The Best of The French Riviera travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

The Cote D`Azur, south of France, French Riviera – call it (or say it) whatever you want to but all these names provoke the stunning beauty and splendour of that magnificient piece of land that starts in the easternmost corner of France with Menton, the grand lady of the Belle Epoch are, running through Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, Grasse, all the way to St. Tropez.
We explored this region of balmy weather, stony beaches, sheer cliffs, grand hotels, cosy cafes,stuning views and beautiful people. The seaside resort town Saint Tropez is still very popular with the tourists, although the jetset and the in-crowd have long since left it behind. Set on the lovely blue water of the Bay of Saint-Tropez, this modern version of a medieval town is most popular for the line of yachts along the quai, and the facing line of terrace cafes, divided by a parade of strolling tourists and slow cruising expensive cars. Behind the cafés, the small streets and old buildings are picturesque, but they’re more popular for the multitude of shops and restaurants than historical significance. There are endless possibilities for buying gifts or items of proof that “you’ve been here”. Movie stars and other famous pretty people do pass through, ‘though not so frequently as yesteryear. The most famous, of course, are insconced in the fabulous private estates set along the coast, protected from the curious eyes of all but those with the means to rent helicopters and light aircraft. Our late Princess Diana, for example, did spend the night in a local discotheque this August (1997), but it was closed to all but her private party.The town’s Office de Tourisme, located along the center of the main drag, is very active. The multilingual staff is friendly and helpful, and they have their own Internet web site. Excellent maps and informational brochures are available 7 days a week.One of the most popular holiday in St. Tropez is Fete de la Bravade. A bravade (or “act of defiance”), originally a procession in honor of a town’s patron saint, is now a colorful Provençal festival. The St Tropez bravade, every May, is one of the most famous, dating back to the 15th century. A bust of the patron saint is carried in a procession through the town with a guard of honor, with gun salvos, Provençal singing and dancing.

France is very popular with its wine. St Tropez is in the area of the Cote de Provence wines. There are several vineyards around St Tropez and nearby Gassin that offer wine tasting along with their wares. About the Sport, you could cyclilng. There’s a cycling path along a good part of the coast along here, along side the busy road; St Tropez, Port Grimaud, towards Ste Maxime.

St. Tropez’s true nature can really only be appreciated in the off months. If you have the choice come here in May, June or September, without the crowds one can take the time to admire the charming little streets and alleys.

150 years ago Cannes was nothing more than an unimportant fishing village. Since then it has become an elegant city known round the world and attracts an international clientele.

The places of interest in Cannes are:
* The city on high (Haute ville)
* The old port
* Rue Meynadier
* The Palace of festivals
* The Croisette

Cannes is the “star” of the French Riviera, famous for the International Film Festival and the glitzy hotels, cars, beaches and visitors attracted here. Although it’s probably the opposite of the Beyond type villages of the “arriere pays”, it would be a shame to visit the South of France without experiencing the city for yourself. Exotic cars abound: white-haired ladies drive Maseratis for shopping trips, Porsches blow through the streets like pollen, and only the very latest models of Lamborghini and Ferrari attract serious attention. The city of Cannes is centered around the old port, with the central part quite compact. The famous “Croisette” is the boulevard and the beach that extends around the bay to the east of the port, in the protected “Rade de Cannes”. Out around the point at the west side of the port, the Boulevard Jean Hibert runs along the coast to the west, with even more fine sandy beaches. The Rue d’Antibes is the main street running east-west through the center of the city, becoming the Rue Felix Faure at the bottom end, past the Allée de la Liberte and the port. The Boulevard Carnot runs north out of the city, through residential-shopping areas, to the A8 autoroute, and inland towards Grasse. The closest thing to an “old town” is “Le Suquet” overlooking the west end of the port. The 12th-century Tour de Mt. Chevalier, ramparts and 12th-16th-century church Notre-Dame-de-l’Esperence give a touch of medieval flavor to the city. The Le Suquet area has narrow streets climbing up and around the hill, with a fine view from the top. Standing on the ancient rampart wall in front of the church, you can see east across the city, the port and the bay to the Cap de la Croisette, and to the west across the Gulf of La Napoule to the Massif de l’Esterel mountains.

Antibes-Juan les Pins is one of the most well known resorts on the Cote d’Azur, located between Nice (20 km) and Cannes (12km). Antibes manages to be a historic town, an eventful town and also an innovating town, easily mixing these multiple facets.

Juan les Pins is the most exciting part with an exciting nightlife where night owls run shoulders in summer as they move between fashionable night clubs, casino and even night shopping …Antibes is quieter with a variety of restaurants, caffees, theaters, piano bars, chic hotels and private clubs.

