blaze neared their home in Saint-Tropez 'As soon as the flames touched an umbrella pine said: 'They evacuated everyone down to the beach and we have been here ever since and this is what is hampering the efforts to fight the fire because they really cannot predict where the flames are going to go next.' although Bormes mayor Francois Arizzi said it was arson More than 4,000 firemen have been battling the flames helped by aircraft including water bombers Locals and tourists were evacuated after a ferocious fire spread from La Londe-Les-Maures to around the picturesque hilltop town of Bormes-Les-Mimosas where as many as 3,000 campers were staying Fatherland author Robert Harris was among those evacuated He posted a series of pictures of fires near Cap Benat on Twitter who had been forced to abandon her villa near Saint-Tropez late on Monday said it was 'a nightmare,' while members of the Luxembourg royal family fled their summer home in Cabasson Terrifying photos from Bormes-Les-Mimosas showed flames rising just hundreds of yards away from a campsite where tourists had been sleeping on the sand having been evacuated in the early hours of the morning flames tore through 4,950 acres of forest on the northern end of the French Mediterranean island of Corsica The Luxembourg royal family are among at least 10,000 people to have been evacuated overnight after new wild fires ripped through tourist hot spots in southern France While many tourists evacuated the Cap Benat campsite (pictured being shadowed by smoke) some seemed happy to hunker down and continue enjoying their holiday Ruins: The charred remains of burnt caravans at a warehouse in La Londe-les-Maures after fire swept through the area overnight At least 10,000 people have been evacuated overnight with many forced to camp out on beaches to escape new wild fires ripping through the tourist hot spot of Bormes-les-Mimosas in southern France People walk through the streets of Bormes-les-Mimosas as smoke rises from a fire burning a forest near the seaside town Holidaymakers fled to beaches near Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Mediterranean coast (left) while wildfires burned across southern Europe On the move: Sunbathers were evacuated after heading to the beach this morning in Le Lavandou They were seen carrying their beach chairs away as black smoke rose up from a fire on a nearby hill Hundreds of firefighters - backed by water bombing planes - have been battling the fires which have ravaged Portugal (pictured) Fires in Turkey have destroyed at least 600 acres of woodland in the Aegean province of Izmir (pictured) Meanwhile massive blazes have destroyed thousands of acres of woodland crops and vineyards across Southern Europe British author Robert Harris said he had been among thousands evacuated and posted a series of pictures on Twitter showing fires burning through the undergrowth near the seaside town of Bormes-les-Mimosas described a landscape of blackened headlands fringed by charred umbrella pines There's nothing left,' he said of an area where green forest had once framed the azure waters of the Mediterranean The new blaze came a day after France asked for Europe's help to tackle the flames already raging in the tinder dry south including near the popular resort of Saint-Tropez 'Apocalyptic' wildfires across southern Europe sparked by a series of heatwaves across the continent come as many Britons prepare to set off on their summer holidays this week On Tuesday more than 4,000 firefighters and troops backed by 19 water bombers had already been mobilised to extinguish flames in southern France which have left swathes of charred earth in their wake Beachgoers walked off the beach after being told to leave as a fire raged behind them in Bormes-les-Mimosas About 3,000 of those evacuated from the picturesque coastal village of Bormes-les-Mimosas (pictured) were tourists staying in campgrounds British author Robert Harris posted a series of pictures on Twitter showing fires burning through the undergrowth near Bormes-les-Mimosas The Luxembourg royal family - Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (right) - were also in Southeastern France and were evacuated from their property Devastation: A woman hugs a firefighter near charred remains of vehicles and buildings destroyed by fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas Flames and smoke fill the sky above a burning hillside as tourists swim on the beach in Bormes-les-Mimosas People play cards at the beach as a fire burns a forest behind them in Bormes-les-Mimosas Tourists evacuate the beach as smoke fills the sky above a burning hillside in Bormes-les-Mimosas in the Var district Firefighters stepped up their battle against flames lapping at Mediterranean forests in the picturesque French hilltop town of Bormes-Les-Mimosas of the firefighting unit in the Var region of the Cote d'Azur said on Wednesday that nearly 600 firefighters were trying to contain the flames that had run through 1,300 hectares of Bormes More than 1,000 firefighters battled infernos which billowed smoke into the sky over France's southern Cote d'Azur coast The Bormes blaze was morphing into the largest in the area as firefighters also fought a fire in nearby La Londes-Les-Maures Pictured: Volunteers distribute food to