RT Magazine April/May 2015 by Riviera Press

I s s u e 1 5 6 / Apr i l - May 2 0 1 5 - 3 , 0 0 E

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Th has h

PASSION for fashion The designer behind Legends Monaco

25 YEARS OF MAMAC

Nice’s contemporary museum celebrates a milestone

Guardian angel Monaco control centre for world’s first solar flight

CANCER BREAKTHROUGH

Riviera professor talks about his ground breaking discovery

Promenade des Anglais Major redesign for Riviera’s most famous strip

Editorial by Cassandra Tanti

or 13 years now, the readers of The Riviera Times – RT Magazine have been able to pick up/receive their copy at the beginning of each month. Lately, this has not been the case, for a number of reasons. Subscribers outside of France have been impacted the most, some receiving their paper long after the first of the month. Unfortunately, much of this is out of our hands. As I write this, hundreds of copies of the RT Magazine and our sister paper RZ Das Magazin are missing… the French postal system seemingly unable (or unwilling) to tell us where they are. Like I always say, customer service is an anomaly in this country. Nonetheless, we apologise for the inconvenience this is causing some of our readers.

To make things easier, we have come up with a solution. From this month, each edition of RT Magazine will now cover two months, for example April and half of May, in terms of events and exhibitions. This ensures that if readers are late in receiving their copy, then they still have a calendar of events for the following month. The added bonus is that you can plan your social calendar well in advance! And don’t forget to visit our website www.rivieratimes.com, where we publish news, information and events as soon as we receive them. We like to think we have all bases covered here at The Riviera Times – RT Magazine.

In this issue FASHION

The designer behind Legends Monaco: Sylvia Sermenghi International Festival for Fashion and Photography in the Var MONACO

The Year of Russia: events for 2015

Mission Control Centre coordinates world’s first solar flight

H E A LT H

SPECIAL

Meet the Niçois professor who is changing cancer treatment Finding the cause of musculoskeletal problems REAL

ESTATE

Luxury holiday rentals A little piece of paradise on Eden Island RIVIERA

LIVING

Nice’s promenade set to receive a facelift Terre Blanche’s Philippe Jourdin tells a story on each plate

10 12 14 15 16 17

Inspiration needs quality of life: Interview with creative director Konny Strauss ART

C U LT U R E

Celebrating 25 years of the MAMAC EVENTS

Your ‘where, when & why’ entertainment guide

20 22 23

R T- N E W S

Keeping you up to date with all the news and important information from the Riviera

D E S I G N & C O N C E P T B Y K O N N Y S T R AU S S

BUSINESS

Backstage: Legends fashion show 2014 in Paris

Cover photograph: Urivaldo Lopez - Styling: Sylvia Sermenghi - Collection: Autumn/Winter 2013

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FASHION

Flying on the wings of passion

All eyes are on fashionhouse Legends Monaco

Sylvia Sermenghi is enjoying one of the highest points of her fashion career so far. She is nominated for a prestigious Paris award, in a category that includes designers for Dior and Lanvin. BY CASSANDRA TANTI Photo: Thai Pham photography - Dress: collection S/S 2013

Dress: collection 3D “ Dorothee, Dovima , Divina “ W. 2015

assion: it is defined as an intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction. This perfectly sums up Sylvia Sermenghi, who in just a few short years has established fashion house Legends Monaco, which has already managed to claim an exclusive slot at the Paris Fashion Week. The Monaco resident is quickly rising to the high ranks of fashion within France, this year landing a nomination in the Design category at the prestigious Globes & Cristal Awards. Other nominees include musicians Carla Bruni and Johnny Hallyday, artist Jeff Koons, and Dior designer Raf Simons. Sylvia spoke to RT Magazine about what drives her passion for fashion. RT Magazine: How does it feel to be nominated for such a prestigious award? Sylivia Sermenghi: At first I was very surprised, in fact I thought it was a joke! Then I said to myself, even if I don’t win the award on 13th April at the Lido in Paris, it is still a great honour to be nominated alongside the likes of Raf Simons from Dior and Albert Elbaz from Lanvin. I am also happy for Monaco as my ‘Maison de Couture’ is based in the Principality. What has the journey been like to get to this point in your career? A few years ago I met my partner Bilal Barrage and together we decided to share our passion for fashion and savoir faire. In 2013, I created Legends Monaco with

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my partner, so as you can see we are a very young brand. At the time, people said I was crazy because in the world of haute couture there are “dinosaurs” of fashion protected by big financial trusts. I am obviously a little speck of dust compared to them. But after just one year, we had the support of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris to present our ready-to-wear collection at Paris Fashion Week. This is our third year and we are one of the nominees for the Globe de Cristal. It is the beginning of a wonderful story, isn’t it? Tell us about yourself – your story, where you grew up, how you became interested in fashion design… I was born on an island far away in the Indian Ocean. For as long as I can remember, I was always very fond of fashion and clothes. Living on an island, my mother would take me to a dressmaker to have my clothes made, so I got to choose my own fabrics and create elaborate dress designs for myself. It was very important to me because there was little opportunity to do much else beyond school and helping my mother at home. Later, I decided to complete my university studies in France. Then I landed as an orphan in Monaco. Books and cinema were always important to me - actresses made me dream of a glamorous world, and this dream came true when I met Princess Grace shortly before she died. She is now a reference of beauty and elegance for me, the best model I could have for Legends. I also had opportunities to see haute couture fashion shows by designers like Christian Lacroix, Galliano for Dior, Elbaz for Lanvin, and Karl

FASHION

Which international fashion shows is Legends Monaco involved in? So far, we have only done Fashion Week in Paris, as this is a lot of work for me. Paris is still the fashion capital of the world and it was very important for me to be there. But we are likely to go to Qatar, and would like to be seen in the USA and China. What are the most interesting aspects of your job? It isn’t a job, it is a passion. It must be a passion otherwise you can’t do it. I like to create – this is the most interesting aspect for me. It is like trying to invent something new, aiming for perfection and, as I said before, to create emotion in this attempt for perfection. What do you consider the future of Legends Monaco to be? Legends is my baby. You want your child to grow well and one day fly with their own wings, very far away and for a particularly long time. I want to bring Legends to the USA, Russia, China and the Middle East. Do you have any advice for emerging designers? Passion, passion, passion and hard work! This is a recipe that works. And believe in your abilities. When we want, we achieve!

Dress: collection 3D “ Dorothee, Dovima , Divina “ W. 2015

Lagerfeld for Chanel. I admired them all and the fact they worked with passion. I especially like the savoir faire of fashion, all the handwork. What have been some of the high points of your career so far? It was of course the first fashion show in Paris during the haute couture Fashion Week. We were very anxious and during the show the magic worked and some of our friends and clients even wept. They came backstage to tell me this. We had created emotion, and that was our main objective. During the last fashion show in Paris, Mouna Ayoub was sitting in the front row and stayed until the end. She was one of the most important clients of the 80s and I like her passion for fashion and handwork, just like myself. How do you define your sense of fashion design? According to our clients, we are “different” with a very personal style defined by our bustiers, the stones (Swarovski) that we like to use, and the natural fabrics combined with a modern twist. It is sexy but elegant; elegant but modern at the same time. Can you reveal to us some famous celebrities who like to wear Legends Monaco haute couture? We have some French models and actresses as clients. Paris Hilton loved one of our dresses. Personally, I dream of one day dressing Lea Seydoux, Marion Cotillard and Charlize Theron.

www.legendsmonaco.com

International Festival for T Fashion& Photography Karl Lagerfeld headlines this year’s event in the Var

The trendy festival explores the permeability between art, photography, fashion and design. BY CASSANDRA TANTI

Fashion guru Karl Lagerfeld (right) with Virginie Viard from Chanel and Eric Pfrunder. © Karl Lagerfeld

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he International Festival for Fashion and Photography is a springboard for young designers and photographers. Presided over by Caroline, Princess of Monaco, the festival this year boasts another famous name to its team of organisers: Karl Lagerfeld, who’ll be stepping in as artistic director. Now in its 30th year, the festival is a fantastic opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their work to a room of influential people who just might give them the break they need to penetrate the cutthroat fashion industry. The location is just as interesting as the festival itself. Villa Noailles, situated in the hills above Hyères, in the Var, is one of the very first modernist style buildings constructed in France. Designed in 1923 by Robert Mallet Stevens, the villa was built as a summer residence for the patrons of modern art Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles. The relaxed atmosphere of both the venue and the festival make for a great networking environment. Presided over by Virginie Viard, Chanel’s Creative Studio Director, the impressive panel of judges this year includes actress Anna Mouglalis, journalists Carine Roitfeld and Loïc Prigent, musician Sebastien Tellier and architect and designer India Mahdavi. They’ll be judging 10 young fashion designers and 10 photographers from of nine different nationalities. The 30th edition of the International Festival of Fashion and Photography will take place from 23rd to 27th April, while the exhibitions will run until 24th May.

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MONACO

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MONACO

Si2’s guardian angel

Mission Control Centre in Monaco is coordinating world’s first solar flight It’s a “dream come true” for dedicated environmentalist Prince Albert II and the team behind Solar Impulse 2. BY CASSANDRA TANTI

t was an historic day on 9th March as the Solar Impulse 2 set off on its record-breaking attempt to fly around the world. The solar powered plane kicked off the epic adventure in Emirates, Abu Dhabi, as a very excited team watched on at the Mission Control Centre in Monaco. Among the engineering experts, meteorologists and air traffic controllers was Prince Albert II, a strong supporter of the environmental project. It has taken 12 years for Swiss innovators Bertrand Piccard, initiator and chairman, and André Borschberg, founder and CEO, to finally make their dream a reality - achieving what was thought impossible in the name of technological innovation and a clean and renewable future. Of course, Piccard is no stranger to ground breaking adventures. In fact, it runs in his blood. The 57-year-old completed the first non-stop, circumnavigation of the world in 1999 using the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon. His father, Jacques Piccard, a friend of Rainier III, succeeded in exploring the deepest parts of the world’s ocean in the Mariana Trench, while his grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was the first person to take a balloon into the stratosphere, in 1931. Today, the world is watching as Solar Impulse 2 travels 35,000 kilometres around the world in 25 days, over the course of roughly five months. The aircraft is passing over the Arabian Sea, India, Myanmar, China and the Pacific Ocean,

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often days and nights at a time. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the final legs include a stop-over in Southern Europe or North Africa before landing back in Abu Dhabi. During the 12 scheduled stops, the Si2 team will rest, carry out maintenance and campaign their message about clean technologies at various schools and universities. “We are very ambitious in our goal, but modest given the magnitude of the challenge,” said Bertrand Piccard. “This is an attempt, and only time will tell if we can overcome the numerous weather, technical, human and administrative issues.” Si2 is the largest aircraft ever built with such a low weight equivalent to that of a small car. The wings are covered by more than 17,000 solar cells and their span is greater than a Boeing 747. The plane can fly up to an altitude of 8,500 metres at speeds ranging from 50 to 100km/h. And navigating the aircraft is no easy task; the pilots are demonstrating an extraordinary endurance under extreme conditions living in an unheated, 3.8m3 non-pressurised cockpit, while external temperatures fluctuate from -20 to +30 degrees Celsius. They’re also surviving on 20 minute catnaps. Borschberg is using yoga to try to stay fresh, Piccard self-hypnosis techniques. “But my passion will also keep me going,” said Piccard.

MONACO

The Mission Control Centre

1) Pilots André Borschberg (left) and Bertrand Piccard (right) with Prince Albert II (centre) 2) Werner Peyer, CEO Monégasque de Banque (left), Connor Lennon, Communications Manager Solar Impulse, and Federico Limiti, Head of CMB Private Banking

In permanent contact via satellite with the airplane, the Mission Control Centre (MCC) is the pilot’s “guardian angel”, says Piccard. “We will be in continuous contact with them from the cockpit, and they will tell us what we need to know to make the right decisions.” While the aircraft is airborne, a team of about 40 specialists are anticipating every possible scenario, taking into consideration the prevailing weather situation and amount of sunshine, enabling the pilot to follow the optimum flight plan and ensuring that enough energy is stored on-board to fly through the night. It was an obvious choice that Monaco should be the hub of Si2’s co-ordination activity, given Prince Albert’s personal commitment to sustainable development. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation approached Compagnie Monégasque de Banque to help fund the MCC on Monegasque territory. “The foundation knew that we are curious with an entrepreneurial spirit so, with our chairman Etienne Franzi, we decided that we would be very happy to participate,” said Werner Peyer, CMB Managing Director. Thus Monaco became a little Houston. “This historic circumnavigation using only solar energy will be a dream come true,” said Prince Albert. “The flight will demonstrate that science can change the world.”

Visit: www.solarimpulse.com

HEALTH SPECIAL

RT Magazine: Professor Hofman, describe for us your ground breaking research… Prof. Hofman: Around 15 years ago I decided there was an urgent need to find new methods for the early detection of lung cancer, particularly among “at high-risk” individuals. Research in animals showed that circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the blood stream was an early event of cancer, however the search for CTCs has been mainly performed on patients already diagnosed with cancer. Our results show, for the first time, that CTCs can be detected in people long before tumours are visible. Around 1 to 4 years after we detected CTCs in the blood stream of our test patients, CT-scans revealed lung nodules, which lead to the diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer. The study involved 245 subjects without cancer, including 168 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 77 subjects without COPD, including 42 control smokers and 35 non-smoking healthy individuals. I have a team of around 52 researchers and members here at the Nice University Hospital and Inserm/ CNRS (Institute of Research on Aging and Cancer, IRCAN, Nice Sophia Antipolis University). What has been the response since the article was published in the medical journal Plos One in October? It’s varied. I received a lot of attention from France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, America, Brazil, etc, from various institutes who want me to develop this project with them. Currently, we are looking at possibly working with the Fox Chase Cancer Centre in Philadelphia.

Medical breakthrough A Niçois professor may have unlocked the secret to a deadly killer Professor Paul Hofman’s blood test for lung cancer has made headlines across the globe. He spoke to RT Magazine about his team’s exciting research and the future of cancer treatment. BY CASSANDRA TANTI

espite recent advances in therapy, the overall rate of survival when it comes to lung cancer is terrifyingly low, particularly at advanced stages. One of the main reasons is a lack of routine, easy to perform and low cost methods of detecting early-stage tumours. While completing his MD in oncology and pathology Professor Paul Hofman realised that more needed to be done for cancer patients beyond the standard administration of chemotherapy. “I wanted to understand the mechanisms of cancer,” Professor Hofman told RT Magazine. “If you don’t understand this, then you can’t treat cancer efficiently. From there, it just grew.”

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Last month a man from Montreal came to my office and wanted me to give him the test, as he is a former smoker and scared of developing lung cancer. He told me: “I will give you as much money as you want.” And a tobacco company from the US also asked me to work with them. They figure if we develop a test that shows smokers do not have any CTCs in their bloodstream, then they can continue smoking. Unbelievable but true. What is the next stage of your research and when could the test be made available to the public? The project is at a standstill right now because we are looking for financial support to move forward. It is quite difficult to secure funding for research in

HEALTH SPECIAL

According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades. In your opinion, what is the future of cancer treatment? It depends on the cancer. For example, breast cancer patients now have good survival rates because of the excellent treatment. When it comes to melanoma, pancreatic, and lung cancer we still have a lot of work to do as the prognosis for these patients is terrible. There has been a lot of progress over the past 10 years, but for certain cancers we have to find a new form of detection and therapy. Much of the research today is based on what we call ‘liquid biopsy’, and we are continually identifying biomarkers in the blood. For patients, blood tests are easy, non-invasive and less expensive. I think the progress will be in this field.

France and our grant applications are not likely to be approved before the end of 2016. The next stage is to conduct a nationwide validation, with testing in Paris, Toulouse, Grenoble, and Nancy involving other universities. Everybody is ready to start, but we need around 1 million euros to set up all the research centres and recruit 1,000 new patients. If successful, the test will be commercialised and subsidised by the French health ministry. If everything goes well, it could be available to the public in 2019-2020. Is there a rush to be the first to develop this kind of test? Absolutely, there is competition from all around the world with particular research teams in Baltimore and New York in the US, China, and Canada. I doubt we will be able to remain competitive in 2 to 3 years’ time, so yes the race is on.

