Situated between the sea, the mountains and the sky, the Côte d'Azur landscape fascinates and leaves no one indifferent when faced with so much beauty and natural wealth. It is a region that elegantly and poetically blends the deep blue of the Mediterranean, the azure blue of the southern sky, the white of the Alpine peaks and gracefully displays a whole palette of greens.
Nice, the pearl of the Riviera
In Nice, the English, Russian and American aristocrats who once set their sights on this coast were not mistaken: here, as nowhere else, everything inspires tranquillity when a little bit of it provokes wonder. From the flowery gardens to the baroque arabesques, from this azure coast to the lands full of character: Nice simply shines
In the old quarter, the popular theatre is played out in a labyrinth of alleys where the laundry dries between two Sardinian windows, with little regard for the bondieuseries of the surrounding chapels. You will come across many food shops, with all the gouaille coming from the stalls of fresh pasta, spices and small stalls offering socca to passers-by. The stroll takes place along the alleys which, here and there, lead to the lively squares, leading to the Cours Saleya. The beating heart of Vieux-Nice welcomes the flower market during the day, and at nightfall the youth of Nice. At its sides, the hill of the Castle watches over their carefree evenings with one eye, and with the other, over the anchor that rises from the quays of the Lympia port. The "Old Man", as he is fondly called, cultivates a certain nostalgia, and any renovation is always done with respect for the heritage. An archaeological crypt has been discovered a few steps away. One can admire the remains of a fortified complex around what was the main gate of the city in the 14th century. It is amazing to walk through this 2,000 m² underground gallery which contains an important chapter in the history of the region..
You can leaf through other historical pages just as easily. In the same day, you can climb to Cimiez to visit the arenas, go back to the tropical greenhouse in Phoenix Park, have a bite to eat at the port, take an English-style walk along the sea, do some shopping around Avenue Jean-Médecin and greet the volutes of the astonishing Russian Orthodox cathedral! A pleasant urban life which, moreover, is enhanced by more than 300 hectares of green spaces spread throughout the city. You can enjoy a walk on the hill of the Castle, take advantage of the panorama of the Estienne d'Orves park, meditate in the monastery garden or relax in a corner of the Albert I garden...
Nice has developed a taste for artistic creation. From the Museum of Human Paleontology to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, you can visit the entire history of art. Enough to keep art lovers busy, or even better, to delight them by taking them to the Chagall and Matisse museums
From Cannet to Juan-les-Pins, on thehe road of the painters
No art lover is supposed to be unaware of the impact of the Côte d'Azur on artistic production since the Impressionists discovered its palette and especially its indescribable light. The splendour of its sites has inspired the most famous of them, and even today paintbrushes never cease to interpret the emotions they arouse. To the west of Nice, you can visit Le Cannet and Cannes, both of which have been praised by the paintings of Pierre Bonnard. As for Claude Monet, he preferred Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, where he lived and painted nearly thirty-six paintings, conquered by "the very softness of the white, pink and blue, all enveloped in this magical air". This opinion was later shared by Picasso, who used an outbuilding of the Grimaldi castle as his studio, where he painted his most joyful canvases, which can still be admired in the eponymous museum, still located in the castle
If the painters' route easily reveals its charms, it is also a succession of seaside resorts, kilometres of sandy or pebble beaches, remarkable sites, capes and islands that are available to you!
Beaches, idleness and fiesta on the program
We then continue our journey to Fréjus, which benefits from its double quality of seaside resort and city of Art and History. The city was founded by Julius Caesar in 49 BC. Fréjus has preserved a large number of monuments from its past. Among the Roman remains, you can see the arena, the aqueduct or the amphitheatre and the theatre, both from the 1st century AD. But its marina, Port-Fréjus, and its sandy beaches, more than six kilometres long, remain, for many, the main attraction of this city, bordering Saint-Raphaël, a very popular seaside resort on the coast. There are several ways to enjoy Saint-Raph': the old town and its shopping streets are pleasant, the coastal path offers a magnificent landscape, but the most beautiful is the Esterel massif. You will discover all the richness of the Mediterranean vegetation by walking along its many paths
Then you reach Sainte-Maxime and its 11 kilometres of Mediterranean shoreline to stroll along the seafront or the marina, visit the Myrtes botanical garden or dine in one of its many gourmet restaurants. A nice introduction before reaching the mythical port of Saint-Tropez. This commercial and fishing port, which nothing had predisposed to its new vocation as the capital of the jet set, has become as famous a myth as the Statue of Liberty at the entrance to New York harbour. A short walk is necessary to admire the statue of the Bailiff of Suffren, the terraces of the large cafés, the facades of the houses in Provençal colours, the luxurious yachts swinging on the quay, the shops often fitted out in former boat garages. And, once night falls, you will gladly let yourself be intoxicated by the Tropezian night
After basking on the beaches of Le Lavandou, which lie a few kilometres further on, and having taken a look at Cap Nègre or the Fort de Brégançon for a tribute to our presidents, we arrived in Toulon. Leaning against Mount Faron, we will happily stroll along its mythical harbour, we will go in search of its secret creeks, we will stroll in the markets of Provence, before going to take a look at the Art Museum, the Navy Museum or the D-Day Memorial. A pleasant end to an escapade in the Côte d'Azur worthy of the name.
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When to visit? This is a destination that is best enjoyed out of season. We like the spring and Indian summer for the mild climate. September and early October are excellent options
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