In the depths of winter, it’s hard to imagine anywhere in Europe that enjoys sunshine. And yet there are still plenty of regions blessed with (usually) cloudless skies and temperatures of 20 degrees or more.

One of those is the Cote d’Azur in the south of France. It first rose to prominence on the tourist circuit when well-off Brits chose it as a winter bolt-hole in the late 19th Century. Cities like Nice thrived on these cash-rich Anglo-Saxons, and for a while, much of the coast was all but run by the British.

Around this time a few French impressionists – Cezanne and Monet among them – discovered the Cote d’Azur, too. They had painted the moody grey skies of Normandy and Brittany for years, and having mastered them, began looking for a new ‘look’. In the south of France they found it. Brilliant, hazy light, and a climate that enabled almost any plant to grow tall, strong and in abundance – this was the Cote d’Azur.

Today, the cheap prices enjoyed by those hard-up impressionists (one of the reasons they liked it so much) have all but disappeared. That said, you can find some great deals on hotels here during winter, so if you can’t afford Cote d’Azur’s summer prices, now is a great time to explore this beautiful region.

But how to get there by car? Taking your car to France couldn’t be easier. A number of operators can take you and your car to France (including Brittany Ferries and P&O Ferries), where you will be able to use the country’s smooth, fast motorways to reach the south. On arrival you have legendary places like Nice and St. Tropez to explore. But don’t forget to take out your Short Term European Breakdown Cover from startrescue.co.uk first.