Boats, watches, scarves and wine! Local news from the South of France

Monaco Yacht Show opens - The 22nd Monaco Yacht Show opens on the Port Hercule today featuring 100 of the world’s super and mega yachts ranging from 25 to 90 meters. More than 30,000 visitors are expected at this year’s show which is growing year on year. Some statistics from the show this year-The construction features 13,000 square meters of wooden flooring, 15 thousand square meters of carpeting, 14 kilometers of electrical cable, 100 tonnes of ballast and 500 green plants. Riviera Radio will be broadcasting live from the Ocean Independence stand during  Drive  with Mark Abson and Elizabeth Lewis this afternoon, tomorrow and on Friday and you can come and say hello to our team too on stand number QS 73 on the Darse Sud.

Officer released - The police officer who was savagely beaten with a motorcycle crash helmet on Monday has been discharged from St Roch hospital in Nice. The officer who’d been attending a routine road incident has required a great number of stitches to head wounds and has also suffered a fractured wrist. He’ll be off work for at least the next 30 days. The hunt for the man who carried out the assault continues. He ran off on foot following the attack. Meanwhile in Antibes, a policeman was punched in the face near the town’s bus station on Tuesday lunchtime as attempted to stop a man who was riding a scooter that had been reported stolen. The officer was not seriously injured. His attacker also managed to escape.

Prison watch - Two Italian men convicted of the theft of a watch in Cannes last month have been jailed for a year each. The Grasse criminal court heard how 23 year old Manuel Guiliano and his 26 year old cousin Vincenzo Colluci, both from Naples had robbed a 57 year old of what they thought was a Cartier watch on the Croisette on the 9th of August. The watch was in fact a fake but the two thieves had been spotted by police and were arrested as they attempted to make off on a scooter. The men told the court that they’d come to Cannes as there was no work in Italy and they had no option but to steal to support their families. As well as the jail terms both men were banned from entering France for 3 years.

Headscarf Judgement - A court in Toulon is to rule on Friday whether an official who refused to conduct the marriage of a Muslim couple until the bride removed Islamic clothing obscuring the top of her head acted illegally. The couple took legal action against the assistant mayor of La Seyne-sur-Mer after he refused to proceed with the civil marriage ceremony on the 6th of September.

Racist campsite manager convicted - The Grasse criminal court has fined the manager of an Antibes campsite 3,000 euros for racial discrimination. On the 26th of July 2010 the manager refused to rent a camping plot on the site to 2 young people of North African origin. He told them the site was full when in reality there was plenty of space available.

Wine Fairs - You may have noticed that the region’s supermarkets are awash with wine at the moment with special offers on a wide range of reds, roses and whites from around France. Experts say that if you want to make the most of the special offers then you should follow a few simple rules. Firstly, always identify particularly good deals before you comb the supermarket shelves by studying accompanying catalogues. You should heed the words of the resident sommelier who will offer impartial advice and help you to get the best wines for both your palate and your budget. In addition, don’t be fooled by wines carrying award winning labels. It’s better to try one bottle first to see if it lives up to its reputation before investing in a case. Finally in most cases a ‘buy 2 get the 3rd free’ is usually a good deal especially when applied to quality wines as the supermarkets negotiate a special price with the producers at this time of year which would not normally be available.

Lucky strike - A woman from the Var has had an amazing piece of luck after a gold coin was given to her in change in place of a 20 euro cent piece. Danielle Dufresne had been doing her shopping as usual in La Croix-Valmer and was counting her change at home afterwards when she noticed that one of the coins was much heavier than the rest. On closer examination it turned out to be a 1901 gold coin carrying the head of Queen Victoria of England and worth 333 euros.