It must be very frustrating to be so close… Yes it is. Every day I have phone calls, visits, written letters and emails from patients and families who want to be involved in the project. And it is not like in the US where they have the privilege of only focussing on research. Here, we are expected to do many things at the same time: I have my pathology laboratory, my MD work, I teach at the faculty, I must do my research, and I have to try and find funding. It is a difficult job. Why did you choose a career in medicine? I developed arthritis when I was nine years old, it was secondary to an infectious disease, and I was bedridden for at least 6 months - sick for a year. I saw a lot of doctors. I was also drawn to laboratories, to chemistry – so I guess it was a mix of everything.

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Donations

The foundation AVENI has been established at the Nice Pasteur Hospital for tax deductible donations. If you would like to contribute to Professor Hofman’s ground breaking project to save lives, visit www.fonds-aveni.fr and click on: déveloper l’innovation médicale, or send a cheque (specifying the project ‘Paul Hofman; dépistage du cancer du poumon’ on the back) to Aveni, CHU de Nice, 4 Avenue Victoria, 06003 Nice, or email info@fonds-aveni.fr.

HEALTH SPECIAL

r R a lph Je n ne ss e n is an or t hop ae di c specialist with particular focus on hip and knee replacement, and has already helped more than 50,000 patients regain their quality of life. He spoke to RT Magazine about his approach to not only treating pain, but finding and eliminating the exact causes. RT Magazine: What makes you different from other medical practitioners? Dr. Jennessen: Early in my career I realised that often, many of the treatments I was proposing only addressed pain as a primary issue when in reality pain is secondary - it is a warning sign of impending danger and traditional treatments like pain killers, modern antidepressants and anxiety medications only mask the symptoms to provide short term reprieve. It is important that I determine exactly what causes pain in the first place.

With my knowledge, including diplomas in physical medicine, chiropractic, osteopathic, professional applied kinesiology, acupuncture, nutritional and sports medicine and as an orthopaedic surgeon understanding the 3-dimensional construction of the body inside, I created an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic system that brings me in touch with all essential structures that can be cured. With more than 14 specific techniques in the cranial, craniosacral and visceral field, and with the neurological integrations system, I also use these techniques successfully for other regions of the body and interlinked dysfunctions of various body regulation systems. Besides the classic non-operative surgery that I specialise in, I also focus on an area of medicine that is helpful for a host of patients suffering from various diseases.

Accurate diagnosis & nonsurgical treatmentÂ Finding the cause of musculoskeletal problems

Orthopaedic expert Dr Ralph Jennessen in Tourrettes uses a modern medical approach for pain relief, restoration and improvement of function, mobility and increased activity. BY CASSANDRA TANTI

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HEALTH SPECIAL

What is your most common type of patient? On a daily basis I see lifestyle, work-specific and environmental diseases which influence the dynamic regulation of the body system, including cohesion of the electromagnetic field, the nerve system, the endocrine system and the somatic-motoric system. The loss of mobility, potency and balance as well as bad posture, back pain, disc and joint diseases torture many people and affect nearly all age-groups. According to the latest studies, around 30% of the population suffer some form of chronic pain (duration 3-6 months). This is a direct result of the modern world: spending a lot of time in closed rooms with artificial light in monotonous seat positions, exposed to electromagnetic fields which disturb body functions and all kinds of possible chemicals via nutrition. Migraines and related problems such as dizziness and tinnitus are common. How do you diagnose and treat these patients? Somatic dysfunction is the diagnostic criterion for which osteopathic manipulation is indicated. A somatic dysfunction is defined as an impaired or altered function of related components of the somatic body framework system: skeletal, arthrodial and myofascial structures, and related vascular, lymphatic and neural elements. Professional applied kinesiology is a safe and effective way to detect structural, chemical and psychological problems and cure them with multiple and specific techniques. I specialise in acute and chronic illness and, at the cellular level, address causes not symptoms. Only by addressing health at cell level can we achieve optimum sustainability.

What should people know about this field of treatment? The body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms and it has the inherent capacity to defend and repair itself. When normal adaptability is disrupted, or when environmental changes overcome the body’s capacity for self-maintenance, disease may ensue. The nervous system plays a crucial part in controlling the body. Getting old is a concern for everyone – what advice do you have to ease the symptoms of ageing on the body? Eternal youth is a dream, as ancient as mankind, because getting older hurts both the body and mind. Health, in its broader sense, is only highly regarded when we experience a lack of pain and symptoms of sickness. Indeed, nearly all people think they are healthier than what they are in reality. The pretence of health is deceptive. There is a long list of things I recommend to my patients, but first I tell them: use it or lose it. That means do not avoid motion - move! You lose 1-2% of balance every year after 40 years of age. A fall and subsequent broken hip leads to the death of about 25% of patients within two weeks, because they develop blood clots and suffer a stroke. Train your body with a swing stick on a balance board, use elastic thera bands at home to train your deficient muscles. Avoid monotonous muscle training at gyms. You treat people for trauma, what does this involve? Trauma - years, even decades later - can cause problems because the body cannot deal with acute stress whilst compensating the old trauma. This can be corrected with an injury recall technique. The effective neuroendocrine pathways to counter regulate the pain are mainly streamed by the axis of epiphysis - hypothalamus-pituitary-suprarenal region and the pathway

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can be corrected by the neurological integration system. I ask the brain by touching specific cutaneous points: where is it having difficulty controlling the body properly? I get the answer by a muscle test and I can reconnect the signal disturbance immediately including a re-check. The problem never comes back. Why do you consider your medical approach modern? I treat the fasciae and harmonise the whole body. Fasciae are connective tissue fibres, primarily collagen, that form sheets or bands beneath the skin to attach, stabilise, enclose, and separate muscles and other internal organs. They are an extremely accelerating information system within the body’s control and its perception. On the one hand there is the osteopathic mobilisation procedure - precise, gentle and considerate, and the other utilises the ‘form-stabilising’ approach of a structural integration concept of fascia. As A.T. Still said: “Through its function we live and through its failure we die”. THE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CENTRE PROVENCE CENTRE MÉDICAL TASSY

46F Chemin du Canal - 83440 Tourrettes (Var) Tel: 04 94 39 40 02 ralph.jennessen@imc-provence.com

REAL ESTATE

Luxury holiday rentals

Engel & Völkers offers exceptional new service for their clients

The holiday rental market has seen significant growth over the years, providing benefits for property owners and potential buyers.

ngel & Völkers has long been a market leader in the buying and selling of luxury property on the French Riviera, so it is only natural that they would take on the lucrative field of holiday rentals for prestigious apartments and villas. RT Magazine spoke with Beatrix Eikel, general manager of Engel & Völkers French Riviera SAS, about her company’s exciting new opportunities.

ADVERTORIAL

RT Magazine: Beatrix Eikel, Engel & Völkers is now offering a new service for its clients - holiday rentals. Why have you chosen to enter this field of real estate? Beatrix Eikel: We decided that it is important we offer this service to our international clients because we have had a continuous demand for holiday rentals. At the same time, we intend to benefit from the synergies: every potential tenant is also a potential buyer, if not today then maybe tomorrow. It is the same for sellers of property.

What exactly does your service consist of? We have experienced agents who concentrate only on rentals, offering a complete and professional service. It starts with a quality check of the properties and continues with a full service for our clients, including organising supplementary services by trustworthy third parties. What kind of rental properties do you currently have on offer? Whether it is an apartment or villa, we only take on well-maintained properties with a certain class. This ensures that the property suits the needs of our international clientele, who is always looking for a certain luxury. We offer properties for rent from Menton to Saint Tropez, with our main focus on Cannes, Cap d’Antibes and Cap Ferrat. Do you have “à la carte” rentals? For example, properties that are available for a long-weekend, others for an entire year? We concentrate on furnished properties for seasonal rental, usually for a holiday, but sometimes we have demands for a longer period, such as one year. The

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minimum period is specified by the landlord and they usually ask for at least one to two weeks for a single booking. With regards to exceptional properties, like a château or very large villa, there is the possibility to rent them for private events. This all depends on the owner, of course, and we always respect their decision. I like the expression “à la carte” – in fact, this is the way we offer our service. Explain the type of client who uses this holiday rental service? Pe o p l e w h o a r e a c c u s t o m e d t o travelling to the French Riviera for holiday and people who want to try before they buy. Every potential tenant is a potential buyer. We also re nt for sp e ci a l e ve nt s, li ke t he Cannes Film Festival. How do you remain competitive in the holiday rental industry, an area of real estate which has boomed in recent years? We always have competition, ever ywhere - for sales as well as rentals. We are accustomed to it and always try to offer a better service, enabling our clients to feel the difference. Have you noticed an increase in the number of international buyers and renters given the current weak nature of the euro? Seasonal rentals of high class villas mainly involve international buyers. That has always been the case. Whilst Russian clients are less obvious than before, those from the Middle East have returned. And yes, the demand from US, Swiss and British clients is increasing thanks to the favourable exchange rates. They are our target group, together with those from Germany, Scandinavia and Belgium. Being an international real estate group with a strong existing international network, we are confident that we can achieve a significant market share.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS Cannes

•

Antibes

• Cap Ferrat

www.engelvoelkers.com

REAL ESTATE

A little piece of paradise Picture yourself at Eden Island, enjoying this lifestyle forever Majestic seascapes, unparalleled beauty and temperate weather… this is the Seychelles islands.

Meanwhile, a full-service, deep-water marina - the most well-equipped in the Indian Ocean islands - can accommodate vessels of up to 100 metres in length, with private moorings for each residence in the resort. To all who knows it, Eden Island is a little piece of paradise. “People love the unspoiled beauty of Seychelles as well as the the culture,” reveals Smith. “And the fact you can have all of this on freehold title and be entitled to apply for residency of Seychelles is heaven!” With year-round sunshine and temperatures varying between 24 and 30°C, Eden Island is an ideal holiday destination. Rest and relaxation is inevitable, while its central location also makes it the most convenient place to stay for anyone wishing to explore the wonders of the Seychelles islands: sailing, diving, fishing, island hopping, and beach combing. There are endless opportunities for property investors to rent their accommodation to affluent tourists, while permanent residents live enviably, in supreme comfort and safety. “We have sold to over 30 nationalities,” says Smith. “Many people buy because they are looking for an excellent return on investment. Around 25% of our owners have bought more than one home on Eden Island, some have purchased in excess of 10 homes, realising the amazing returns that can be made.” Can you imagine enjoying this lifestyle forever? EDEN HOUSE, EDEN ISLAND SEYCHELLES Tel: +248 434 6000 - info@edenisland.sc

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ADVERTORIAL

he island nation is as stunning as it looks in the pictures: immaculate white sands, crystal blue waters, and palm trees as far as the eye can see. This breath-taking archipelago in the Indian Ocean is the place to be seen, a playground for film stars and the international jet set. It is also home to a vibrant diversity of cultures. The majority of Seychelles islands are uninhabited, with many dedicated as nature reserves. But located just off Mahé and the Sainte Anne Marine National Park is the exclusive Eden Island development - home to luxurious accommodation. Available is a broad range of real estate: 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, 3 and 4 bedroom maisons, and 4 to 6 bedroom luxury villas with their own private swimming pools. Prices range from $450,000 for a one bed apartment while the villas start at $2,650m. The properties can come completed, or buyers are welcome to select from new units and choose their own finishes and fittings and benefit from zero property transfer costs. Surrounded by beautiful landscaping, lush park areas and four beaches, the latest phase of waterfront properties has just been released. “We have sold 480 homes and have just 80 left,” says Eden Island marketing director Peter Smith. “They are selling at a rate of up to five per month, so we are very close to the end of the development.” And it is not hard to see why. The award-winning Eden Island development boasts secluded beaches, gastronomic restaurants, lively bars, inviting swimming pools, a gymnasium and health spa, child-friendly play areas and a world-class shopping centre. There are also banking and financial services in Eden Plaza, plus the digitally advanced Eden Hotel and Conference Centre.

RIVIERA LIVING

Photo: Alice Blangero

Photo: Centre de Presse

, Facelift for the Prom “Accident prone” cycling zone targeted in beautification project

The south end of Nice’s iconic coastal road will undergo a major redesign, including 350 more palm trees and a safer area for pedestrians. BY MADELEINE ADEY

hen you think of Nice, the Promenade des Anglais instantly comes to mind. It is the Riviera capital’s most famous landmark, stretching for kilometres along the Mediterranean coast between the airport in the west to the harbour in the east. But like everything over time, it has lost its shine. So, it has been announced that the south end of the Promenade des Anglais will undergo an extensive redesign. The first phase of the 16 million euro redevelopment will begin this year, with the project expected to be completed in 2020. Initial objectives include the creation of a relaxation space on the south section, the introduction of more vegetation, the separation of pedestrians and cyclists, the renovation of the surface of the promenade itself, and the reinstallation of street lighting. The changes concern five sections of the prom’ spanning from Phocéens to Port de

Carras, through Gambetta, Poincaré, Lenval and Mossa. “The project will reveal the brilliance of our city and the uniqueness of the Promenade, which is a candidate to be a UNESCO World Heritage site,” said Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi. “The project is about restoring a certain elegance and dignity which has been lost over the years.” A strip of green will separate pedestrians from the current “accident-prone” cycle path, while a total of 350 palm trees will be planted for added shade during the summer months. Nice’s iconic landmark has experienced ongoing development works since 2010, with major improvements in 2012/2013 including the opening of the new Esplanade Pompidou and the construction of the Sulzer car park. “The Promenade des Anglais is one of these exceptional public spaces that belong to the collective imagination, the reputation of which is global,” said the mayor.

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2015

RIVIERA LIVING

Back at the helm Terre Blanche’s Philippe Jourdin tells a story on each plate

The luxury resort in Fayence, in the Var, has brought back the man who once gave the hotel’s restaurant its 2nd Michelin star. What will the culinary giant achieve this time? BY AILA STÖCKMANN

t’s almost like coming home. Seven years ago, Norman Philippe Jourdin shaped the kitchens at luxury resort Terre Blanche, in the green hills of eastern Provence, according to his ideas. He established a reliable team in 2004 and together they achieved their first Michelin star in just their second season. Jourdin holds the prestigious title Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France), and after earning a second star for the famous Moulin de Mougins, he was lured away in 2003 by Terre Blanche, who offered him a position at the newly built luxury resort with a total of four restaurants. Seven years later, the chef was looking for new experiences so he took advantage of an opportunity in Marrakech – not dissimilar to that at Terre Blanche – turning a new luxury resort, the Royal Palm, into a gastronomic success story. Jourdin says Marrakech was a unique experience - both personally and professionally rewarding, but France was calling him home. “I feel a special bond with Terre Blanche,” revealed Philippe Jourdin to RT Magazine, just two weeks after arriving back in France.

Not much has changed since he left the resort, which boasts 115 suites and villas, two golf courses and a gorgeous spa. But the chef sounds full of enthusiasm: “I don’t want to revolutionise anything! For me, the product is everything.” It is simple cuisine based on excellent ingredients, and with each dish he has a little story to tell on the plate. For example, guests can experience his time in Marrakech with the hint of oriental spices. But his cuisine is primarily Mediterranean, with splashes of Spanish, Italian, Moroccan and Provencal. You can barely notice his northern French origin anymore. “My wife is from the south of France and she has even converted me from butter and cream to olive oil,” he laughed. After a short winter break, Le Faventia reopens in April. Uniquely, the gastronomic restaurant does not have a Michelin star this year. Will it regain it anytime soon? Jourdin, who heads a team of more than 50 kitchen staff, responded: “We do not cook for a guide, we cook for our guests. But if the result is true, a star will not be long in coming.”

www.terre-blanche.com

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TRAVEL

Lufthansa First Class Symbol of perfection Refinement, serenity, exclusivity. The new Lufthansa First Class invites the most demanding passengers to experience incomparable luxury and comfort in the air and on the ground. Welcome aboard.

he First Class Terminal in Frankfurt

In Frankfurt, First Class passengers starting their journey here have their own dedicated Lufthansa First Class Terminal, more like a luxury hotel than an airport terminal. On the Airbus A380, First Class passengers sit in a separate area with just eight seats on the upper deck; in the new Boeing 747-8 they sit in an equally private and secluded space at the front of the plane. The ambience on board is peaceful, luxurious and particularly refined. The on board entertainment is a worldwide reference. State-of-the-art sound insulation ensures total peace and quiet in the cabin, a humidifying system replicates ground air conditions. The new First Class seat turns into a completely flat bed, with a revolutionary mattress that is exceptionally restful for the back and legs. Lastly, real bathrooms with separate toilets and dressing rooms are provided on board and passengers are supplied with an amenity kit, a pair of pyjamas and many other details that help make the new Lufthansa First Class truly exclusive.

