00:00Join me on Grand Voyager
00:03as I travel from Qatar and beyond
00:05to uncover the secrets of the iconic cities.
00:08I'm Sarah Hedley-Hymers, a global solo traveller.
00:12I discover untold stories and hidden gems
00:16in luxurious destinations
00:18unlocking adventure, activities, culture and more.
00:23Solo doesn't mean alone.
00:26My passport is ready.
00:28Let's go.
00:33Today I'm heading to the land of glamour, colour and culture.
00:37Just a seven hour flight from Qatar.
00:41This region has long attracted artists, travellers and movie stars.
00:47Bonjour and welcome to the south of France.
00:51In this episode I'll explore the glamour of the French Riviera,
00:55the flavours of Provence and the natural wonders of Verdun Gorge.
01:00I begin my journey here in Cannes, a star of the Côte d'Azur.
01:05Each spring, La Croisette, Cannes' famous three kilometre boulevard,
01:10becomes the beating heart of world cinema during the Cannes Film Festival.
01:16At the centre of the boulevard stands the Carlton Cannes Hotel, an icon of hospitality that plays host to visiting stars.
01:25Imagine who's brushed shoulders with the lobby's majestic marble columns.
01:31From Hollywood legends to today's box office headliners.
01:35Today I'm checking into one of the hotel's premier suites.
01:40This is the Katara suite.
01:44One of the most luxurious suites in the hotel, named after the Qatar based owners.
01:50Let me show you around.
01:51It feels like its own world.
01:54There's a grand lounge and dining area perfect for living the Riviera lifestyle.
02:00The bedrooms are cosy havens, with ensuite bathrooms boasting freestanding tubs.
02:06And there's even a private sauna for added indulgence.
02:12My personal favourite space is the balcony.
02:16The views are simply iconic.
02:21Katara Hospitality restored and reopened the hotel in March 2023,
02:27following a two-year renovation that modernised the landmark,
02:31while preserving its Belle Epoque façade and historic charm.
02:36The gardens now frame the hotel with colourful flowers, peaceful seating enclaves,
02:41and a sparkling pool.
02:44And the terraces are home to some of Cannes finest restaurants,
02:48offering a front row seat to La Croisette.
02:51Riviera is the place to see and be seen.
02:55It's casual dining but with ultra-luxury ingredients.
02:59And I strongly recommend the pinza topped with premium French truffle.
03:05Beyond the glitz of the boulevard lies another side of Cannes,
03:09the old town.
03:11A hillside of cobbled streets and okra-washed houses
03:15that rises to offer sweeping views across the bay.
03:19Further afield, in the flower-coated hills north of Cannes,
03:23lies the perfume capital of the world, Grass, home to Molinard.
03:29Founded in 1849, the legendary perfume house has been run by five generations of the same family.
03:37Its original farmhouse is now a museum,
03:40where visitors can learn the secrets of centuries of French fragrance making.
03:45Molinard's Astrid Nicoud offered to show me around.
03:50Welcome to the distillery.
03:52Oh, it's like the Willy Wonka of perfume in here.
03:59The distillery room houses antique copper machines used to extract oils from flowers to create perfume.
04:07Can you tell me about the typical flowers that you would find here in the south of France as popular crops used for perfume?
04:17Of course, directly in Grass, ten minutes from here, you've got the Centifolia Rosa that only picks up here in Grass by hand.
04:26And every day we pick it up and then we distillate it directly.
04:30Jasmine also is the most important one.
04:32So if I'm making a perfume with you today, jasmine would be the most important one to use.
04:39Yeah, exactly.
04:40Okay, that's good to know.
04:41So when I'm trying to bottle the south of France, that's where I start.
04:45Yeah.
04:46If you'd like a souvenir fragrance from the south of France, Molinard's workshop is the perfect place to create it.
04:54Welcome to the prestige workshop.
04:57Front of you, you've got the formula with the top notes, heart notes and base and fixative ones.
05:03When sampling perfume, the top notes are the first scents you notice.
05:07The heart notes give a perfume character and the base notes are the ones that last the longest.
05:14So these are my top notes going in and I picked this one because of the cute name, Blackcurrant Bug.
05:22And I'm adding this finally to my very complex mix of fragrances, which I can already smell it and I'm quite proud of it.
05:35Let's try it right now.
05:37Now my bespoke scent is complete, it's time to inhale.
05:41Mmm, beautiful.
05:44Yeah.
05:45What do you think about it?
05:46Really good.
05:47Great.
05:48I really like that.
05:49And that will remind me of my holiday.
05:52I hope so.
05:53Perfectly.
05:54Great.
05:55This is a little piece of the south of France in a bottle.
06:00Inland from the Riviera, Provence is the land of fertile fields, where citrus trees thrive in the sun.
