French Riviera
The French Riviera, or the Côte d'Azur, as it’s known in French, is a place so glamorous that along its length, Monte Carlo is just another beach town. Here’s where the beautiful people of the world come to sunbathe topless, romance at exclusive resorts, and, every May, celebrate cinema at the Cannes Film Festival. But it’s also a place to enjoy the more low-key pleasures of France, including great dining and museum hopping, all while enjoying glorious sunshine and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.
Activities and Attractions:
The biggest city along the Riviera is Nice. This old Roman town is a thoroughly grounded place to base your visit. Here you can stroll ancient streets and sip café au lait elbow-to-elbow with le people going about their normal lives.
But be sure to sample some of the smaller beach towns to get an idea of the range of experience the Riviera has to offer. Join French families gawking at the belle époque mansions in St-Raphaël. Spot a vacationing rock star in ultra-luxe Cap d'Antibes, or just party like one at the casinos and nightclubs of Juan-les-Pins. The Azure Coast begs to be explored at leisure.
Naturally, one of the great attractions of the Riviera is the blue Mediterranean, and, of course, la plage--the beach. Picking your destination based on the quality of the beach isn’t a bad way to plan your trip, because you’ll discover that not all parts of the coast are created equal—some beaches are pebbly, or downright rocky.
San Tropez is one destination with fine sand. Near town, sun worshippers at Plage de Tahiti take the “see-and-be-seen” idea to its logical topless and sometimes bottomless extreme. The dress code on the adjacent yacht-studded Plage Port Grimmaud is a little less risqué. Cannes, too, has a fabulous beach, with a classy vibe, and you just might see a movie star. But if it’s real star power you want, or even royalty, venture to the beach at Monte Carlo. It’s located within France’s borders, and open to the public.
Don’t let it be said that the Riviera is entirely about hedonism. The region, which has lured painters away from Provence for centuries, now features many quality museums. If you experience a rare rainy day, or if the chilly winter Mistral should kick up during your visit, stop in at one. The Musée Picasso, in Antibes, contains every work the master produced during a few franticly productive months he spent in town after WWII. The Fondation Maeght, in St-Paul-de-Vence, houses an astounding collection of modern art in a museum that is itself an avant-garde masterpiece. And the Musée Ile-de-France, in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, is an eclectic personal collection with pieces representing everything from the Italian renaissance to impressionist paintings and Ming porcelain.
Insider Tip:
When should you visit? Unlike the rest of France, the Riviera is full of actual French people in July and August. Really full. But if you came for sizzling nightlife, perhaps crowds are a draw. November is when the locals reward themselves for having survived summer by shutting down for a few weeks. Good times to visit include May and June, when the weather is warm enough for swimming but not yet scorching, and September and early October, when temperatures cool and crowds thin. Winter, oddly enough, is not considered a stylish time to visit, so for better or for worse, you’ll have the place to yourself.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
 |
|