5-star travel

Lufthansa is the only European airline to have been awarded a 5-star ranking by Skytrax, the recognised evaluator of airline products and services the world over. Skytrax has also commended the cabin crews for constantly improving the quality of services over the last 12 months.

Culinary pleasures

To match this on board comfort, the First Class menus are devised by internationally renowned Michelin starred chefs such as Anne-Sophie Pic, Marc Haeberlin, David Bouley and Thomas Keller. Drawing inspiration from internationally renowned gourmet restaurants, Lufthansa upholds its tradition of serving outstanding food on board. And to accompany these delicious dishes, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest sommeliers, Markus Del Monego, chooses the finest wines for the Vinothek Discoveries selection. Last but not least, the best caviars and coffees are naturally also served.

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2015

EVENTS BUSINESS

20 20

my opinion is haphazardly creative – splashing a bucket of paint on the wall is enough to call it an exhibition! But more is needed in advertising, fashion and design to achieve the desired success here. There are no outstanding advertising agencies like Hamburg, Munich or Cologne. They tried to relocate here in 2000, including some of the largest ad agencies from France. But most of them failed because they didn’t really understand the population of Germany, that in many minds half of the country are still in the east and half are on the west. That’s changing a bit now, with the new generation, but a lot of eastern Germans still find it difficult to fully accept Western ways of advertising. What are the tasks of a creative director? An endless supply of ideas, mastering technique and never losing sight of the global view. It is essential to always find a balance between the expectations of clients, strategic concept and artistic demands. My creativity is targeted towards guiding clients to achieve success. Following my work as a graphic designer and art director for magazines such as Vogue, Forbes and Elle, I worked with fashion and photography productions. That eventually became boring and I was looking for new challenges. In the early 90s I was sure that fashion would have more of an influence on advertising, thus I could use my experience there and have more direct

Inspiration needs quality of life

Paris, Berlin, Nice: interview with Creative Director Konny Strauss S h e w or k e d f or Vo g u e , Fo r b e s , E l l e a n d i nt e r n at i on a l advertising agencies. The new RT Magazine owes its fresh identity to this German native. BY PETRA HALL

T Magazine: Konny, you’ve worked as an art director and creative director in Paris, Nice and Berlin. Which city is more creative and where do you feel most comfortable? Paris is the most creative city in Europe in terms of innovation, fashion and advertising, in my opinion. There lie the real professionals. But unfortunately, the city has become so hectic and belligerent that I think it has lost its savoir vivre. Quality of life is essential for my creativity. But I did want to stay in France as I believe it is the epitome of ideas, culture, cuisine and lifestyle, so after 10 years in Paris I moved to the Mediterranean... How was your experience in the French Riviera? The weather and ambience were great. But Nice and the Côte d’Azur disappointed me in terms of professionalism in my industry. The few advertising agencies

that exist here are often careless in their advice to clients. They lack the courage and perhaps expertise to explore new ways of image building. Rarely, the guidelines in corporate design are adhered to. Advertising must be sustainable, not based on luck. With regards to the rivalry between Paris and the Côte d’Azur, I always joke: the Parisians are jealous of the weather here, while for the south of France it’s the capital’s expertise in business - quid pro quo. In 2011 I went to Berlin for family reasons. Returning to Germany after 20 years living in France must have been a culture shock… Life is all about family, ultimately. There was, however, a culture shock in terms of climate, food, and people. They always say that Berlin is the new creative centre of Germany and this is certainly the case, but Berlin in

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2015

contact with clients and achieve immediate access. Today, I’ve returned to magazine design. Advertising interests me less now because it is more and more based on empty, trivial content. So, back to my roots! What are the current trends in advertising? Companies use emotion to appeal to the public; this is not new. But now they use more subtle means – subliminal messages in the beautiful pictures they show us, the soothing music, the philosophical focus on strength, self-confidence and love. The ads appear greater than the product they are selling, and in the end the commercial is just about beer or a new video game. Time and time again, people say that print is a dying media. You have just given The Riviera Times a new identity. Do you believe there is a future in print, or will people eventually only read digital? I am certain that both will continue to exist. Online is great for delivering fast information. Print media, however, offers something extra: design, content… it’s a piece of art – something beautiful that you can keep for as long as you wish. It is an exciting job to create each month such a valuable publication, one that has the kind of standing in the community that The Riviera Times has. Online advertisements have no tangible value – they are fast, changeable and it’s impossible to really retain any information from them, like you can in a printed magazine.

BUSINESS

eople buy classic cars for different reasons – perhaps it’s the nostalgia of times gone by, a love of exemplary design, a desire to stand out. Classic cars embody a way of life and they are a valuable part of automotive history. Their transport therefore cannot be entrusted to just anyone. Classic Car Service provides Europe-wide transport of classic cars and other vehicles, as well as storage and maintenance. They ensure that your jewel is always exactly where you want it to be. They can even accompany you when buying or selling a classic car and, upon request, can assume trustee responsibilities. With over 4,000 transports a year, Classic Car Service requires not only a team of specialists but also a reliable truck fleet. Their car pool contains 17 vessels including all transportation categories from the 40-tonnes Actros truck to a large van with trailer. “That is why we can respond flexibly to our client’s needs,” says manager Jutta Planitzer. “Our transport vehicles are constantly subjected to quality controls so we can always guarantee the safety of a client’s vehicle. Furthermore, the average age of our transporters is about three years, so we keep our fleet always on the cutting edge of technology.” As specialists in the transport of historic vehicles, clients place great trust in Classic Car Service – something that drives this company to be the best. “Trust is the crucial motivation for us to keep our transport security up to date. The key to our success lies in the combination of advanced transportation technologies with traditional methods.”

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ART & CULTURE

(From left to right) Keith Haring, Untitled (n° 2557), 1986, © Keith Haring Foundation 2015 – Photo: Muriel Anssens. 2) James Rosenquist, Big Bo, 1966, © MAMAC / ADAGP, Paris 2015 - Photo: Muriel Anssens. 3) Arman, Le Village de grand-mère, 1962 – Œuvre en 3 dimension, accumulation moulins à café découpés dans une caisse, © MAMAC / ADAGP, Paris 2015 - Photo: Muriel Anssens

25 years of modern art Nice’s MAMAC

celebrates a quarter of a century

Wit h it s n e o c l a s s i c a l d e s i g n , t h e c ont e mp or a r y mu s e u m h a s b e e n a n i mp or t a nt vehicle for ground breaking movements. B Y M A DEL EINE ADEY

his year, Nice’s Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMAC) celebrates its 25th birthday. And, to commemorate the milestone, the museum is breathing new life into some of its existing works with the exhibition ‘Collectors’. The aim? To enhance its permanent collection while renewing public interest in modern and contemporary art. Designed by Yves Bayard and Henri Vidal, the MAMAC was inspired by neoclassical architecture with its square plan, arches and pillars - and inaugurated in June 1990. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, there had been ongoing discussions surrounding the construction of a contemporary art museum in Nice. After two unsuccessful proposals - one being the restructuration of the Ponchettes Gallery, and the other the building of a modern wing in the Massena Museum Garden – the MAMAC was born. Over the past 25 years, the MAMAC has been vital in illustrating the key role of Nice in the development of ground breaking movements from the 1960s onwards. It has showcased some of the biggest names in contemporary and modern art, from the New

Realists (César, Arman, Niki de Saint Phalle) and Pop Art (Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann), as well as more solitary figures linked to Nice like Ernest Pignon-Ernest and Gilli. To honour its contribution to the art world, the MAMAC has organised an exhibition which opened to the public in late February and runs until 10th May. It brings together and rejuvenates a range of approximately 200 works, which together represent a quarter of the museum’s permanent collection. ‘Collectors’ - which operates over all three floors of the MAMAC, spanning 3,500 metres squared in total - is a fitting way to mark the quarter-century anniversary of the museum’s opening. Despite pushing some of its long-standing works back into the limelight, it staves off unoriginality by constantly changing. Over the three-month period, the works showcased will alternate on a regular basis to offer a timeline of contemporary art. The project puts an emphasis on the France/United States theme, particularly on the impact of the 1960s and 70s on art in each country. Also touched upon a r e t h e ‘c r é a t i o n a z u r é e n n e’ a n d t h e g r e a t international personalities who, over time, have

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2015

visited the MAMAC for meetings or exhibitions. A selection of American Pop Art forms a group of works which is sure to delight fans of Minimalism, conceptual art and notably the French movement of Supports/Surfaces. The works put the ‘New Realism’ philosophy into perspective by focusing on the art of attitudes and objects. Niki de Saint Phalle and Yves Klein, in particular, were forerunners in these movements and are therefore duly represented in the exhibition. ‘Collectors’ also provides, through weekly screenings, the opportunity to enjoy 25 years of audiovisual productions at the MAMAC. Located on the first floor of the museum, this initiative provides an overview of the many portraits and documentaries about artists featured by the museum over the years. For a long time in museums worldwide there has been a sharp distinction between the permanent and temporary exhibition. But with ‘Collectors’, the MAMAC intertwines these two notions to provide visitors with the chance to discover, compare, construct and deconstruct some of the greatest artistic themes from the 1960s to today.