For a long time Antibes was the only large town between Marseille and Italy. It was the only town on the coast to be protected by ramparts, and thus it has managed to conserve historic monuments from each period in its heritage. The Chateau, bastion and towers have today been transformed into a magnificent Modern Art Museum, History and Archeology Museum and museum of traditional crafts and local culture. Most of the treasures can be found in the historic town center. It’s better to visit this part on foot taking in it’s particular atmosphere, meander between pretty squares and it’s narrow streets… Let yourself be guided by the charm of the craft workshops where crafts persons work, often leaving the doors of their workshops open for all to see, or by the boutiques with their sun-faded faзades or by the beautiful odours of simmering dishes wafting from the open windows….

Historic monuments to visit:

* The historic town center and it’s narrow streets
* The ramparts
* The Cathedral

Nicе, the fifth largest city in France, acts as a magnet attracting people from all over the world, for a multitude of reasons, Not only renowned for its grace, Nice has become a hub for research in industry, science and advanced technology since the creation of such centers as Acropolis and Sophia Antipolis. The Palais de Congres, a convention center, can accomodate diverse functions and the international airport has a capacity that only Paris can better. Both elegant and simple, Nice’s charm comes from its exceptional climate as well as its beauty. Even in the winter the cafe terraces are filled with people happily drinking and contemplating the ultra famous Promenade des Anglais. Always in flower this wonderful walk follows along the bay, looking out onto the Baie des Anges and the beaches on one side, and on the other such luxury hotels as the Negresco.

The architecture of Nice can be astonishing with the wild exaggerations of the Belle Epoque style or the Baroque influenced houses and marisions on the hills of Mont Boron. Fabulous creations have been realized in the floral gardens and parks of the hills of the Chateau, the Chambrun park or the Espace Massеna. Nice is also a city of art and culture and after Paris, has the most museums in France. The city is animated at night as well as in the day especially in the summer with the Nice Jazz Festival held in the arena, the gardens of Cimiez, and the flower “war” on the Promenade des Anglais in which participate the prettiest women on the Cote d’Azur (French Riviera). Each day on the Cours Soleya there is the great flower market where one can also find fruit and vegetables in the mornings. Each quarter in Nice is alive with markets, boutiques and restaurants making the whole city a lively place to visit.

Situated on the Cote d’Azur between Cap d’Ail and Menton, just a few kilometers from the Italian Riviera, Monaco is one of those magic glamorous places that has a world wide reputation. Monaco is a sovereign state, independent and prosperous. It has its own government and the head of state is His Highness Prince Albert. There is no doubt that Monaco has a privileged location. This tiny capital (1,95km. with a soaring economy, is built against the mountains (Monaco is nicknamed “The Rock”), and spreads down to the shores of the Riviera. 31 hectares have been added to Monaco’s surface by building several sky scrapers right on the water. There is sun here almost all the time, and fabulous parks and gardens have been laid out throughout the city. There are sumptuous boutiques with the latest fashions, palacial luxury hotels, and very chic restaurants. The cultural and sports centers are fitted out to perfection. Everywhere you look there are long limousines gliding, or little Porsches zipping around the famous curves of Monte Carlo. This is Monaco.
This perfect little Paradise is one of the “IN” places for the international jet set and the very famous. It is also, understandably, a favorite hunting ground for the notorious “”parapazzis”.

What to see:
* The palace.The palace square and the changing of the guard at 11:55 a.m.
* The Cathedral. The old city
* The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium. Musee du Vieux Monaco.
* Musee des souvenirs Napoléoniens et collections des archives historiques du Palais (Napoleon and archives)
* Prehistoric anthropology museum, Japonese Garden (7000m2 at the water’s edge)

Situated at the extreme south east of France, Menton is all at once a city of gardens, a seaport, and a beach resort. It has won the competition for the best city af flowers in France five different times.

Its exceptional sunlight and the subtropical climate make Menton ideal for growing orange trees, lemon trees, palm trees,and mimosa. Here are extracted rare essential oils and the gardens seem to have been created out of dreams.
Two marinas, the old port and the beaches are all there to help you enjoy the sea.
Every year Menton is the stage for an immense celebration and invites you to be a part of the famous Lemon Festival during 3 weeks from February to March. From the golden citrus parade of floats to the giant citrus decorations in the Bioves gardens. Magnificent floats will parade along the “Promenade du Soleil” on the sea front, on the three consecutive Sundays during the Lemon Festival. The music will be set by the Brazilian bands, folkloric groups, dance and majorette troops marching and laying between the floats. Don’t miss the two Evening Parades…Once again the show promises to be spectacular!

What to see:
* Guided visits to the old city which include fabulous staircases, beach stone mosaics, trompe l’oeil, ceramic murals, 18th and 39th c. houses, the Place aux Herbes…
* St. Michel Church, the Chapels of the Penitents Noirs and the Penitents Blancs, Beaux Arts Museum in the Palais Carnoles, Modern Art Galery in the Palais de L’Europe, Jean Cocteau Museum.
* The Jean Cocteau Wedding Room
* The Museum of regional prehistory
* The eco museum of La Forge Garden : Serre de la Madone

So,have a bon voyage on your Beyond travels !