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France - Cote d'Azur
Next is the internationally famous city of Cannes which, unlike Nice, has quite a short history: really just a simple fishing village at the edge of a lovely bay until 1834 when Lord Brougham made it fashionable. The old town, le Suquet, with its citadel – now a museum – dominates Cannes: there are many small restaurants in the narrow streets that wind down to the old port; an elegant town hall; the rue Ménardier with a wide choice of fine food shops, good butchers, and what is usually reckoned to be France's finest cheese shop.
Close to the old port, there is a truly sensational covered market, the Marché Forville, a demi-paradise for fruit, vegetables, flowers and locally-caught fish. For visitors, a few cafés and bars provide a welcome rest after the stimulus of a morning's frenetic bargaining for produce alongside eager Cannes locals.
Beginning with the Palais des Festivals and Jimmz disco, the world-famous Croisette with its palm trees and fine palace hotels, private beaches, cafés and restaurants, stretches from the old port all the way around the bay to the new port, Porto Canto, the Palm Beach casino, and a useful heliport. All the big-name boutiques are located on the Croisette and, running parallel to it, the popular rue d'Antibes hosts many shops and boutiques. Just off the coast and within a few minutes ferry ride are the two Lérins Islands: Sainte Marguérite with Fort Royal where "the Man in the Iron Mask" was imprisoned and its twin Saint Honorat with its monastery.
Close to the old port, there is a truly sensational covered market, the Marché Forville, a demi-paradise for fruit, vegetables, flowers and locally-caught fish. For visitors, a few cafés and bars provide a welcome rest after the stimulus of a morning's frenetic bargaining for produce alongside eager Cannes locals.
Beginning with the Palais des Festivals and Jimmz disco, the world-famous Croisette with its palm trees and fine palace hotels, private beaches, cafés and restaurants, stretches from the old port all the way around the bay to the new port, Porto Canto, the Palm Beach casino, and a useful heliport. All the big-name boutiques are located on the Croisette and, running parallel to it, the popular rue d'Antibes hosts many shops and boutiques. Just off the coast and within a few minutes ferry ride are the two Lérins Islands: Sainte Marguérite with Fort Royal where "the Man in the Iron Mask" was imprisoned and its twin Saint Honorat with its monastery.
West of Cannes, after a long six kilometres of narrow and over populated beaches, there is the rather chic port of la Napoule with its distinctive château – in summer, it hosts a little known but wonderful lunch venue on a big terrace looking out over the sea – some beaches and, just slightly inland, a large marina complex with a fine golf course.
Slightly further west, after a rather smallish port, the Côte d'Azur ends in Théoule with its fine beaches, ochre-red cliffs and superb panoramic views of the bay.
Another one of the varied attractions of the Côte d'Azur are medieval, hilltop villages – villages perchés – that were once strategic strongholds: today it is their serenity and peacefulness that attracts many lovers of history and art from all over the world.
East of Nice and reached by the Moyenne Corniche, Eze village is certainly the most spectacular with its eagles' nest hotels, narrow streets, château, and stunning views of the sea and virtually all the coast. Just west of Nice, les-Hauts-de-Cagnes is home to Château Grimaldi and some very good restaurants; a little further west, is the famous village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence with its high ramparts, cobbled streets and distinctive church as well as a glorious village square – Yves Montand used to play pétanque there with the locals – and the renowned hotel-restaurant, the Colombe d'Or, once frequented by famed artists; nearby isVence and the spectacular tiny fortified village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup.
Slightly further west, after a rather smallish port, the Côte d'Azur ends in Théoule with its fine beaches, ochre-red cliffs and superb panoramic views of the bay.
Another one of the varied attractions of the Côte d'Azur are medieval, hilltop villages – villages perchés – that were once strategic strongholds: today it is their serenity and peacefulness that attracts many lovers of history and art from all over the world.
East of Nice and reached by the Moyenne Corniche, Eze village is certainly the most spectacular with its eagles' nest hotels, narrow streets, château, and stunning views of the sea and virtually all the coast. Just west of Nice, les-Hauts-de-Cagnes is home to Château Grimaldi and some very good restaurants; a little further west, is the famous village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence with its high ramparts, cobbled streets and distinctive church as well as a glorious village square – Yves Montand used to play pétanque there with the locals – and the renowned hotel-restaurant, the Colombe d'Or, once frequented by famed artists; nearby isVence and the spectacular tiny fortified village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup.
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