Spacious villa in Pegomas, 999.000 euro, close to Mougins School

Are you your children going to the International Mougins School? Give them a real home with this luxury villa. Lots of space for a large family (up to 8 persons) in this gorgeous villa in Pégomas (10 minutes from Mougins). Features: 5 bedrooms, 3 with a double and 2 rooms with two single beds (spare bedroom in the basement). The detached villa is near the end of a cul de sac and has a huge panoramic view over the hills of the Tanneron. The village is yet only a mile away. There is a lovely terrace with a pool next to the security fence. Villa Description: A beautiful, very spacious (250 m2) neo-Provençal villa with spectacular views over the hills of the Tanneron with its Mimosa and Eucalyptus Trees. The villa was completely refurbished in 2005. A spacious living room with fireplace. The spacious kitchen has two sides with large windows to the terrace to reach. One (older) with a connecting bedroom stylish bathroom. An additional bedroom with 2-bed, bathroom and extra (bed) room. On the floor two 2-person (children’s) bedrooms, freshly decorated each room with a terrace and air conditioning. Also a spacious bathroom. Beautifully quiet garden of 2100 m2 with different levels (planted with fruit and olive trees), a generous private pool with sunbeds. In the garden and terraces full of activities for children (toy wooden huts etc.) Sun and shaded terrace with barbecue. The pool, equipped with salt electrolysefilter is protected with a security fence. The beach of La Bocca Cannes or Théoule sur Mer are 10 minutes by car, Grasse (the perfume industry) and the Mougins School on 10 minutes. Using the A8 motorway you about 30 minutes from Nice airport and away you also have an easy connection to all interesting places in the area (St. Tropez, Frejus, Antibes, Nice, Monaco etc.) In the garden and on the terrace beside the house you can enjoy peace and quiet and you often only hear the crickets! There are several beautiful golf courses and equestrian centers in the immediate vicinity. For galleries, art and antiques can be near Mougins, Valbonne, Cannes and St Paul de Vence visits. Marineland (water park) and the castle of Haut de Cagnes are also within half an hour away. For those who love to shop: to coast and variety, from small (interior) to haute couture boutiques on the Croisette in Cannes! Culinary and wine Many restaurants in the area. From top (various one-and two-star restaurants nearby) to pleasant easy for the whole family, opportunities abound. Of course with the famous Provencal specialties on the menu. Call JoJo at Marinus Concierge to visit this villa before somebody else will! +33 6 59 91 04 25 or Ab Kuijer on +31 6 3435 4895.

Records, radio and rollers in the South of France

CYS record attendance - The Cannes International Boat and Yacht Show came to a close yesterday, with a record 50,000 visitors around the old port and the port Pierre Canto, admiring and sometimes buying some 569 superyachts. Organisers say the 35th edition of the event attracted a 60 per cent non-French attendance, notably from Brazil, Russia, India and Singapore. Meanwhile, there was a fire on board one of the yachts on show in the early hours of yesterday. Firefighters evacuated the crew and people on boats neighouring the Ocean superyacht. It's believed an electrical fault started the fire, which damaged the cockpit – but the 35-metre Ocean remained on show for the day.

MYS from Wednesday - The Monaco Yacht Show starts on Wednesday and continues until Saturday in the port Hercule. Riviera Radio will be broadcasting live from the Monaco Yacht Show during this week's Drive Time from 4 pm; and the Nice Regatta starts today and runs until Saturday, featuring beautiful sailing yachts.

Var road accident witnesses wanted - Var police are calling for witnesses to a road accident on Saturday night between Cogolin and Grimaud, which left a 19-year-old dead. They are trying to work out how a young man, from Cogolin, lost control of his car on the RD558 at around 9:15 pm, crashing into a tree. Anyone with any information is asked to contact gendarmes in Grimaud.

“Green” ave Princess Grace - Monaco's avenue Princess Grace was closed to cars yesterday until 6 pm, as part of European Mobility Week. Instead, under the slogan, Move In The Right Direction, the public was invited to try cycling, rollerblading and skateboarding. Tomorrow on the avenue Princess Grace, you can test- drive electric cars and bikes. Entrance is free.

HSH Princess Grace memorials - The Principality commemorated the 30-year anniversary of the tragic death of Her Serene Highness Princess Grace over the weekend. As well as a screening of To Catch A Thief and a display of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant's costumes from the film, there was a gala dinner and auction at the Hotel de Paris. The Salle Empire fund-raiser saw exclusive items go under the hammer, including photos of Grace Kelly's wedding to Prince Rainier III and a BMW customised for the wedding of her son, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II. Funds raised are being donated to the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which supports young talent in theatre.

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Enjoy the weekend with FR2DAY

What's on Guide - Food, pools, and culture

BY FR2DAY FOR FR2DAY.COM SEP 14, 2012

This weekend you need to select a theme to focus upon – your head, your stomach, or your body. Your head can enjoy the Journees de la Patrimoine, when many fine buildings and sites are open to the public exceptionally. But you might also want to think of your stomach, and learn from great chefs about how to make fine food at the Etoiles de Mougins. If you want to plan bodily relaxation, there’s a salon of Swimming Pools and Gardens in Nice.  And of course there’s a great new fitness centre to discover.

The Journees de la Patrimoine is an annual event in which interesting and cultural buildings are opened to the public. There is such a wealth of things to look at on the French Riviera, it’s hard to know where to start, and probably the best thing to do is to use the “Journees” website to select the ones that interest you.  A couple of suggestions, why not visit one of the earliest sites of human habitation – the Grotte du Lazaret in Nice, where small groups of ten at a a time wil be shown around this fascinating cave that still provides precious discoveries on a regular basis.

You could also check out the Villa Thuret garden in Antibes. It’s open on Sunday, and with two hundred new species being introduced each year, it’s a very rich source of inspiration for all you budding gardeners.

If you like design and art, Hyeres could be the place for you this weekend. There’s a Salon d’Art at the Hyeres Casino, and there’s a design parade at the Villa Noailles.  You might also help the Make a Wish Foundation with their event in Golfe Juan.

Music lovers are not neglected in the coming days – there’s Ska and Reggae at Sezamos in Nice on Saturday 15th with Lyricsson, Chadness, and Jahtool.  If classical music is your preference, check out the Verdi Requiem in the ForumGrimaldi in Monte Carlo on Sunday 16th at 6.00PM, where ticket prices range from 20 to 90 euros.

Also in Monaco, the Princess Grace event takes place over the coming days, with lots of interesting activities in a good cause.

Don’t forget there are a still a very few places left for the Patti Smith Concert in Monaco on Monday night.

And of course, remember the Circus in Nice will be helping a good cause!

That’s your lot – enjoy yourselves and don’t forget to do us an essay on what you did over the weekend for the FR2DAY homework – due in by Wedensday!

For sale in Mougins! Neo-Provençal villa € 1.560.000 AFI

Magnificent neo-provençal villa of approximately 217 m2, professionally landscaped garden (2667 m2) with L shaped pool and jacuzzi. Classification villa: lounge 58 m2 with arcades / garden, separate fully equipped kitchen in Provencal style / garden, 3 bedrooms each with a bathroom with toilet. Upstairs: bedroom / terrace with shower, dressing room and Hammam. TWO GARAGES, of which one can be converted into an independent studio.

SOUTH WEST LOCATION - SPACIOUS - HIGH QUALITY

Living space: 217 m² hab.

Heating: hot / cold air

Water: water heater

Located on the southwest

Year: 2004

Terraces: 100 m² approx

Service costs: 0

Local tax: Approx. € 2,000 / year

Very close to Royal Mougins Golf!

Call Ab and Jo on their mobiles, they always answer your call. 

+33 65991 0425 or +33 770 186203

Modern villa for sale in Mouans Sartoux 1.030.000 euro all-in

In Mouans Sartoux we have this modern villa for sale. You will have 4 bedrooms and 179 square meters enjoyment on three floors. The villa is built with the highest quality materials, has floor heating and is located in a private domain that is secured. Your garden is flat, 1500 square meters and provides a beautiful view. There is a separate studio, a home cinema, a large garage and so on. Thanks to the latest solar energy system you will save up to 4000 euros per year on energy.

Mouans Sartoux lies perfectly in the triangle Grasse, Valbonne and Mougins. For movie lovers Mouans Sartoux is very popular for the ultra-modern cinema with international offerings in the "Version originale". Nature lovers will be very happy with the beautiful botanical gardens. There is much to see and do, the Annual Spring Festival and the Book Festival attracts up to 50,000 visitors. Culture and quality of life is paramount in Mouans Sartoux! You're obviously close to Cannes and the Mediterranean Sea. The Mougins International School is only a fifteen minute drive with the car and from this medieval village you can almost walk into the Tanneron, the largest Mimosa Forest in Europe! Call Ab 0770186203 or Jo 0659910425 to visit this property. 

