The French Riviera

Spend your holiday on the French Riviera

The French Riviera, also known as the Côte d'Azur, is arguably the most famous stretch of coastline in Europe. Stretching at the foot of the Alps from Bandol in the west to Menton in the east, it is home to some of the most famous cities in France. Cities that have become playgrounds for the rich and famous. However, the French Riviera is more than fashionable coastal towns, palace hotels and luxury villas. It is also old fishing villages, beautiful beach resorts, exotic parks and gardens, a green, mountainous, often deserted but exciting hinterland with authentic medieval towns and a wealth of museums.

The largest of the cities, Nice, has long been a favourite destination for a sunny city break, but there are many other interesting cities. These include the film city of Cannes, fashionable Saint-Tropez, Antibes with its charming walled city and Château Grimaldi, which houses a significant collection of Picasso's works, the principality of Monaco with its gambling casino and motor racing, the perfume city of Grasse and countless charming medieval villages such as Vence, Saint-Paul, Mougins, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Biot, Grimaud, Bormes-les-Mimosas.

Other areas nearby: