Area Daytrips around the Côte
d'Azur
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RivieraRental® properties are ideally situated for daytrips and sightseeing along the French and
Italian Riviera. Several popular day trips are provided below, along with
helpful links. Most are close-by and about
an hour's drive. There are far too many places to go into any
great detail here, so we've provided many useful links, so
you can start to plan your own adventures. Visiting San Remo or Ventimiglia in Italy
is fun and visiting both in a day is one of our favorite day trips. We
recommend visiting Ventimiglia for the Friday marché, the
open-air market. Plan to arrive early; we leave at 6:30 to get
there about 7:30 to find a parking space. You may still run into long
lines getting into the area around the market. Following this,
we visit San Remo in the afternoon, and then head back to Nice or Cannes for dinner. More about
Ventimiglia is on our Shopping
pages.
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"The flat was excellent and centrally
located. We traveled to marchantes in Aix and visited the jewelry
stores in Ventimiglia and St. Remy. The restaurants you suggested were
excellent. The only drawback to the trip was that we would have liked
to stay an additional two weeks and needed more francs." Avon,
CT
ANTIBES
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About 15 minutes east,
either on the A8, or along the coast road, Antibes began as a
Greek fortified town called Antipolis (Greek "on the other side" ~
of Nice) in the 4th century BC, later was a Roman town, and has
always been an active port for trading along the Mediterranean.
Today it's an active and attractive town, popular with
"foreigners" from Paris and the north of France, and also with
international guests, as well as the local population.
The vieille ville
(old town) retains its natural beauty, with the remnants of the ramparts
along the sea, built by Vauban in the XVI c. on the order of Henry
IV, with a long, arched protective wall along the port. There are
plenty of winding streets to explore, numerous restaurants, and
many shops of all types and prices - from small hardware and
general stores to specialty gift shops. Fort Carré
looms over the deep-water harbor where you can inspect the fleet
of luxurious British and Arab yachts.
Marché Provençal
(covered market): Fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers, along
with other regional products. Sept-May: Tue-Sun mornings;
June-Aug: every morning 6-12. Location: the Cours Massena,
in front of the Mairie (City Hall).
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Foire (clothing
market): Thur. AM - Rue Fontvieille, behind the post office.
Brocante ("flea"
market): Every Thur; 6am-6pm, Sat; 8h-19h. Location: Place Jacques
Audiberti, between the Porte Marine and Place Massena. There are
several museums. Picasso worked here, and many of his pieces can
be viewed online at the
Picasso Museum in the Grimaldi Castle (tel. 04 92 90 54 20).
Antibes also co-hosts the
International Jazz Festival, "Jazz
in Juan" in adjacent Juan-les-Pins.
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EZE
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About a 35-minute drive
east along the A8 autoroute, past Nice, but short of Monaco, Eze
is an ancient hilltop village that perches on a large rock
outcropping high above the Riviera, and has magnificent panoramic views
of the surrounding hills and the Mediterranean far below. All of
the historic stone houses have been restored and there are
numerous networks of small cobblestone streets and covered
passage ways. At the summit there is a substantial garden with
examples of a large variety of Mediterranean plants and cacti.
The oldest part of the village lies on the Middle Corniche,
a road that has beautiful views going up to Mont Boron. As with
many of the area towns and villages, there are numerous small
gift shops and galleries specializing in local specialty items
and crafts.
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GOURDON
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About an hour due
north, past Grasse, on the D2085, then up
along the twisting D3. Gourdon is an ancient hilltop fortified
village overlooking the Gorges du Loup, with a central
church and small streets with numerous shops and boutiques
surrounding the church. The ramparts once protected it as a
fortress with ancient origins. During the Hundred Years War,
Gourdon remained loyal to the French monarchy, so was sacked by
the English, rebuilt, and again destroyed in the 17th century.
There are now various churches dating from these earlier times.
Not far from Gourdon (@2 kms) are the Grottoes of Cougnac (Grottes
de Cougnac), where prehistoric cave paintings of ibex,
elephants, and human figures may be viewed, as well as
stalactites, and other natural stone formations. High in the
mountain stillness here, while enjoying a meal in the local
restaurant and the long views
to the valleys below, the hushed silence is occasionally
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interrupted by the
quiet voices of paragliders floating overhead and along the sheer faces of
the surrounding heights, as they glide down to the valley far
below, beyond which, on a clear day, you might be able to catch
a glimpse of the beautiful Mediterranean!
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GRASSE
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Due north from Cannes
on the N85, then about 30 minutes on, you can get to Grasse
quickly now on the high speed bypass. Known as the "perfume
capital" of the world, Grasse is located at a higher altitude
away from the beaches. It's locally known for its fresh air,
flowers, and as the fabled gateway to the hills, forests,
canyons and rivers of the back country...the "l'arrière pays."