More pictures and info, check out our websites

www.livingatthecotedazur.com

www.wonenaandecotedazur.nl

www.wonenaandecotedazur.be

No license, a birthday, a memorial and Serena Williams is in.

School bus driver without a licence - In Cannes, a school bus driver has been caught driving without a licence.  The 38-year-old was found to have clocked up 14 driving offences since 1996, including speeding, using a mobile while driving and not wearing a seat belt.  He had his permit confiscated by police in January this year but did not tell his employer and continued ferrying kids to and from school despite being banned.  He is due in court in January 2013.

HSH Prince Albert at RR’s 25th - Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene attended Riviera Radio’s 25th birthday party last night at Jimmy’z nighclub in Monaco.  His Serene Highness made a speech before some 400 invited guests, congratulating Riviera Radio for its place in the local community.  Prince Albert’s late mother, Princess Grace of Monaco, was one of the first people to put forward the idea of an English-speaking radio station in the Principality.  Rendez-vous on this website soon for our party film and photos.

Princess Grace memorials - Meanwhile, three days of tribute to Princess Grace have been organised by the Ladies And The City association, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Her Serene Highness’s tragic death in a car crash on 14 September 1982.  This evening, there’s a gala dinner at the Hotel de Paris; tomorrow the Princess Grace Theatre hosts a daytime exhibition of exclusive photos, as well as a chance to see the costumes worn by Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in To Catch A Thief; and Prince Albert is due to attend a re-mastered screening of the iconic film in the evening. 

Serena in Valbonne - In Valbonne, tennis star, Serena Williams, has been spotted relaxing with her new beau. The US Open and London 2012 gold medal winner has been holidaying in the picturesque village with her French tennis coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.

Mougins, the place to be for the hungry gastronomes.

Living On The Cote d'Azur has clients that are looking for their ideal home on the French Riviera. Since there are quite a few differences in the facilities per town or city, we are often advised to first look around, enjoy an ice cream on a village square and have a chat with the locals. Because the South of France in summer always looks great, in the winter it may in some regions sometimes be severely disappointing in terms of entertainment. Juan les Pins during winter is also known as the Juan The Ghost Town. Mougins is alive all year round and has a good reputation; it is a community where many English people live. Every village has its own majority foreigners; in Cagnes sur Mer you'll find many Scandinavians and Theoule is the hometown for many Dutch. Because we become now active in Mougins, it's nice to mention that Mougins is not only known for its International School, but even more famous as a center for gourmands and gastronomes. There are restaurants where the chefs have earned their stars and every night is packed with a striking number of Englishmen. If you want a special time out, you can find a restaurant within walking distance with the help of the Michelin Guide online. Enjoy your dinner!

http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Cartes-plans/Carte_plan-Mougins-06250-Alpes_Maritimes-France?strLocid=31NDI3NXQxMGNORE11TmpBd01Eaz1jTmk0NU9UWXlNZz09

French tax impact on individuals like yourself.

Hollande's first 'loi Finance' became effective on 17 August 2012: French tax levies on individuals

On 4 July the French government of François Hollande announced the introduction of tax law changes in two stages: the first change during the summer of 2012, and the second in 2013.

After the relevant bill was submitted, the proposed changes still needed to be approved by Parliament and Senate. Objections from parliament that the announced measures were unconstitutional were dismissed by the court. The publication and entry into force of the new Act took place on 17 August 2012. Below we have set out the most important tax changes which may be relevant for you as a client of our private bank.

French inheritance and gift tax (Droits de succession et donation)

Gifts between parents and children formerly enjoyed an ex- emption of EUR 159,325 per child per parent. This exemption could be used once every 10 years, with gifts made within this period being aggregated for exemption purposes.

The following changes have taken effect:

• The exemption from inheritance and gift tax for gifts between parents and children has been reduced from EUR 159,325 to EUR 100,000;

• The exemption (accumulative) may be used every 15 years (instead of 10 years).

