Côte d'Azur - The Fabulous French Riviera

The Côte d'Azur, also known in English as the French Riviera has been as the playground of the rich and famous since the 18th century. In addition to the glitz and the glamour it is one of the most beautiful regions in France. This coastline has a wealth of culture and history that is so often overshadowed by the celebrity lifestyle and opulent society that has become synonymous with the Côte d’Azur.

 Despite not having any official borders, it is usually considered to be the coastal area that runs from the Italian border in the east to Toulon in the west and is part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region. The area was named Stéphen Liégeard in his book La Côte d’Azur, who adapted the name from the department of Côte d’Or and was making reference to the beautiful azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

The region has extraordinarily beautiful coastline with a backdrop of beautiful mountain ranges. It is an animated and lively region with glittering annual events such as the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix. The Côte d’Azur is a popular yachting and cruising area littered with impressive marinas filled with extravagant yachts.

Slightly more low-key towns that are worth a visit are Villefranche-sur-Mer and Roquebrune. These are beautiful communities with picturesque old towns that don’t have the garish wealth of Cannes and St Tropez but still maintain the beauty and luxury of the French Riviera.

Of course, the region is not all about beautiful fishing ports and glamorous seaside towns, 

the area is famous for being a meeting place for artists, such as Matisse and Picasso and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary art in Nice is well worth a visit www.mamac-nice.org

The Côte d'Azur's fascinating history stretches from Roman rulers to the fantasy and luxury of the Belle Époque architecture to the  20th century hollywoood lifestyle. The ancient forts and Chateaux that line the coast are breath-taking and popular tourist attractions, such as the grandiose Palace in Monaco or the 16^th Century Saint Elme Citadel in Villefranche. For lists of the forts and castles in the Côte d’Azur visit www.frenchriviera-tourism.com

To explore this beautiful region South France Villas offers you beautiful properties to rent.

Villa Chenet Provençal style house in Frejus, with beautiul gardens and only 10km form the sea. Sleeps 6-7

Villa Les Maures Luxury villa, with sophisticated interiors , in the hills above St Tropez. Sleeps 12.

Villa Allegra Large contemporary villla in Golfe Juan, with a beautiful view over Cannes. Sleeps 14.

Villa Eze  Villa in Eze-sur-Mer between Nice and Monaco, with infinity pool and only 3 minutes walk from beach. Sleeps 6.

For more information and to check out our other properties in the Côte d’Azur please got to our website www.southfrancevillas.com

Collioure - A Hidden Gem: Picasso, Matisse, Modern Art & Anchovies

Nestling in a most attractive cove, between Perpignan and the Spanish Border, Collioure is a real treasure to explore and is only a few minutes walk from one of South France Villas properties Villa La Voile.

                                  

With it’s history of attracting Writers, Poets (Antonio Manchado) and Artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Derain (the Master of Fauvism) and Chagall, the Museum of 
Modern Art  -  it’s cobbled streets, summer festivals, beaches, plethora of restaurants - La Voile de Neptune -  , markets and the local speciality of Anchovies  - Collioure is a must visit!

AOC wine

                 

Plus the wine is excellent too – AOC Banyuls and Collioure -  www.abberous.com and don’t forget to try the local Croquant Almond biscuits! available from the shop that sells Regional Specialities at 8 rue Berthelot, Collioure

Collioure, “the village of light” has everything for a magical stay.