00:00Join me on Grand Voyager as I travel from Qatar and beyond to uncover the
00:06secrets of the iconic cities. I'm Sarah Hedley-Hymers, a global solo traveler. I
00:12discover untold stories and hidden gems in luxurious destinations, unlocking
00:19adventure, activities, culture and more. Solo doesn't mean alone. My passport is
00:27ready. Let's go. Today I'm heading to the land of glamour, colour and culture, just a
00:38seven-hour flight from Qatar. This region has long attracted artists, travelers and
00:45movie stars. Bonjour and welcome to the south of France. In this episode I'll
00:52explore the glamour of the French Riviera, the flavors of Provence and the
00:57natural wonders of Verdun Gorge. I begin my journey here in Cannes, a star of the
01:03Côte d'Azur. Each spring La Croisette, Cannes famous three-kilometre boulevard,
01:10becomes the beating heart of world cinema during the Cannes Film Festival. At the
01:17centre of the boulevard stands the Carlton Cannes Hotel, an icon of hospitality that
01:23plays host to visiting stars. Imagine who's brushed shoulders with the lobby's majestic
01:29marble columns. From Hollywood legends to today's box office headliners. Today I'm
01:37checking into one of the hotel's premier suites. This is the Katara suite, one of the most luxurious
01:45suites in the hotel, named after the Qatar-based owners. Let me show you around.
01:51It feels like its own world. There's a grand lounge and dining area, perfect for living the Riviera lifestyle.
01:59The bedrooms are cosy havens, with ensuite bathrooms boasting freestanding tubs. And there's
02:06even a private sauna for added indulgence. My personal favourite space is the balcony. The views are simply iconic.
02:20Katara Hospitality restored and reopened the hotel in March 2023, following a two-year renovation that modernised
02:30the landmark, while preserving its Belle Epoque façade and historic charm. The gardens now frame the hotel with colourful flowers, peaceful seating enclaves and a sparkling pool.
02:44And the terraces are home to some of Cannes finest restaurants, offering a front row seat to La Croisette.
02:52Riviera is the place to see and be seen. It's casual dining, but with ultra-luxury ingredients. And I strongly recommend the Pinza topped with premium French truffle.
03:06Beyond the glitz of the boulevard lies another side of Cannes, the Old Town. A hillside of cobbled streets and okra-washed houses that rises to offer sweeping views across the bay.
03:20Further afield, in the flower-coated hills north of Cannes, lies the perfume capital of the world, Grasse, 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, where visitors can learn the secrets of centuries of French fragrance making.
03:46Molinard's Astrid Nicoud offered to show me around.
03:51Welcome to the distillery.
03:55Oh, it's like the Willy Wonka of perfume in here.
04:00The 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?
04:16Of course. Directly in Grasse, ten minutes from here, you've got the Centifolia Rosa that only picks up here in Grasse by hand.
04:26And every day we pick it up and then we distillate it directly. Jasmine 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.
04:38Yeah, exactly.
04:39Okay, that's good to know. So when I'm trying to bottle the south of France, that's where I start.
04:44Yeah.
04:45If 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. Front 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. The 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.
05:41Beautiful.
05:43Yeah.
05:44What do you think about it?
05:46Really good.
05:47Great.
05:48I really like that.
05:49Because 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.
06:02Inland 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.
06:16Chez Bruno is a renowned truffle restaurant in Lorgue founded in 1983 by Clement Bruno and now run by his sons.
06:26Hello.
06:27Samuel.
06:28Benjamin.
06:29Welcome at Bruno's.
06:31Show me around.
06:33This Michelin-starred restaurant is a hotspot for celebrities.
06:37But 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.
06:53This is the VVV IP table.
06:56And 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 René 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.
07:26It 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?
08:13Sea salt.
08:14Sea salt and pepper.
08:15This restaurant uses more than 5,000 kilograms of truffles each year.
08:20Making up 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.
08:52Clearly, Chez Bruno isn't a restaurant.
08:57Oh, no.
08:58It is a temple of truffle worship.
09:01A sanctuary for truffle enthusiasts paying homage to Provence's black diamonds.
09:07In nearby Cotignac, under the watchful shadow of its ancient caves, weekly markets transform
09:16the medieval village into a provincial feast.
09:20Today, 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 at some point 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.
10:18My guide today is Swedish national HÃ¥kan,
10:21who relocated to Provence to run a bed and breakfast in nearby Montfort-sur-Argin.
10:28He offers his guests tours of Provence in his vintage citron.
10:33And so the adventure begins!
10:37HÃ¥kan'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.
10:47This natural wonder is Europe's deepest canyon, stretching 25 kilometers, with cliffs that rise up to 700 meters.
10:57If 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.
11:29The epic views of the Gorge are breathtaking.
11:33What 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, like 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, a bientot.
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