Côte d'Azur: A Bird's Eye View

In keeping with recent posts with an air travel theme, I wanted to share the views from my window as we approached Nice Airport in France last summer. Strong winds meant that we had to make our approach from the east, providing passengers on the right side of the aircraft with unforgettable views of the glamourous coastline known as the Côte d’Azur.

Coastline of the French Riviera, or Côte d'Azur

Nice: The Hotel Negresco

The Promenade des Anglais in Nice is a fitting Côte d’Azur address for the five-star Hotel Negresco. Since its opening in 1913, this belle époque gem has welcomed royalty and celebrities like Princess Grace of Monaco, The Beatles and Salvador Dali. A visit to La Negresco’s Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail gave me the perfect excuse to explore the public areas of this luxury seaside hotel.

Hotel Negresco, Nice

Picasso Museum, Antibes

In the years following World War II, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso spent a happy period of his life living and working in the south of France. He established a studio in Antibes at Château Grimaldi and in just a few months he created 23 paintings and 44 drawings. In 1966 the chateau became the first museum dedicated to Picasso’s work.

Musée Picasso, Antibes

Market Day in Antibes

I'm back on track after being without my computer for a month, and continuing with posts about my recent trip to France. My week on the fabulous Côte d’Azur was coming to an end and the last daytrip on this portion of our itinerary took us to Antibes. First settled as a Greek trading post named Antipolis, this ancient town is 20 kilometers west of Nice on the Mediterranean coast.

Antibes, France

Monaco-Ville: Take Two

As with my morning visit to the French hill town of Eze, my afternoon in the nearby Principality of Monaco was also a repeat visit. Would I see anything that I hadn't seen before in what may be the most glamorous of locales on the very glamorous Côte d'Azur?

Tour Bus at Monaco's Palace Square

Eze: The Exotic Garden

Eze Village on the Côte d'Azur has an amazing Jardin exotique, Exotic Garden, at the summit of the hill on which the town is perched. To my regret I didn't venture quite that far on my previous visit to Eze. On my recent trip to France, I got a second chance.

Exotic Garden, Eze Village

St-Paul-de-Vence

After a morning spent touring Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, we moved on to visit some of France's famed perched villages. Of the many hill towns scattered throughout Provence and the Côte d'Azur, picturesque St-Paul-de-Vence is one of the most popular. The medieval town also attracted many of the twentieth century's most notable artists.

St-Paul-de-Vence, France

Grasse: Perfume Capital of the World

The town of Grasse isn't quite as picturesque as many others along France's Riviera coast but it is considered the capital of the world's billion dollar perfume industry. I spent a fragrant morning touring the local factory of Parfumerie Fragonard, one of the oldest in Grasse, to learn about the history of perfume and traditional production techniques.

Parfumerie Fragonard, Grasse

My Latest Trip to France

I’ve been absent from the blog for a few weeks but for a good reason – a visit to the sunny (and very, very hot) south of France, specifically Provence and the French Riviera. It’s taken a while to recover from my travels and the change in time zones so I haven’t sorted through all my photos yet but I couldn’t wait to share a few favourites with you.

Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera

3 Scenic Hill Towns

Some of the most scenic towns I've visited are those that are perched high atop a hill. These towns offer great views of the surrounding countryside and medieval buildings add to their charm. From Provence and the Cote d'Azur in the south of France, to the region of Tuscany in Italy, here are some photos of my three favourites.

Eze Village, France

Travel Theme: Land Meets Water

Some of the most spectacular locations on earth are found in that ever-shifting zone where land and water meet. And a rugged coastline certainly adds to the drama. When I see this photo of St. Peter Church in Portovenere I can still feel the tour boat heaving beneath me.

Portovenere, Italy

My Bucket List: French Riviera

Sunny skies. Azure waters. Champagne and super yachts. And then there’s Agent 007 and an American actress who became a real-life royal princess. Is there any place more glamorous than the French Riviera? I think not. A small taste of France's Azure Coast, the Côte d’Azur, is well deserving of a place on my bucket list and I’ve been fortunate to visit there twice.

Villefranche Bay

La Belle Époque, France's Beautiful Age

I'm excited about an upcoming book release, A Paris Apartment, which tells the story of a woman living in Paris during the belle époque. The years from 1871 to 1914 were a time of indulgence, optimism and innovation which came to an end with the advent of World War I. But the building and artistic endeavours during this period helped shape the Paris that we know and love today.

The city of Paris played host to two World's Fairs during this time. The first exposition in 1889 saw construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Boat Trips on the French Riviera

While staying in the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Mediterranean Sea was literally at our doorstep. Boats of all sizes, from the tiniest dinghy to enormous cruise ships, moored in the busy harbour so no visit to the French Riviera would be complete without experiencing the Côte d'Azur, France's Azure Coast, from the water.

Balcony View in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Gardens of the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

The Cap Ferrat peninsula in the south of France is home to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a spectacular pink mansion in the grand belle époque style. The villa is famous for its gardens - nine different themes featured in all.

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Cap Ferrat

Saint Jean Cap Ferrat

Cap Ferrat – the name conjures visions of million dollar villas hidden behind massive security gates. In the 1800s, the peninsula was a popular spot for wealthy families in Nice to come for a picnic.  In the 1950s, celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton discovered the town of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. Today the village is a quiet side trip on France's Côte d'Azur.

MediEZEvales

Our visit to Eze Village on the scenic Côte d'Azur came with an unexpected bonus, a medieval festival called MediEZEvales. We'd taken a bus to the hilltop town in the morning, hoping to avoid the worst of the mid-day heat, but there were already signs of the coming attractions. The festival was scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.

MediEZEvales in Eze Village

Eze: Perched Village of the Côte d'Azur

High above the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, wedged between the scenic coastline and the rugged Alpes-Maritimes, Eze Village is one of the perched villages of the Côte d'Azur. The medieval town is referred to as Eze Village to differentiate it from the beach resort, Eze Bord de Mer, 400 metres below it on the coast.

Eze Village

Evening in Villefranche-sur-Mer

French Riviera towns such as Cannes and Monte Carlo are known for their glitz and glamour but an evening in the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer is delightfully laid-back. And as the sun begins to set and the air cools down, the visitor's thoughts ultimately turn to dinner.

Quai Amiral Courbet, Villefranche-sur-Mer

The Beach of Villefranche-sur-Mer

For many vacationing on the French Riviera in summer, a visit to the beach is a must. Those who spend time in Villefranche-sur-Mer won't be disappointed with its small but sandy beach. Further down the coast in neighbouring Nice, the beach is much larger but also more pebbly, and on some sections guests must pay to use the facilities.

Umbrellas on the Beach in Villefranche-sur-Mer