French wealth tax (Impôt de solidarité sur la fortune, ISF).

Under the current French wealth tax regime, an exemption ap- plies for an amount up to EUR 1.3 million. If this amount is ex- ceeded, both residents and non-residents are liable to wealth tax from the first euro. The rate of taxation depends on the size of the net assets (assets less debts).

Assets with a net value up to EUR 3 million attract tax at a rate of 0.25% from the first euro. If the value of the net assets exceeds EUR 3 million, the rate is 0.5% from the first euro. In 2012 individuals who are liable to French wealth tax will pay an additional wealth tax contribution. This additional contribution is calculated by multiplying the value of the net assets by the progressive rate in the table below, after which the payable ISF (0.25% or 0.5%) is deducted.

Capital gains and rental income relate to your second home

Capital gains realised on the sale of French property that was used as the main home are exempt. Capital gains on the sale of French property that was not used as the main home (sec- ond home) are in principle taxed at 19% for EU residents and at 33,33% for non-EU residents.

A partial exemption is available depending on the number of years that the second-home property had been owned at the time of sale (2% from 6 to 17 years of ownership, 4% from 18 to 24 years of ownership, 8% from 25 to 30 years of owner-ship).

In addition to this capital gains tax of 19%, French residents are also subject to social charges (prélèvements sociaux) on these capital gains.

Now that the new Act has taken effect, capital gains on the sale of the second home of non-residents are also subject to these social charges, currently at a rate of 15.5%.

This means that any capital gains on the sale of your second home will not only attract capital gains tax of 19% (or 33.33%), but also a social charge of 15.5%, so that the total tax levy on the capital gains from your second home will be 34.5% (or 48.83%).

The rental income will also be subject to this social charge ('prélèvements sociaux') of 15.5%. This is next to the progres- sive rate (minimum of 20 % for non residents)The new tax rate for rental income will apply to all rental income from 1 January 2012, while the new capital gains rate will apply to all sales for which the contract of sale was signed on or after 17 August 2012 (the publication date of the law). With the 'ordinary' voting on the 'Loi Finance' due at the end of September and the 'second stage' of the changes announced for 2013 still ahead of us, we expect that the last word has not been said on this issue.

We will, of course, keep you informed of any upcoming changes. For now, if you have any questions, you can naturally always get in touch with your contact person at your private bank.

Meanwhile, if you are considering to sell your home in France, feel free to contact Jolanda Marinus of Living at The Côte d'Azur on +33 6 5991 0425. www.livingatthecotedazur.com

With thanks to

Daniëlla van de Putte 

International Structuring & Estate Planning Department 

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. 

World Citizen Services 

Teenage tragedy, re-election in Levens and run-away returns home.

Local news

Murder victim autopsy - An autopsy will be carried out today on a teenage girl who had her throat slashed at her home in Luceram. The 17-year-old was killed at lunchtime on Thursday; she was stabbed in the stomach, and then had her throat slashed with a diving knife. A young man, a boarder at the family home for more than a year, was charged with murder on Saturday. A psychiatrist, called in to evaluate the suspect, deemed him responsible for his actions, saying the killing was premeditated.

Levens local election - There was an election yesterday in the commune of Levens, to the north of Nice. The right-wing UMP candidate Alain Frere gained 63.45% of the vote. However, he will face a second vote next Sunday, after the Prefecture refused to accept the result, citing an abnormally high abstinence level of 67%. He will face leftist candidate Montserrat Collet in the run off. Mr Frere’s election in March 2011 was annulled because of irregularities.

Monaco school resumes - A week after French children went back to school, today it is the turn of Monaco’s students to return to class. 5 861 children can pack away their beach clothes and re-open their books for the beginning of another academic year. The majority of them (4577) will be going to a public school, while 1284 have been enrolled in private institutions.

Run-away returns - A 14-year-old girl who disappeared 10 days ago from Le Muy has been reunited with her parents. The teenager ran away with a 23-year-old man. She has explained to officials that they had spent their time on the run in Italy. The pair were finally arrested at a train station in Naples.

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