Cannes
Famed for its annual film festival, Cannes has much more to offer than first meets the eye. Founded by Lord Brougham, who, in 1834 and unable to reach Nice due to a cholera outbreak, was struck by the beauty and climate of what was then a small fishing port and bulit a villa here. Many other wealthy foreigners followed suit and and the town quickly became a top Mediterranean resort. The old town that he knew still exists in the Le Suquet district and is dominated by the 16th and 17th century Notre-Dame de l'Esperance, but also worth visiting is the Musée de la Castre housed in an 11th century watchtower. Elsewhere the renowned "Croisette" is lined with gardens and palm trees and flanked by 5-star hotels and luxury bouitiques. The lovely sandy beaches on the other side of the Croisette are the finest on this stretch of coastline and a haven for people watchers!
Vence, St-Paul-de-Vence
Today's group of destinations offer a wonderful combination of artistic and architectural sights. The lovely old town of Vence boasts ramparts, a medieval Cathedral, and Chapelle du Rosaire that was decorated by Henri Matisse. The hugely popular hill village of St-Paul-de-Vence has been a magnet for artists throughout the 20th century and the village is dominated by studios and galleries. Its lovely medieval streets are perfect for a leisurely stroll to take in some of the sights including the 12th century Eglise Collégiale, ramparts, pretty Rue Grande and Grand Fountain. The village attracted some of art's most famous names, most notably to the famed Colombe d'Or restaurant where painters such as Picasso traded paintings for meals and accommodation. The village also houses the Fondation Maeght museum of modern art.
Grasse and the Gorges du Loup
Surrounded by fields of lavender,mimosa, jasmine and roses, it is small wonder that Grasse became the centre of the perfume industry in the 16th century when Catherine de Medici set the fashion for scented leather gloves that were made here. It is a nice old town in its own right with several perfume museums and an impressive Cathedrale de Notre-Dame that is home to three paintings by Rubens. Famed for its fortified perched villages, the Gorges du Loup offer wonderful vistas and dramatic cascades.
Biot, Antibes & Cap d'Antibes
A typical hill village, Biot has retained its charm and has always attracted artists including Léger whose first ceramics were made here in 1949 and who is celebrated in the eponymous museum. The town is also famous for its bubble-flecked glassware which can be seen (and purchased) at the Verreire Biot. Cap d'Antibes - with its sumptuous villas in their lush grounds - has been a symbol of luxury life on the Riviera since the 1920s heyday when it was frequented by the likes of F Scott Fitzgerald. Sights include the sailors' chapel of La Garoupe and the Jardin Thuret. Nearby Antibes is a lively town with a 15th century fort and several museums including the Picasso Museum housed in the former Chateau Grimaldi where the painter worked in 1946 and donated his entire output of 150 paintings from that period to the museum.
Nice
France's fifth largest city, Nice has been a popular destination of the rich and famous including Queen Victoria for some 150 years. It is a wonderful city to explore with several distinctive districts, a wealth of galleries and museums, lovely port and famed Promenade des Anglais. Nice was Italian until 1860 reflected in the pastel facades and balconies of the old town which have a distinctly Italianate feel. There is loads to see and do here - highlights include several museums including the Chagall, Matisse, Modern Art and Beaux-Arts, characterful flower market area, 17th century Palais Lascaris, Russian Church and much more.