EVENTS

Tropez, there’s always something happening on the French Riviera. This month there are a host of festivals and fantastic exhibitions on offer. 9th-12th April

MANDLIEU LA NAPOULE ‘POUR CHEZ VOUS’ HOME INTERIORS SHOW The Exhibition Centre will host over 60 exhibitors of interior and garden design, allowing visitors to browse and buy from the top names in home furnishing, decoration and accessories.

10th April

NICE FLASHDANCE Celebrating 30 years of the film’s phenomenal success, the musical comedy ‘Flashdance’ is coming to the Palais Nikaia on its nationwide tour.

10th-12th April

SANARY SUR MER CRIME FICTION FESTIVAL This three-day festival will see 13 crime authors, one criminology professor, workshops, forensic police demonstrations, a giant Cluedo game and much more descend on the town.

12th April

NICE DANI LARY: ‘RETRO TEMPORIS’ In his new show ‘Retro Temporis’, Dani Lary takes us into the extraordinary imagination of French science fiction novelist Jules Verne, right into the height of the industrial revolution to discover the wackiest ‘new’ inventions.

14th-15th April

NICE HOLIDAY ON ICE For the first time ever, Olympic ice dance champions Marine Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat will join Holiday on Ice for this year’s tour, with the flamboyant and glamorous show dropping into Palais Nikaia for two performances.

16th-19th April

M O N ACO TOP MARQUES At this famous supercar event held at the Grimaldi Forum, VIP visitors can test-drive the world’s most bespoke cars around the iconic Formula 1 track, see a flying car prototype and browse other luxury products.

17th April

BEAULIEU SUR MER MICHEL JONASZ Singer and musician Michel Jonasz will perform for one night only at Beaulieu Casino, on the tour of his second show ‘Piano | Voice Season 2’.

17th and 19th April

NICE ENSEMBLE BAROQUE DE NICE The ensemble returns with ‘Didon Abandonée’, this time to Saint Martin Church in Saint Augustin. Violinist Laura Corolla will perform Tartini’s tribute sonata ‘Didone abbandonata’ while sonatas by Telemann, Biber and Bach will also be on the programme.

18th April – 5th May

ANTIBES 43rd ANTIBES ART SHOW Every spring, nearly 25,000 fans, enthusiasts and antiques collectors flock to the port of Antibes to discover some of the finest pieces currently on the art market.

19th April

TOURRETTE LEVENS MEDIEVAL FAYRE Throughout the day during this popular fayre, there will be entertainment acts and street performances, a market, children’s workshops and a costume parade taking visitors back to the Middle Ages. CANNES CANNES INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON The programme of the triathlon has a choice of two distances: the medium distance, which includes a 1km swim, 40km bike and 8km run, or the long distance, which includes a 2km swim, 80km bike and 16km run. A 10km run is also organised and is open to everyone.

23rd-27th April

MANDELIEU LA NAPOULE SECOND-HAND BOAT SHOW In the 25th edition of Europe’s number one second-hand boat exhibition, visitors can meet over 85 marine professionals representing more than 200 brands at Port La Napoule.

24th and 25th April

ANTIBES ANTIBES CELEBRATES YACHTING This two-day event will unite more than 30 partners at Port Vauban, hosting brokerage, charter, networking, and employment seminars while representing the different companies and professions within the industry.

26th April

MOUANS SARTOUX HONEY FESTIVAL Celebrating Provençal beekeeping, this event invites visitors to come and meet beekeepers from across the region who will present their extensive knowledge of the industry and introduce a wide range of bee-related products.

1st-3rd May

GRASSE/MALLAMAIRE EQUESTRIAN TREK As part of bicentenary celebrations of Napoleon’s landing in Golfe Juan, there will be an equestrian trek along the Napoleon Road, from Grasse to Mallamaire.

1st-4th May

CAGNES SUR MER WINE TRADE FAIR This annual trade fair returns once again to the Cagnes sur Mer Hippodrome to host nearly 300 exhibitors – including the very best names in wine and regional produce - from across France.

2nd-3rd May

MOUANS SARTOUX PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL As the largest annual gathering of amateur and professional photographers in the region, the Photography Festival hosts exhibitions, guest photographers, workshops and competitions.

7th-10th May

ST TROPEZ/GRIMAUD HARLEY DAVIDSON EURO FESTIVAL Motorbikes will once again monopolise the Riviera for four days, with thousands of bikers coming from all over Europe to meet retailers and take part in the Custom Bike Show.

14th, 15th and 16th May

MOUGINS EDUCATING RITA The Riviera Amateur Dramatics Society (RADA) will perform Willy Russell’s famous comedy ‘Educating Rita’ over three nights at Mougins School.

16th and 17th May

THÉOULE SUR MER ROSES AND ROSÉ WINE FESTIVAL The first edition of this festival will bring together rosé wine producers from across Provence to give visitors the opportunity to taste the finest vintages of the year.

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2015

Exhibitions Until 26th April

CANNES JEAN FAUTRIER – LA FIGURATION LIBEREE This exhibition will showcase 200 of Fautrier’s works including etchings and paintings. The artist was one of the leading practitioners of the abstract style Tachisme.

Until 3rd May

AIX EN PROVENCE UNE CITE EN GAULE DE SUD Aix en Provence was the first Roman settlement to be f ounded in ancient Gaul and this exhibition at the Musée Granet will showcase the sculptures, mosaics, paintings and objects that the Romans left behind.

Until 3rd May

NICE L’OBJET INCARNE – ‘THE EMBODIED OBJECT’ This exhibition at the Archaeological Museum in Cimiez will explore the use of archaeological objects by putting them into perspective alongside pictorial representations created by Marie-Christine Lemayeur and Bernard Alunni.

Until 24th May

NICE PATRICK SWIRC Patrick Swirc is a renowned French photographer who is best known for his portraits of celebrities. This exhibition will examine a wide range of those portraits, alongside more of Swirc’s personal work.

Until 25th May

MENTON ANDRÉ VERDET ‘COSMOGONIES’ In its new exhibition at the Jean Cocteau Museum, visitors can discover an extraordinary series of paintings and ceramics from Verdet’s ‘Cosmogonies’ series, which centres upon the themes of space and time.

Until 31st May

NICE NATACHA LESUEUR ‘EXOTIC TRAGEDY’ Natacha Lesueur presents 14 photographs, four ceramics and a film at La Galerie Marine, based on the figure of Carmen Miranda, stereotype of the exoticness and sensuality of the Latin American influence in 1950s Hollywood blockbusters.

Until 14th June

S A I N T PA U L D E V E N C E LES THEATRES DE LA PEINTURE The Marguerite and Aimé Maeght Foundation present an in-depth study of the work of Jörg Immendorf, showcasing a series of works on different pictorial, social, epic, romantic and psychological scenes

Until November

MENTON THE UNIVERSE OF JEAN COCTEAU The Jean Cocteau Museum dedicates this exhibition to the obsession of place and figures in the work of the renowned artist, with works relating to the themes of perception, love and death, spirituality and monsters and myths.

