SEILLANS, FRANCE

We will be having our conferences in France at the hilltop village, Seillans. This small village is called a "ville perché" (perched hill-top village) overlooking the plain between the southern Alps and the Esterel, which borders the sea between Cannes and Saint Raphael. It has been recognized as "one of the prettiest villages of France”. It is in the pays de Fayence in the Var departement in SE France.

Seillans is an ancient village dating to 500 B.C. It lies nestled back against the base of a forested mountain, looking out to the south across lower valleys. The village stretches up through narrow, cobblestone streets that pass between ancient buildings and other lovely squares to eventually reach the 12th century Saint Léger church at the top. In between are small, shaded squares and fountains. The village and area has always been popular particularly with artists (painter-sculptor Max Ernst lived his last ten years in this village). Princess Diana and Fergy vacationed here in July 1996. David and Victoria Beckham own a villa in the neighbouring village of Bargemon.

Seillans is a village of artists, and it was the home of artists Max Ernst, Dorothea Manning, Robert Doisneau and many others. The foundations are Roman and there is still evidence of building from the beginning of the second millennium. The chateau and church are in the centre of the village, which harbours an exquisite square under a natural dome of plane trees. At the top of the village there is an extensive open 'place' which is the local arena for the national sport of 'boules', and where there are frequent art markets in summer. Picturesque narrow cobbled paths lead down through the village past artists' shops and galleries. The village is also a destination for gastronomes.

Outside of Seillans, there are numerous other "perched villages", including Seillans' sister town Fayence. Dotted in the valley along hilltops around the Fayence district you will find towns of particular interest: Montauroux, which towers over the entire valley, Mons, perched on a rocky outcrop, and many more.

Currently, we do not have a conference scheduled in France.

Accommodations:

If there is one region that can truly be said to be privileged, without exaggerating, it is the Provence-Côte d'Azur region. Situated approximately one hour by plane from most of the major European metropolises, it is both at the heart of the world and... the end of the world. Cannes, Nice, Saint-Raphaël and the entire Riviera, with its beaches, casinos, museums, luxury goods shops and top restaurants, which combine to make The Côte d'Azur one of the most vibrant and elegant places in the world, are all less than an hour's drive away, yet as if by magic, its hinterland has managed to remain an unspoilt secret, where exuberant nature is in full bloom. The pine forests give way to forests of oak trees; the crimson and white rockroses adorning the garrigue give way to scented, buzzing fields of lavender.

The painters' route, recalls Matisse, Cézanne and so many others who so memorably captured the unique light of these landscapes. The craftsmen's route, for its part, will introduce you to earthenware from Moustier, glassware from Biot, perfumes from Grasse and pottery from Vallauris.