06:10And at its heart lies its most celebrated culinary treasure, the truffle.
06:16Shea Bruno is a renowned truffle restaurant in Laugue, founded in 1983 by Clement Bruno and now run by his sons.
06:26Hello.
06:27Hello.
06:28Samuel.
06:29Benjamin.
06:30Welcome at Bruno's.
06:32Show me around.
06:33This Michelin-starred restaurant is a hotspot for celebrities, but behind its star appeal lies a proud family passion.
06:42Please.
06:43Samuel took me on a tour of the restaurant drenched in rustic charm.
06:49There are private dining areas and secluded spots.
06:52This is the VVV IP table.
06:55And in the surrounding grounds the family grows fresh vegetables that go straight to the plates.
07:02But before I sample the food, it's time to join head chef Benjamin, truffle hunter Rene and his dog Baloo in search of truffles.
07:12Truffle dogs, like Baloo, are specially trained to sniff out the scent of truffles hidden beneath the soil.
07:19And today we are in luck. Baloo has uncovered several.
07:24This is a nice truffle.
07:27It just smells very sort of potato-like.
07:29Yeah.
07:30And when we see the inside and now you have to smell again.
07:34And it's a completely different smell.
07:36Oh yeah, now it's coming through.
07:38You know, because it's saving all the taste inside.
07:41So does that mean this will be extra flavoursome when we get it on the plate?
07:45Exactly.
07:46With the truffles gathered, I'm keen to learn the secrets of the restaurant's signature dishes.
07:56Our specialty is the potatoes, signature dishes of the restaurant.
08:01It's simple but really, really intensive in taste.
08:04The humble potato is transformed using a few simple ingredients.
08:09Is that olive oil?
08:11Olive oil.
08:12And salt?
08:13Cicelte.
08:14Cicelte and pepper.
08:15This restaurant uses more than 5,000 kilograms of truffles each year,
08:20making it one of the largest consumers of truffles in the world.
08:24I do not want to think how many calories are in this bowl of truffle cream with potato.
08:30We don't have to talk about calories today.
08:32We don't.
08:33It's France.
08:34We don't speak about calories.
08:35We don't speak about calories.
08:36We speak about pleasure.
08:37Mmm.
08:38Besides Benjamin's sublime potato dish, just about every ensemble on the menu is loaded with fresh truffle.
08:46From truffled hummus to lobster with truffle, the menu is truly decadent.
08:53Clearly, Chez Bruno isn't a restaurant.
08:56Oh, no.
08:57It is a temple of truffle worship, a sanctuary for truffle enthusiasts paying homage to Provence's black diamonds.
09:10In nearby Cotignac, under the watchful shadow of its ancient caves, weekly markets transform the medieval village into a Provençal feast.
09:19Today, local cave home dweller Damien is going to show me where to pick up the best local produce.
09:26So, Damien, you're a local history enthusiast.
09:30Yes.
09:31What kind of things can we buy on the market?
09:34Market day, it's quite unique.
09:37Especially in the season, it's much bigger.
09:39It's the best place to get healthy food.
09:41Fresh local produce is everywhere, and I couldn't resist picking up a few treats.
09:47Before leaving Cotignac, Damien invited me to share a rustic Provencal breakfast outdoors.
09:54A simple yet delicious spread of olives, goat's cheese, white fig jam and crusty bread.
10:01Now I've had a hearty French breakfast, I'm ready for an adventure.
10:05And Cotignac is famous for being the gateway to Verdun Gorge, which is dubbed the Grand Canyon of Europe.
10:17My guide today is Swedish national Hocan, who relocated to Provence to run a bed and breakfast in nearby Montfort-sur-Argin.
10:27He offers his guests tours of Provence in his vintage citron.
10:32And so the adventure begins.
10:36Hocan's unique tours give visitors a chance to experience Provence at a fast pace.
10:42Today we're heading to the dramatic cliffs of Verdun Gorge.
10:46This natural wonder is Europe's deepest canyon, stretching 25 kilometers with cliffs that rise up to 700 meters.
10:55If you're in the south of France, it's a must-see destination.
11:01As a B&B owner, this is one of the excursions that you recommend to your guests.
11:06Why is it one of your favorites?
11:08It's easy to get here and you can make it in half an hour or five hours.
11:14It's called Gorge de Verdun and also the Grand Canyon of France.
11:20Okay, let's go and take a look around.
11:22Oh yeah.
11:26What an amazing journey this has been. The epic views of the gorge are breathtaking.
11:32What I've come to realize about the south of France is that even though it's known as the playground of the rich and famous,
11:39the real luxuries here lie in the simple pleasures.
11:43Like the beautiful scenery and the joie de vivre of sharing a good meal with new friends.
11:49Just seven hours from the gulf, I'll certainly come back in a heartbeat.
11:54But for now, à bientôt.
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