people evacuated due to wild fires in Bormes-les-Mimosas To the east of Bornes-Les-Mimosas (pictured) A man tries to extinguish a fire burning in Bormes-les-Mimosas wherethousands of people including holidaymakers were evacuated were sparked by a series of heatwaves across the continent A palace spokesperson in Luxembourg told Hello Magazine the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa are stuck in France after being evacuated Also with them in their property in Cabasson were Henri's father Jean and other members of the family including children About 3,000 of those evacuated from the picturesque coastal village of Bormes-les-Mimosas were tourists staying in campgrounds some of whom ended up spending the night in sleeping bags on the beach Village mayor Francois Arizzi said between 10,000 and 12,000 people had been moved to public shelters but that some had preferred to sleep in their cars Other fires have been blamed on discarded cigarettes Tourists sheltered from the sun under trees after being evacuated from villas hotels and campsites in fire-hit Bormes-les-Mimosas An aerial view shows plumes of smoke rising in the air from burning wildfires in the outskirts of Bormes-les-Mimosas Dramatic pictures show flames and massive clouds of smoke from an inferno ripping through woodland near the upmarket French resort of Saint-Tropez This was the scene in the hills of Gigaro in La Croix-Valmer near the glamorous town A woman hots her head in her hands as she reacts to the sight of burnt out houses and vehicles following a fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas A man inspects the damage following a fire in Bormes-les-Mimosas southeastern France as he walks through the wreckage Camping and caravaning guard company owners try to extinguish a fire still burning in Bormes-les-Mimosas People look at the devastated land surrounding their house following a fire in Biguglia on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica Holidaymakers at the Camp du Domaine campsite in Bormes-les-Mimosas told of having to flee at 2am as fire approached Some 1,000 camping plots were abandoned with one British tourist saying there was 'utter chaos' as people flocked to the site's private beach Dramatic footage also showed fires raging further inland British actress Dame Joan Collins has revealed she was among those who fled from her villas in the French Riviera Forest fire in southern France near Le Lavandou & Bormes-les-Mimosas In a later tweet he said firefighters were 'battling to save Cap & Gaou Benat' A firefighting plane drops fire retardant over a forest near La Londe-les-Maures on the French Riviera this morning Wasteland: A burned out vehicle lies abandoned on a forest road in Carros southern France - one of the worst-hit areas Holidaymakers fled to beaches near Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Mediterranean coast as a huge blaze swept through the area Up to 10,000 people have been evacuated from the region as fires continue to sweep through woodland and forest Residents are pictured trying to extinguish a fire burning in their buildings in Bormes-les-Mimosa People try to extinguish a fire burning in Bormes-les-Mimosas were evacuated overnight after a new wildfire broke out in southern France Mr Harris posted pictures showing fires burning in the woodland overlooking his holiday destination People gather in a gymnasium in Bormes-les-Mimosas after being evacuated as over 10,000 people were evacuated from campsites and homes in southern France as firefighters battled the latest in a string of huge blazes along the Mediterranean coast A woman and her daughter look at a plume of smoke from burning fires that fills the sky in the popular resort in the South of France 'Brave pompiers of Bormes-les-Mimosas worked all night to save hundreds of homes 10,000 people evacuated,' he told his Twitter followers The blazes on Tuesday had devoured around 4,000 hectares (15 square miles) of land along the Mediterranean coast With strong winds and dry brush creating a dangerous mix, the government asked its European Union partners to send two extra fire-fighting planes - a request immediately fulfilled by Italy But one union official denounced what he said was a lack of spare parts preventing all the aircraft required from being put into action Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced on Tuesday that France would be adding six more firefighting planes to its fleet during a visit to Corsica A fire in La Croix-Valmer near Saint-Tropez a resort frequented by the rich and famous local fire chief Philippe Gambe de Vergnes said Tuesday As tourists continued to sunbathe on the beaches hundreds of firefighters tackled a blaze spanning 200 hectares at Giagaro close to the glamorous holiday destination The scarred remains of land burnt to a crisp by a forest fire in Ramatuelle Evacuated people found refuge on the beach and look at a fire burning the forest in Bormes-les-Mimosas Tourists do their best to enjoy their holidays in the French Riviera while huge fires continue to rage in La Croix-Valmer A firefighting helicopter drops water over a forest fire in Carros near Nice as blazes broke out across the French Riviera A firefighter works overtime to put out a forest fire near the small village of Carvoeiro But