André Verdet’s Ultra lumen, 1987, photo: Eric Melis

Events From Menton to Saint

Keeping you up to date with all the important news and information concerning your community. From interesting news in brief and details on the latest government initiatives, to helpful classifieds and recommended restaurants, we bring you the fine points to make

your life easier in the French Riviera and Monaco. HEADLINES

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APRIL

2015

HEADLINES

FRENCH ALPS SCENE OF DEVASTATING PLANE CRASH

Horror amid revelations young German pilot deliberately downed aircraft near Nice THE WORLD WAS STUNNED TO LEARN IN LATE MARCH THAT A 28-YEAR-OLD PILOT deliberately flew an Airbus 320 carrying 149 other people into the mountains of southern France, just three hours north of Nice. The Germanwings aircraft completely disintegrated on impact, but voice recordings from the black box revealed a horrific scenario to investigators. Flight 4U 9525 took off at around 10am local time from Barcelona on 24th March, bound for Dusseldorf. After reaching cruising height, the plane began to descend at normal speed, and at 10.40am its last radar position was reported at an altitude of 6,175 feet. The Germanwings aircraft had slammed into a remote mountainside between Digne and Barcolennette. Witness Sebastien Giroux told BFM-TV: “There was no smoke or sign of anything wrong, but at the altitude it was flying it was clearly not going to make it over the mountains.” Among the debris, the plane’s cockpit voice recorder was quickly recovered. It revealed that

about 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot asked his co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, to take the controls and left the cockpit, presumably to go to the bathroom, said Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin. Lubitz then reprogrammed the plane’s autopilot to change its altitude from 38,000 feet to 100 feet, remaining calm and silent, breathing normally and showing no sign of panic. Meanwhile the pilot, who had been locked out of the cockpit, made frantic attempts to re-enter. Passengers were unaware of their imminent fate until the very end, said the prosecutor; screams can be heard on the recording only in the “final moments”. Among the victims were 75 Germans including a group of 16 school children, 35 Spanish, three Americans, three British nationals, and two Australians. Relatives and friends of the victims traveled to the area days after the tragedy, holding prayers in Seyne les Alpes, which served as a staging post for the recovery operation. Officials are now seeking answers as to why

PLAIN PACKAGING for cigarettes FRANCE HAS PASSED A RAFT OF NEW ANTI-SMOKING LAWS. As of 20th May 2016, all tobacco packaging will be standardised, with packets to be made the same shape, size, colour and with the same typeset. Brand logos will also be prohibited - just the brand name is permitted. France is only the second country in the world to introduce such measures, after Australia in 2012, and the UK looks to be following suit. People smoking in cars with children present will be fined if caught, and vaporisers are to be prohibited in some areas including schools and public transport. Meanwhile, electronic cigarettes in varying artificial flavours will be banned amid claims that this makes them more appealing to young people. The aim is to reduce the number of smokers to fewer than 20% of the population within 10 years, compared with today’s figure of 28%.

SBM GAINS 220€ million MONACO’S SOCIÉTÉ DES BAINS DE MER DE MONACO (SBM) HAS YIELDED 220€ MILLION through the sale of more than 6.3 million shares at a price of 36.4€ per

the pilot committed what is thought to have been suicide and mass murder. It was revealed that Lubitz had received psychiatric treatment for ‘serious depression’ and was briefly listed as “unable to fly” during his training. According to the Dusseldorf public prosecutor’s office, documents found in a search of Lubitz’s home recovered “ripped, recent medical leave notes, including for the day of the offence (crash), leading to the preliminary conclusion that the deceased kept his illness secret from his employer and his professional environment.” The statement did not say whether the illness was physical or mental. Immediately following details of the crash, airlines around the world, including Lufthansa and easyJet, rushed to implement a new rule that two crew members must be in the cockpit at all times. The investigation continues.

share. This should ensure that the company is able to fund its current major construction projects: the renovation of the Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo and the destruction of the Sporting d’Hiver, which will make way for residential and commercial buildings. During the fiscal year 2013/2014, SBM generated a turnover of 472.5€ million, up 11.4% on the previous year, and a net profit of 17€ million. However at an operational level, the group has seen another year of losses, with a negative operating income of nearly 12€ million. Meanwhile, the Monegasque government has revealed that the Principality’s final revenue for 2014 amounted to 1.11€ billion compared to 945.1€ million in 2013. The total tax revenue came in at 849.1€ million, up 22.1% from 2013, while net revenue yielded by VAT amounted to 426.9€ million, up 15.7%. Net revenue from transfer tax also saw a sharp increase of 41.5%, with 124.7€ million in 2014 – mainly as a result of real estate transactions. Monaco also saw an increase in revenue from State-operated monopolies - which were up by 3.8% from 2013 to 39.4€ million – but revenue from administrative services decreased by 4.2€ million. This is mainly due to a drop in miscellaneous income and confiscation orders issued by Monegasque courts (1.1€ million in 2014 down from 6.5€ million in 2013).

MARCH

2015

Opinion

By RT Magazine Editor CASSANDRA TANTI

GO FRANCE

his month, we have two incredible stories on the same topic: a Niçois professor has made a groundbreaking discovery in the early detection of lung cancer (page 10), and France has approved some of the world’s toughest anti-smoking laws, including plain packaging on cigarettes and banning smoking in cars with kids (page 25). For a country where smoking is intrinsically entwined in the culture, the latter came as a very big surprise. The image of the sexy French smoker is a long-running cliché that isn’t really wavering. This is evidenced in the statistics: one in five French women continue to smoke throughout their pregnancy, while locally, young people in the PACA region are amongst the most regular smokers in France with around 34% of 17-year-olds smoking cigarettes daily. Perhaps I find it more alarming coming from Australia, where a concerted anti-smoking campaign has prevailed for many years now. Lighting up down under is a definite taboo and now an impressive 95% of 12-17 years olds have never even tried smoking. So, congratulations to France. But why is the rest of the world dragging its feet with tobacco laws? It all makes sense when you consider what Professor Hofman said: that tobacco companies want to recruit him so his tests can be used to encourage people to keep smoking. Which brings me to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a trade agreement generally known as TTIP, which will ease trade barriers between the US and EU countries and is close to being signed. One of the biggest concerns I have with this deal is the “easing of regulatory barriers”, which will see a separate judicial system established exclusively for the use of corporations. The US will be allowed to sue EU governments, challenging laws they don’t like, and seek massive compensation if these are deemed to affect their “future anticipated profits”. Tobacco giant Philip Morris Asia already used a 1993 trade agreement with Hong Kong as the basis for a legal move to stop Australia changing its tobacco packaging. Can you imagine the impact this would have on Europe? I encourage you all to read more and sign the petition at www. stop-ttip.org. Otherwise, this could be the last kind of tough legislation that France can enforce, and we will reach the sad day when profits are considered more important than lives.

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Compagnie Monegasque de Banque addresses new demands

NEXT GENERATIONS ARE NOW AT THE CENTRE OF THE COMPAGNIE MONEGASQUE DE BANQUE’S ATTENTION. Focusing on its customers, CMB recognises the specific needs and expectations of younger customers. These are more independent and show a “volatile” banking behaviour, making them difficult to capture; they don’t hesitate to switch providers, be it banks or others, switch jobs, or even residence, if they are not satisfied. The “digital natives” are globally mobile and look for high flexibility in service. From a purely financial point of view, practical and evidence based information is requested. Relatives are often more trusted for advice than bankers. Having witnessed several financial crisis, dotcom bubble or subprimes, they are often sceptical about financial markets. They call for complete transparency from their financial advisors. With a high level education and good networks of influence, the younger generation is financially savvy and yearn for financial security. Wealth transmission to next generations could be viewed as a threat on existing relations by some. CMB though sees it as a source of new opportunities, enabling private bankers to provide family oriented solutions and specific answers to younger clients. CMB, with its slogan “Si Monégasque, So International”, is well experienced also for wealth transfers that imply cross-border issues. Removing geographic boundaries while still being attached to one’s local roots, Monegasque for CMB, is in the bank’s DNA. On that solid footing, more flexible information exchange channels have been developed, with enlarged features on the CMB website and ongoing improvements to integrate the client’s experience to define a service proposal constantly aiming at being improved. CMB strongly believes that personal interaction will continue to prevail, but as a complement, clients will be able to access their account, advisor or financial markets anytime and with the degree of depth, as they choose, through new communication channels.

The ‘Next Generation’ project team at CMB For CMB, the bankers’ duty is also now to filter data and provide answers to needs in a synthetic and comprehensive way. Financial expertise in plain language is an expression of high professional standards and care. Thinking about new ways to be close to its clients has led the bank to define a service model, blending contact on a personal level with advice characterised by professionalism and non-compromising ethics, and new services made possible through new technologies. This being said, beyond digital evolutions, CMB strongly believes that transparency emphasises the quality of specific solutions it is proposing to clients. Recognising the value of the trust clients grant to CMB and nurturing it is the true competitive and differentiating advantage the bank focuses on.

