A Vacation Spot Fit for a Queen(a) |令人神往的法国蔚蓝海岸(a)

by Matthew Brown

The French Riviera makes most of us think of beautiful, rich, and famous people—and for good reason.

法国蔚蓝海岸让大多数人想到俊男美女、富豪和名人是有其理由的。

With its mix of glamour, culture, and sunshine, the French Riviera is legendary. Officially known as the Côte d'Azur, the French Riviera is a section of France that runs down the Mediterranean coastline. Its fame today has a lot to do with the beauty of its long stretches of sandy beaches and bright colors. However, the French Riviera is not merely a nice spot to vacation. Over the years, it has been home to some of the world's most powerful royalty, brilliant artists and writers, and a very influential movie festival.

The beauty of the French Riviera is certainly the secret to its charm. It was one of the first resort areas visited by British vacationers in the late 18th century. Before long, British and Russian royalty were coming to enjoy the sun and sand. Of course, if it's good enough for aristocrats, it's good enough for anybody.

By the 1920s, new types of royalty were spending time on the French Riviera—the kings and queens of the art world. Writers such as Edith Wharton and Aldous Huxley frequented the area. Painters such as Matisse, Cezanne, Monet, and most famously, Picasso, also enjoyed the nearly tropical climate and the scenery. In fact, Picasso spent a lot of time on the French Riviera, moving there permanently in 1946.

It's no wonder, because the region gets an average of 300 days of sun each year and has a kind of clear light that makes "the colors feel as if they were alive". For a sample of the French Riviera in the eyes of an artist, take a look at the painting The Port of Saint-Tropez by Paul Signac. It might make you start practicing French while packing your bags.

　　融合魅力风情、文化和阳光，法国蔚蓝海岸是个传奇。正式名称为 Côte d'Azur 的蔚蓝海岸指的是法国境内的地中海沿岸。现今蔚蓝海岸的名声与其绵亘的美丽沙滩和鲜艳景致色彩大有关联。然而，蔚蓝海岸不仅仅是个渡假的好去处。多年来，该区一直是世界上一些最有权有势的皇室、才华洋溢的艺术家和作家所爱之处，同时也举办具有影响力的电影节。

　　蔚蓝海岸的美景绝对是它的魅力所在。早在 18 世纪末，蔚蓝海岸就是英国渡假民众的首选胜地之一。不久后，英国和俄国皇室也都来享受这里的阳光和海滩。当然，如果对贵族来说已经够完美的话，对任何人而言也毫无挑剔的余地了。

　　到了 1920 年代，新一代的皇族，也就是艺术界中的名人雅士开始在蔚蓝海岸消磨时间。像是作家艾迪丝．华顿和赫胥黎便是此处的常客。马谛斯、塞尚、莫内和最知名的毕加索等画家也都喜爱这里近乎热带的气候和风景。事实上，毕加索有很长一段时间都待在蔚蓝海岸，并在 1946 年迁移定居于此。

　　以上这些都没什么好讶异的，因为该区每年平均有 3 百天是晴天，清透的阳光让蔚蓝海岸的色彩活灵活现了起来。想知道艺术家眼中的蔚蓝海岸，看看席涅克的画作《圣卓佩兹港》便可一窥究竟。这幅画会让你想开始一边练习法文、一边开始打包行李。