Grasse has several
museums: The Museum of Provencal Art and History, International
Perfume Museum, Fragonard Museum (artist Jean-Honore Fragonard),
the Admiral de Grasse Naval Museum (the French Admiral who
played such an integral role in helping America win the Battle
of Yorktown and war for American independence).
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You can also take a
virtual visit to the
Fragonard
parfumerie factory and take a look at their factory prices or
the Galimard
site before going; or shop online at
LaParfumerie.Com!
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...can't express
what a great time we had staying in your place in Cannes. What a
wonderful experience, we just loved being part of the everyday
culture and trying to learn the language and communicate with
the French on a daily basis! Everyone was very helpful and
friendly we never felt uncomfortable when going anywhere.
I must tell you, we loved the
view from the flat, it was so pleasant to wake up and and have a
cup of coffee on the patio and enjoy the fresh air from the
ocean....
Las Vegas, Nevada |
MENTON
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Located due east, about a
45-minute drive along the A8, just past Monaco, Menton is often
described as being both charming and full of mystery, being on the
French-Italian coastal border. The town's saying "our city is a
garden" accurately describes the many public botanical gardens and
vast lemon groves, on which part of the local economy is based.
The French Lemon Festival is held here, and the city also boasts
the Jean Cocteau Museum, a Casino, a vibrant Old Town, many
open-air markets, beaches and a large protected port. Menton is
surrounded by beautiful mountains, which protect it from the
winds, and it also benefits greatly from the constant southern
exposure to the ever-present sun assuring beautiful year-round
weather. All of this combines to create a microclimate that is
particularly favorable to the growth of subtropical plants
creating a town often called "the most temperate city in France".
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Maritime Alps -
Mercantour National Park (90 minute drive)
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One of seven French national parks, this
beautifully rugged, highland area is located about a 90-minute
drive northwest of Cannes in the Maritime Alps. Relatively close,
the area is a world away from the coastal images of Cannes, Nice,
etc.
Established in 1979, the Park covers
approximately 265 square miles (68,500 hectares) of a very
different alpine landscape, comprised of mountains up to 9000 ft
high, with vast rocky areas, glacial cirques and valleys strewn
with deep blue or brilliant green lakes, high alpine pastures,
thick forests, narrow valleys, picturesque gorges, and crystal
clear streams, rapids, and waterfalls.
A hike through the Vallée des Merveilles and a
visit to the Museum at Tende you will find considerable
prehistoric and archaeological information along with 100,000
year-old bronze-age rock engravings.
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Monaco
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Monaco is due east from
Cannes, before Menton, and about a 40-minute drive. An ancient
principality, it is steeped in a rich and colorful history and considered by many to be one of Europe's most fascinating
countries. The Principality covers approximately one
square mile and remains an independent monarchy with Prince
Rainier III as its head of state. Many people visit Monaco and the
district of Monte-Carlo to vacation, test their luck in the
casinos, and to see and be seen. To find out more about the
Principality, sites, schedules of events, and other info, see
Monaco's official web site. Just down the coast from Cannes,
in Monaco, the Riviera has one of the most prestigious racing
events in the world - the Formula One, Grand Prix of Monaco (held
in May).
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Tickets range from $170
to $335 US dollars, depending on which day and where you sit. For
tickets e-mail or visit
Monaco
Formula One Racing online.
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Nice
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On the A8 autoroute, no visit to the Riviera is
complete without a trip here, the regional metropolis and seaside
resort that serves many who fly in to Nice International Airport
as the principal gateway city to the Riviera. One of its most
prominent landmarks is the Promenade des Anglais, the broad
pedestrian esplanade stretching along the beach in front of the
city on the Mediterranean Baie des Anges or Bay of Angels.
In the heart of Nice is the "Old town" between the sea and the
Cours Saleya and the "Rocher du Chateau." This is full
of winding streets, passage ways, and staircases, with ancient
tall houses. There are numerous museums. One is the Matisse Museum
(Musée Matisse) near Cimiez, which is a hill in the city
with numerous archaeological ruins and prominent villas.
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There are approximately
30 paintings by Matisse, as well as his work in glass, ceramics,
drawings, engravings and more.
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And
God created the Riviera — a sun-blessed region with its toes in
the Mediterranean and its eyes on the Alps. No other place
embodies such intoxicating joie de vivre or offers such a
calendar of celebrations. The quality of life on the Côte d’Azur
isn’t about money and fame, but the harmonious blending of
respected tradition and sleek modernity. The beaches, shopping,
and glittering nightlife are certainly impressive, but hidden
beyond the hype are a strong connection with nature and a rich
cultural heritage spanning centuries.
From Augustus Caesar
to Queen Victoria, Renoir to Nietzsche, many famous figures have
called this stretch of enchanted coastline their home. The
artistic, literary, and architectural contributions they left
behind have become as much a part of the Riviera mystique as the
imported palms.