23, avenue de la Costa 98000 Monaco Tel: +377 93 15 77 77 cmb@cmb.mc

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It’s all about the Euro!

STERLING’S VALUE HAS FALLEN AGAINST ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CURRENCY and it now looks like we have seen the end of the recent GBP momentum. Only a couple of weeks ago the pound hit a fresh eight-year high against the EUR, sitting at over 1.42 on the exchange. However, a poor run of economic data, including weak manufacturing and worse than expected unemployment figures, has halted the Pound’s rise and pushed GBP/EUR rates down by over six cents from the recent high. Whilst I always felt that realignment was likely, the latest move has been extremely aggressive and proves how fickle the currency markets can be. It is likely that the recent talks between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have helped ease pressure on the EUR, with both now agreeing that Greece needs structural reforms if it going to continue as part of the single union.

We also need to remember the Bank of England’s (BoE) stance on the matter, as they have become concerned about how the pound’s rising value would negatively affect UK exports. The central bank has already indicated we will not be seeing a UK interest rate hike any time soon and I now feel it is unlikely that GBP/EUR rates will move back through 1.40 in the short-term. Now is the time to talk to Moneycorp, call Alexandra today!

CONTACT: Alexandra Berdouni Tel: 04 93 18 73 23/ 06 47 51 64 22 france@moneycorp.com Alexandra.berdouni@moneycorp.com

APRIL

2015

HEADLINES

SOCIAL VAR TOWNS RAISE CHARGES deemed “illegal” ‘tourist tax’ FRANCE MAY BE FORCED TO REIMBURSE TENS OF MILLIONS OF EUROS to foreign tax payers after it was found to be in violation of European Law. The EU’s highest court recently ruled that it is “illegal” to make non-residents pay 15.5% “social charges” on income gained from renting or selling their French properties, a measure introduced by the Socialist government in 2012. As a result of the measure, tax on rental income rose from 20% to 35.5%, while capital gains tax on property sales jumped from 19% to 34.5%. The increase in tax was designed to net the government an extra 250€ million a year while removing an “unjustified tax advantage” for non-resident owners, according to the French finance ministry. Second home owners therefore found themselves paying tax twice – to France and their home country. But in late February, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that France is in breach of EU law which states that a resident of a member state must contribute to the social security system of one member state only.People can now submit claims to the French tax authorities, including a refund of tax agents’ fees, but reimbursement can only take place for claims made by the 31st December of the second year following the sale.

TOURISTS WILL BE HIT WITH A ‘TAXE DE SEJOUR’ INCREASE OF UP TO 142% AT HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION SITES IN TOURIST HOT SPOTS ACROSS THE VAR, including Saint Tropez. Ramatuelle will implement the highest band of tax as approved by the National Assembly, collecting 2.25€ per person per night from a four-star hotel, as opposed to 1.65€, while the most high-end luxury hotels will be forced to charge guests 4€ tax, up from 1.65€. The tax will help finance tourist-related expenditures and protect natural areas which are popular with tourists. “We need revenue,” said Cabinet Director of Ramatuelle Guy Martin to Nice Matin. “Thanks to the General Operating Grant (the State’s main grant to local communities), our town lost 800,000€. We need sufficient compensation and we’d prefer to hit the tourists rather than households.” While Ramatuelle is applying the highest ‘taxe de sejour’ possible, other towns across the Var are implementing a rise of between 36% and the maximum 142%.

MISSING BRIT ELDERLYCOUPLE found in Monaco GUILTY THE BODY OF MISSING BRITISH MAN in Picasso case MICHAEL GRAYDON WAS DISCOVERED ON 6TH MARCH, two weeks after he went missing in the Principality of Monaco. The manhunt to find Graydon was one of the biggest ever seen in Monaco, raising questions as to how an individual could mysteriously disappear in one of the most secure, heavily surveillanced countries in the world. A suspicious smell lead Monegasque Police to locate the body of the 29-year-old in a very narrow crevice within the walls of a private property near the Sainte Dévote church. According to authorities, private video surveillance showed Graydon straddling a boundary wall above where he was found. No one else could be seen in the footage and his death was not ruled suspicious. A large contingent of family and friends relocated to Monaco to help in the search for Michael Graydon, a boxing promoter from Bristol and father of a two-yearold son. He was last seen leaving the La Rascasse nightclub at 1.40am on 21st February and CCTV captured his final movements by the Sainte Dévote church, just behind the port.

APRIL

2015

A FORMER ELECTRICIAN AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY of concealing hundreds of stolen artworks by Picasso, each receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence. Pierre and Danielle Le Guennec, from Mouans Sartoux, were convicted of the “concealment of stolen property”, although the investigation was unable to establish the identity of the original thief, reports AFP. The 271 works, which have not been officially valued but which have an estimated worth of around 70€ million, were ordered by the court to be returned to Claude Ruiz Picasso, who represents all six of the artist’s heirs. During the trial, the Picasso family lawyer Jean Jacques Neuer described Pierre Le Guennec as a pawn manipulated by corrupt art dealers, trying to sell the works originally stolen by his cousin Teddy, who was Picasso’s ex-driver. He was unable to produce any evidence to support this claim, however. The couple maintained that the works, which they claimed had been stashed away in a cupboard for the past 40 years, were a gift from Jacqueline Picasso in 1971 or 1972 at the artist’s farmhouse in Mougins. Pierre Le Guennec had worked at the house installing burglar alarms over a period of three years around this time.

WE RECOMMEND

CHARITY MIMOSA BALL RETURNS TO MOUGINS

Jacques Gantié’s RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS

Jacques Gantié is the author of the only regional restaurant guide Guide Gantié, which is available in French in hardcopy, and electronically in English. It contains hundreds of great insider tips.

A Viassa

Two steps from the historic centre, the address may seem modest but in the kitchen, it’s serious. Young chef Aimone Cassini revisits tradition – cappon magro, ‘brandacuiun’ stockfish - and finds the balance between culinary heritage and creativity. The ‘assagio antipasti’ – three dishes, including red mullet with chickpea purée and delicious tuna bottarga gnocchi, roast rabbit with tuna sauce, fried calamari and Pigna coconut beans, tender lamb casserole with Albenga artichokes, and blueberry and ricotta mille feuille - are extremely good and all use local products. Seating around 30 in the bright, modern restaurant, there is also a terrace and a tasting menu priced at 32€. Menus at 20€ (lunch) to 32€, à la carte menu around 25€/38€ and wines from 12€. DOLCEAQUA 13 Via Liberazione Tel: 0184 20 66 65 www.ristoranteaviassa.it TABLE D’EXCEPTION

GRANDE TABLE TABLE DE QUALITÉ

COUP DE COEUR

APRIL

2015

THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL MIMOSA BALL WILL BE HELD AT THE EXCLUSIVE ROYAL MOUGINS GOLF CLUB ON 17TH APRIL. With a dinner, dance and auction, the gala evening will raise funds for cancer charity La Ligue while providing an enjoyable evening for all guests. The elegant black-tie ball attracts international guests from across the Riviera and features an exclusive auction and raffle, with prizes generously donated by local and international businesses. Last year, during its inaugural event, over 40,000€ was raised for La Ligue in the Alpes Maritimes. Prizes in 2014 included a trip to Kenya, a golf bag signed by Rory McIlroy, a round of golf at the exclusive Golf de Vidauban, and VIP Chelsea FC tickets. La Ligue is the number one charitable organisation against cancer in France. Their mission is to search for a cure, to help patients and their families, and to raise awareness. The Alpes Maritimes branch is particularly focused on helping and supporting people through its ‘Espace Ligue’ – places where patients and their loved ones can come for help and support in their battle against cancer. The money raised from last year’s Mimosa Ball helped fund a new ‘Espace Ligue’ in Antibes, and the aim for this year’s ball is the same. The charity is currently seeking premises in the Valbonne/Antibes area and wants to have the new centre up and running as soon as possible. Tickets are priced at 1,600€ for a table of 12. For further information, contact the organisers at mimosaball@gmail.com and follow their ‘Mimosa Matters’ Facebook page.