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The French Riviera, azure blue sky and glitter

Image The French Riviera, azure blue sky and glitter

The French Riviera as you've never seen it before

Where does the French Riviera exactly start in its western part? Some claim it begins as soon as the first palm trees appear. One thing is certain, for its eastern part, it ends at the Italian border. For our part, we will start it with the Golden Islands off Hyères. I propose to travel this coastline in my company and to make stops in legendary places...

The Golden Islands

On the same parallel as Cape Corse, here are the Golden Islands which shelter coves, gorges, cliffs, and beaches. Where did their name come from? Probably from the legend surrounding their formation. Listen a bit... Prince Obianus had 4 daughters who were bathing in front of Hyères when a pirate ship appeared. He begged the gods to spare his dear children. They attempted to avert the fate as best they could: they were ultimately petrified. Thus, the Golden Islands and the Giens peninsula emerged from the waves. While Porquerolles is the most frequented of the islands, it must be acknowledged that the panorama from its semaphore is breathtaking.

On the same parallel as Cape Corse, here are the Golden Islands which shelter creeks, gorges, cliffs, and beaches.

Saint Tropez

Launched in the 50s under the nickname of Saint Trop, the small port has become a posh resort. BB, who settled there in 1960 - she was only 20 years old but was already a global star, greatly contributed to this. Nonetheless, jet-setters will tell you, head to Ramatuelle. Three beach establishments share their favors. The first of them, Epi, hosted stars of the French New Wave like Roger Vadim. You probably don't know, but this is exactly where the Provence landing took place! Then comes Club 55, whose dining room you can see in the cult film "And God Created Woman". Finally, if you are looking for a more contemporary setting, opt for Tahiti with its teak terrace and a view of the sea.

Cannes

In the same way, Cannes has evolved from a simple town where fishermen used to beach their boats to the capital of the seventh art. It was right after World War II that the first festival took place. This event marked the rebirth of global cinema. Since then, the greatest directors have ascended the steps at Cannes: Almodovar, Wenders, Tarantino, Eastwood... with stars dressed by couturiers on their arms. Once there, you must not miss a walk on the Croisette! It is this promenade lined with stone pines and palm trees that runs along the bay for 3 km. Want to escape the crowd? You can climb to the top of Le Suquet, the old town, to enjoy a view over the Old Port and see the Lérins Islands off in the distance.

Grasse

Now, I suggest you to relax in the cool air, but that's not all... Perched at an altitude of 400 meters, welcome to Grasse and its 30 perfumeries. Consequently, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to visits. I recommend Fragonard - perfumer to the king, who offers a very informative guided tour. Take the opportunity to bring back soap with natural scents of rose and lavender. Why did Grasse transform into the perfume capital? In the Middle Ages, the town had many tanneries. Indeed, if you have been to Fez in Morocco, you know, the smell emanating from there is powerful. Consequently, its inhabitants resorted to natural essences to mask it. Thus was born the order of Glove Perfumers.

Antibes

Antibes. Besides the workshops and stores within the walls of the small town, Antibes enjoys a unique geographical location. It has both a cape and a peninsula. That's why I recommend you take the Tirepoil hiking trail. Extending along this customs path following the cliff, it offers a unique floral variety: rock samphire, sea lavender... Perched 75 meters high, you will discover on the peninsula the Château de la Garoupe which was confiscated, I won't say more... Then, you will leave behind the Château de la Croë, owned by the Russian oligarch Abramovitch. It is then that you will gaze upon the gardens of the prestigious residence Eilenroc. Its rose garden perched above the sea contains species specially created for it, such as the Black Gold. When it comes to Antibes, one mentions the Picasso Museum; he had his workshop here in 1946!

Saint Paul-de-Vence and Modern Art

You have always dreamed of visiting the Maeght Foundation and now the opportunity is given to you. In Saint-Paul-de-Vence, this modern art laboratory, born from the meeting of Maeght and Malraux in 1964, will enchant you. Not just because of the architecture imagined by Sert or the gardens arranged by the artists: Miro's labyrinth, Chagall's mosaics, Braque's pool..., this green haven will provide you respite. Moreover, you will see works by Léger, Calder... The exhibitions held here are of high quality and the success is undeniable; the place welcomes 200,000 visitors a year!

Nice

Nice, the beacon city of the French Riviera, did you know, has its own language: Nissart! The Negresco, this luxury hotel that stands tall on the Promenade des Anglais, its Cours Saleya, its carnival, its bucolic Cimiez Hill make it a Little Italy. In 2013, the city paid tribute to its favorite painter: Matisse. Speaking of which, at the museum dedicated to him, you can admire the portrait of Madame Matisse or The Swimming Pool, iconic works of the artist. However, another painter has also left his mark in Nice: Chagall, whose canvases are marked by his mysticism. Finally, Nice has private pebble beaches such as Bambou Plage or Sporting Plage if you like basking in the sun!

Cap Ferrat

At Cap Ferrat, you might visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, inspired by the Italian Renaissance. The gardens are worth seeing: lapidary, Andalusian, exotic with its cacti... I must admit I have a soft spot for the Shosekitei Japanese garden where you can hear the sound of the waves at dusk! If you appreciate prestigious homes, why not head to Beaulieu to see the Villa Kerylos? A listed historical monument, it recalls Ancient Greece!

The gardens are worth the visit: lapidary, Andalusian, exotic with its cacti...

Monaco

The Rock. This state is the second smallest in the world after the Vatican. The Grimaldi family has been reigning over the territory of Monaco since the 13th century! Although Prince Albert has led a vast modernization program, some buildings such as the palace, the casino, or the opera house designed by Garnier are old. The place is also famous for its races: The Monaco Grand Prix, not to be confused with the Monte Carlo Rally!

Discover the French Riviera: Golden Islands, Saint Tropez, Cannes, Grasse, and Antibes