Heather Stimmler-Hall, from
Three Perfect Days / The French Riviera
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St. Paul de Vence
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About a 40-minute drive
east of Cannes along the A8, then just short of Nice at Cagnes sur
Mer, turn north on the D7, in an area that evokes the landscape of
Tuscany, St-Paul is an ancient fortified village that now protects
numerous artists galleries, boutiques, and several restaurants.
You'll find many galleries with a great deal of artwork reflecting
the various artistic styles of this area of France. It would be
difficult to find a better place with such an opportunity to see
so much artwork, for sale, with such representative and unique
styles of contemporary, impressionist, regional and other artwork.
Parking can be difficult in season, so arrive early. There are
numerous gift shops, boutiques and ateliers (studios) on
several streets, especially the rue Grande, where you can also buy
local crafts, herbs, spices, perfume, etc. By the
Place de la
Grande-Fontaine you'll find the atelier of artist
Jean-Louis
Tholance and his family to view their work. At the end of the
rue Grande is the Porte du Sud (South Gate) where
Chagall is buried. There is also the modern art museum
Fondation Maeght, founded by Aime Maeght in 1964. On display
are works by many artists including Chagall, Bonnard, Pol Bury,
Leger and other great 20th century artists. In St-Paul you can
also visit the famous hotel/restaurant,
La Colombe
d'Or.
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They house a large
collection of fine paintings and sculpture, which can be viewed,
and they also serve excellent (and expensive) food, so you can
dine on the terrace or the restaurant. Many noted artists
have been permitted to board here for a time, in return for some
of their artwork.
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Rhone American Military Cemetery (Var) - Draguignan
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Poignant reminder to
Freedom's cost in nearby Draguignan.
Operation Dragoon, and later billed as the "champagne
campaign," it was anything but for many U.S., British, French
and allied forces who encountered furious rear-guard German
resistance following airborne landings on August 15, 1944 by
over 10,000 men of the (US) First Airborne Task Force (FABTF)
commanded by MG Robert T. Frederick. Concurrently, VII (US) Army
forces under LTG Alexander Patch, with the VI (US) Corps (LTG
Lucian K. Truscott) comprising the
3rd Infantry Div ("Rock of the Marne"),
36th Infantry Div ("Texas Division") and
45th Infantry Div ("Thunderbirds"), plus Army Group B (FR)
(GEN Jean de Lattre de Tassigny) conducted
amphibious landings in the vicinity of St.
Tropez,
Ste. Maxime and adjacent areas. Rapid seizures of key ports
and urban centers combined with multiple airborne landings
behind enemy lines allowed the Allies to quickly overwhelm all
Nazi defenses. Shock offensive action, mass, maneuver and
surprise, were all combined to allow the Allies to move so
rapidly in so many directions that they effectively stopped the
Nazis from developing any manageable defense.
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The Rhone campaign cemetery is only a 45-minute drive west of
Cannes on the A8 autoroute, and then exit north on the N555. The
Draguignan exit, in the Provençal hills, is clearly marked.
A beautifully maintained location, it's well worth a visit to
stop and reflect on our many blessings.
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Driving Distances and Times from Cannes
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Location |
Approximate Distance Kms (Miles) |
Estimated
Driving Time |
| Milano,
Italy |
350 (217
miles) |
3 hours |
| Paris, France |
931 (578 miles) |
9 hours |
| Strasbourg, France |
800 (497 miles) |
8 hours |
| Bayonne, France |
857 (532 miles) |
8.5 hours |
| Torino, Italy |
200 (124 miles) |
2 hours |
| Genoa, Italy |
200 (124 miles) |
2 hours |
 Quick
Links*
Official Area Sites
Area and Regional Guides
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Azurguide
- Guide to the area and towns of the Maritime Alps
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Beyond
the French Riviera - Headlined here throughout,
comprehensive award-winning web guide
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BusinessRiviera.Com - Numerous city walking tours
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Cote d'Azur Connections - Personal website with area links
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Cote d'Azur
- Commercial area portal
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DMOZ.org - Area tourism
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FranceMarket
- Tourism, travel, and restaurants
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NiceMatin.Fr - Nice newspaper's guide to walking tours and
excursions in the Maritime-Alps
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Riviera-Magazine - Riviera restaurants, yachting, gourmet,
travel, art, news and more...
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Syndicat
Intercommunal Touristique des Alpes d'Azur - SITALPA. Photos
and information on back country villages in vicinity of Nice.
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SitesAtlas - France - Unofficial, but a good resource, e.g.
Aix
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South
France Guide - emphasizes western part of Mediterranean from
Toulouse to Marseille and points west to the Atlantic
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Var Regional Tourism
- Official tourism site for area of the Var and vicinity of Draguignan
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Visit-Riviera.Com - Towns of the Riviera
Local City and Other
Sites of Interest
* Find out about other areas of the Roman Empire
here!
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