(Source: http://www.seogan.ru/franciya.html)

Russia and France are creating a fund for the development of cultural and scientific cooperation.

In the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, located on the French Mediterranean coast, will be agreed on establishing a Franco-Russian fund for the development of cultural, economic and scientific cooperation. The agreement will be signed by Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov, by mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer Gérard Grosgogeat and executive president of "Franco-Russian dialogue" association Alexander Troubetzkoy.

The first joint project of the fund – the exhibition "Elsa Triolet and jeweleries" – will be launched on Tuesday in Villefranche-sur-Mer. It will feature jewelry works created according to sketches of famous author of the Russians origin. The exhibition opening ceremony will be attended by the Head of the Princely House of Monaco Albert II and his wife, Princess Charlene.

The relationships of Russia and the city of Villefranche-sur-Mer, located between Nice and Monaco, date back to the late 18th century. They became especially close after the Crimean War, when, having lost access to the Bosphorus, Russian Empire decided to establish in the Mediterranean a naval base. As Gerard Grosgogeat said, in the late 19th century in Villefranche, there was created a Franco-Russian zoological station, which with time transformed into an oceanographic observatory. "Nowadays it is one of the world's three largest centers for the study of flora and fauna of the seas and oceans,” the mayor said. "It is noteworthy that scientists from the Soviet Union did not stop their work at this station till 1936, despite the difficult situation in Western Europe at that time. We are pleased to note that Villefranche had good relations with Russia for centuries, since the times of Catherine the Great, who created here a base for the Russian Navy. We can say that Villefranche is an outpost of the Franco-Russian friendship," he added.

At present, Villefranche-sur-Mer is considered not only the largest French tourist port, but also a fashionable resort attracting, in particular, many Russian celebrities. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small beach resort and residential town (popn 30,000) on the French Riviera. The deep water harbour is home to Mediterranean cruise boats, whose tenders routinely disgorge several thousand passengers on organised trips to nearby Eze Village and Monaco. It sports excellent restaurants and a coarse sandy beach much favoured over Nice's stony bay. Convenient harbour car parking attracts visitors from Monaco and along the Riviera. The Citadelle st Elme dates back to antiquity and the town offers easy access to the millionaires peninsula of St Jean Cap Ferrat.