Nice
The base for this tour and 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 devoted to Chagall, Matisse, Modern Art and Beaux-Arts, characterful flower market area, 17th century Palais Lascaris, Russian Church and much more. The Carnival is a colourful street event with parades and a wonderful holiday atmosphere, enhancing the appeal of this already beautiful city.
Vence & St-Paul-de-Vence
Today's 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 ins ome of the sights including the 12th century Eglise Collegiale, 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.
Grasse & 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 town in its own right with several perfume museums and an impressive Catherdrale 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.
Menton and the Lemon Festival
The lovely seaside resort of Menton boasts stylish Belle-Epoque architecture and some interesting sights includings the Baroque Basilica St-Michel and two museums devoted to Jean Cocteau and the Beaux-Arts. Home to the annual Lemon Festival, the resort has a wonderful, festive atmosphere in February and a colourful parade.
Biot, Antibes & Cap d'Antibes
A typical hill village, Biot has retained its charm and has always attracted artists including Leger 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 Verrerie Biot. Cap d'Antibes - with its sumptuous villas in their lush grounds - has been a symbol of luxury life on the Riviera since the 1920's 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.