According to usvsukenglish, the Côte d’Azur (Azure Coast) is the coastal area of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, located in southeastern France. The beaches and luxury hotels have been attracting tourists to the French Riviera, which is the largest part of the Côte d’Azur, for decades. Although the Côte d’Azur was originally a holiday destination for wealthy people, you see that more and more people with a more limited budget are also visiting this region. The price differences between high and low season are huge, making the Côte d’Azur very affordable, especially outside the busiest months of July and August. In the high season, people with a limited budget will mainly have to rely on the campsites, such as at Fréjus.
Cote d’Azur Top 10 Things to Do
#1. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
The most beautiful villa on the Côte d’Azur is Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, located near Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The villa was built by Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild, the wealthy daughter of the director of the Banque de France. The Baroness had a preference for the color pink and a rather flamboyant style, which you can see everywhere in and around the villa. The villa is no longer inhabited. Tourists can visit this historical monument daily. Get there early as you can only get there until 1pm.
#2. Saint-Tropez
If you have to name one place on the Côte d’Azur that symbolizes the fashionable life on this coastal region, it is the city of Saint-Tropez. You can tell that it is a top attraction for the region in high season when you can safely take more than an hour on the last few kilometers to the city due to the traffic. About 5 to 6 million tourists visit the city every year. The beaches and the atmospheric marina with delicious restaurants are superb. The narrow streets, beautiful squares and La Citadelle complete the picture.
#3. Monaco
Miniature state Monaco is an outsider along the Côte d’Azur, because it forms an independent state that is surrounded by France. Take a whole day to visit Monaco, because there is plenty to see and do here. The highlights are the Palace, which is partly open to visitors, the Monte Carlo Casino and the marina where the most expensive yachts are on display. Pay attention if you sit on a terrace for a coffee or wine, because on some terraces you pay the main price for a drink.
#4. Perfume Museum
This region is the source of many natural ingredients used in perfumes. The city of Grasse, just inland, is considered the capital of the perfume industry. It owes this to the presence of a number of large perfume houses. The perfume museums in Grasse are of interest to a large number of people. Here you can see the history of perfume and what goes into the development and manufacture of perfume. The International Perfume Museum is the most interesting, but while you’re there, don’t miss the Villa-Museum Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
#5. Promenade de la Croisette
Cannes is known for its expensive hotels, the many celebrities who can be seen here during the annual international film fair and the Promenade de la Croisette. This boulevard runs along the most expensive beaches of Cannes on one side and the luxury five-star hotels and expensive shops on the other. The street with the many palm trees between the two lanes is regularly used as a setting for commercials and films.
#6. ze
The village of Èze is located on a hill with a spectacular view over the area and the Mediterranean Sea. Because of its special location, Èze has been nicknamed Eagle’s Nest. Those traveling between Nice and Monaco simply have to leave the highway for a while to visit this village.
#7. les des Lérins
The Lerins Islands are located in front of Cannes. From your beach chair you have a view of these islands. The stretch of sea between the two largest islands, Île Sainte-Marguerite and le Saint-Honorat, are popular anchorages for the many boats in the area. Especially on summer days you will see a large collection of yachts and cheaper vessels moored here. If you don’t have a boat available, you can take a ferry to the Lerins Islands from the port of Cannes, to the right of the Palais de Festivals. Take a nice walk over the islands (very quiet) and visit the Fort Royal where the Man in the Iron Mask is said to have been locked up.
#8. Antibes
The city of Antibes is the most visited place on the Côte d’Azur after Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Monaco. It is an attractive city with a beautiful old town (Vieux Antibes), the expensive marina Port Vauban and according to many the most beautiful beaches in the region. If you visit Antibes, you should definitely visit the Picasso Museum in Château Grimaldi where you can view almost two hundred works by this artist.
#9. Museé Matisse
Nice is the museum dedicated to the French painter Henri Matisse. The works on display in the museum give a good impression of the artist’s entire life.
#10. Amphitheater Fréjus
The place Fréjus has its origins from Roman times. Various remains from this period can be found in a popular holiday destination. Remains of the once forty kilometer long Roman aqueduct can still be admired at Fréjus. The amphitheater that used to hold as many as ten thousand spectators has been badly damaged over the years, but is still used for performances.