the blaze had already consumed 400 hectares of coastal forest in an area dotted with homes La Croix-Valmer's deputy mayor Rene Carandante described a desolate landscape of blackened headlands fringed by charred umbrella pines sparked by a series of heatwaves across the region Emergency services last night continued to work around the clock to battle the infernos which are being fanned by high winds and have consumed nearly 10,000 acres of vegetation French authorities said eight firemen and 15 police officers have been hurt although no fatalities have yet been reported In Portugal firefighters were yesterday continuing the country's summertime battle against wildfires which last month claimed the lives of 64 people whose house had at one point been in danger disaster was averted after the wind died down but the blaze engulfed 1,800 hectares of forest and burned several vehicles three vehicles and a warehouse went up in flames Mayor Charles Scibetta described waking up to a 'lunar landscape' and said the inhabitants had a lucky escape 'All of France is mobilised,' the head of the fire service in southeast France adding that extra firefighters had been drafted in from the north a director at the Irsea institute for research into the environment and agriculture said a fall-off in farming in southeast France since the 1970s had made it more prone to fires Moment screaming Eddie Hall chases 'drivers who scared his kids' Hilarious moment Prince Louis 'rolls eyes at his brother' Musk wants 'backup' of human life on Mars in case Earth destroyed Moment woman defecates on another driver's car amid road rage Michelle Obama in therapy as she reaches 'life-changing transition' Locals plead for migrant hotel on quiet country road to be shut down Women's rights campaigners take over men's pond at Hampstead Heath Prince George meets veterans at Buckingham Palace tea party Man dressed in furry costume kicked in horrific group attack Moment models flee Lamborghini boat after it sinks in Miami Plane crash survivors spend 36 hours in alligator infested swamp Dozens rescued after luxurious Lamborghini boat sinks off Miami coast More than 100 forest fires erupted on Sunday with 5,000 firefighters deployed across central and northern Portugal Almost 5,000 firefighters supported by water-dropping aircraft are deployed across central and northern areas of Portugal as the country continues its daily summertime battle against wildfires A villager battles in dangerous conditions to put out a forest fire in the village of Brejo Grande 'Farmland is contracting and the forest is naturally expanding roads and power lines near forests also increased the fire hazard a blaze believed to have been ignited by a cigarette butt tossed out of a car ripped through 800 hectares of land near Aix-en-Provence Sainte-Maxime and Toulon were graded as being at an 'exceptional' risk with experts warning that continued strong winds this week would see more areas affected One fire that erupted late on Monday near the La Croix-Valmer resort and yacht-filled marinas of Saint-Tropez sent clouds of thick black smoke into the sky above the packed beaches Flames burned across some 2,000 acres in the region with two villas destroyed in the hills where Dynasty star Dame Joan Collins was staying just a few miles west of St Tropez The 84-year-old and ten others at her multi-million-pound holiday home where the actress spends four months of the year An aerial photograph shows the fire devastated landscape in Biguglia on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica A raging fire is sweeping through woodland in the hills of Gigaro in La Croix-Valmer near Saint Tropez Holidaymakers watch on as the smoke fills the sky following a forest fire near Seillons Fires ravage the Corsican maquis in Biguglia More than 2,000 hectares have burned despite the best efforts of firefighters Too close for comfort: Dramatic video showed forest fires raging close to houses in the Saint-Tropez region overnight A house and three vehicles went up in flames in Carros north of Nice yesterday as firefighters battled to contain the inferno Photos show the wreckage of a burnt down car following a forest fire in Ramatuelle has spread across 900 hectares of forest and is reportedly threatening to engulf homes in 2016) has been forced to evacuate her villa in the south of France as a huge fire continues to rip through woodland near Saint-Tropez Tweeting a picture of the blazing hills yesterday Dame Joan wrote: 'Luckily we were able to evacuate last night she said: 'All 11 family and friends are safe after abandoning our villa due to the fierce forest fires threatening our home.' She later claimed the fire had been started by a barbecue adding: 'All seems ok although fire still burning started by BarBQ.' Local authorities said more than 100 people were evacuated and thousands of acres destroyed in and around St Tropez Another fire that scorched at least 2,000 acres in Luberon was believed to be under control yesterday morning But one of the largest blazes was last night still ripping through swathes of hillside on the island of Corsica off the French coast A French firefighter sitting in a vehicle looks at a tree blocking the path in Ramatuelle Pictures show the interior of a vehicle that was destroyed when fire