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France’s greatest theatre event is really two festivals. The official one takes over the Papal Palace’s Courtyard of Honour and other venues for modern and classical drama. But it is the unofficial “off” festival which enlivens the town, with street performers and up to 400 shows a day, from dance to burlesque comedy.

The best of the region’s many jazz festivals puts on 75 concerts over eight days. World-famous names, such as BB King and Gil Scott-Heron, show up to play in the 2,000-year-old Cimiez amphitheatre.

Some 30,000 film professionals attend the world’s main cine-gathering, to do business and, incidentally, see a few movies. The atmosphere is glamorously electric. But, as a member of the public, don’t expect to meet stars, or even see them, except as they mount the stairs of the Festival Palace for a screening.

This great lyrical art event has opened up in recent years. As well as classical opera in the courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace, there are more contemporary works, such as Bartók and Britten, recitals and concerts by younger musicians, as well as music masterclasses and street theatre.

Celebrated string quartets bring their music to the lovely Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque churches of the perched villages around Fayence. In a little-known but moving festival, the old stone buildings echo to the works of great masters.

France’s oldest music festival, started in 1860, has the town’s magnificent Roman theatre as its main venue (see Roman Theatre, Orange). The original stage wall ensures perfect acoustics for the classical operas which have earned the event an international reputation.

Since 1980, the festival has drawn the cream of the world’s classical and jazz pianists to play beneath the plane trees and night sky at the Château de Florans.

Over three weeks in February, France’s fifth city blows all its gaskets as multicoloured floats, grotesque carnival figures and performing troupes take to the streets. Europe’s liveliest carnival also features the famous battle of the flowers.

To celebrate the ripening of their grapes, villagers dress up in medieval guise for street parades and performances and a torch-lit banquet.

Upwards of 3,000 sheep cram into the old village, for an old-style sheep drive (transhumance ) to upland summer pastures. Along with sheep, goats and donkeys are shepherds in traditional costume, food displays and feasting.