ripped through a forest in Ramatuelle Fires have been raging for days in southern France An aircraft is pictured swooping low over Castagniers near Nice Tourists seemed unconcerned and continued to enjoy the beaches near Saint-Tropez as forest fires swept through nearby woodland Emergency: Dramatic pictures showed huge forest fires near the exclusive L'Escalet area of Saint Tropez in southern France The fires across southern France have been made worse by strong winds This was the scene as firefighters tackled a blaze in in the hills of Gigaro in La Croix-Valmer Tourists and residents walk down a road near Saint Tropez as a huge forest fire rages over the ridge of a nearby hill yesterday More than 5,000 acres of forest were engulfed after the fire erupted on Monday night with residents evacuated from their homes at the edge of the town of Biguglia One of the blazes along the French Riviera was thought to have been started by a bolt of lightning However carelessly discarded cigarettes are often blamed for setting the tinderbox area alight Fires have erupted across much of southern Europe in recent weeks amid extremely high temperatures and dry weather during the peak holiday season More than 2,000 firefighters are battling nine major wildfires in Portugal high temperatures and strong winds are fueling the flames Almost 1,000 other firefighters are conducting mopping-up operations at 37 other Portuguese woodland blazes on Wednesday where 64 people died in a wildfire last month Pictured: Firemen fight a forest fire at Castelo in Macao 358 land vehicles and ten airplanes and helicopters are working to contain the forest fire in Castelo Ash filled in the air and vast plumes of smoke covered areas of central Portugal Pictured: A water bombing plane fighting the blaze in Castelo The Civil Protection Agency said 24 water-dropping aircraft were in action in Portugal Pictured: A firefighter at the scene of a forest fire at Castelo where hamlets have been evacuated and the A23 shut Emergency services in Portugal are getting no respite from wildfires that are charring wide areas of forest The huge billowing clouds of smoke they are generating are making visibility too poor to use water-dropping aircraft Aerial assault: Planes loaded with water were sent into the skies in a bid to damped the flames from above near Carros Fire fighting aircraft drop water over a fire near Carros A number of fires have been causing chaos across the region People watch smoke rising above a forest as a wildfire burns near La Londe-les-Maures on the French Riviera this morning where thousands of firefighters are on duty in the summer months Albania's interior ministry says that some 130 firefighters are battling 18 fire spots around the country Spokesman Ardian Bita says fires are blazing in five western and central districts Meanwhile fires in Turkey have destroyed at least 600 acres of woodland in the Aegean province of Izmir 'Compared to a year ago we have increased public awareness and have also had better communication with the communities and local authorities,' said Bita Wildfires are also burning across swaths of central and southern Italy aided by the region's drought and high temperatures but authorities say most have been caused by arson Civil protection authorities said they responded Tuesday to 26 requests for water and fire retardant airdrops throughout central and southern Italy Wildfires in Turkey have destroyed at least 600 acres of woodland in the Aegean province of Izmir (pictured) Smoke rises at the site of a forest fire in the Lutuflar district of Izmir where around 250 acres of forestland has been destroyed by the fire amphibian airplanes and water trucks tried to extinguish the fire in the Lutuflar district of Izmir Pictures show a huge fire raging a few hundred yards away from yachts in Bormes-les-Mimosas in the Var region in southern France There were no reports of imminent threats to population areas on Wednesday causing periodic evacuations and devastating large areas of forest and pasture The Coldiretti agriculture lobby says 50 billion bees were destroyed along with their hives in fires on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius Coldiretti said another 20 percent of the bee population is estimated to have become disoriented from the smoke of the fires and died as a result On Sunday a forest fire in Croatia triggered 34 explosions thought to be mines left over from the war in the 1990s An earlier blaze had spread to southern Croatia from Montenegro Southeast France is experiencing an exceptionally hot dry summer that have made it especially vulnerable to fires This is a terrible tragedy to see such a beautiful.. The comments below have not been moderated We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Grand Duke Jean and some of the family's children and other family members had to leave the summer house in Cabasson due to the fires in Bormes-les-Mimosas. The wildfires started on Tuesday night and more than 12,000 people, including 3,000 holidaymakers who were camping, were forced to evacuate. Luxembourg's Ducal family members have been moved to another location by the French authorities. A statement sent by the Grand Ducal family's staff confirms they are all well. 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