There is so much to see and do on the French Riviera in the area around the apartment in Villefranche-sur-Mer that it really depends on the pace of holiday that suits you.
If you're looking to escape the hurly
burly of everyday life and want time to relax with
friends or family, then enjoying some time on the
beach is the ideal solution. Once you've had
enough of the sunshine and worked up a thirst, you
can retire to one of the many cafés or bars
on the seafront and just take in the lovely scenery.
If you like to indulge yourself with the joys
of French living and immerse yourself in the local
culture, you'll be spoilt for choice.
There's an abundance of fine wines, delicious
local produce, gourmet cuisine and superb markets
(including an antiques market every Sunday in
Villefranche and the daily fruit and veg market
in the Old Town in Nice).
If a slightly more active pace of life suits your
style, there's a myriad of watersports available
from sailing to scuba diving and fishing.
The Citadel, which is an ancient fortress built
on the water's edge in Villefranche-sur-Mer,
is home to the Town Hall as well as three museums
(culture vultures will enjoy the Volti museum).
There is also a delightful garden and outdoor
summer theatre. The Old Town is very beautiful
with much interesting Italian architecture and
quiet tree-lined squares. It's always fun
to explore the area by foot and visit places like
the beautiful church of St. Michel (which you
can see from the apartment), the Rue Obscure (a
famous mediaeval covered passage), or the stunning
Chapel St. Pierre (the interior of which was painted
by Jean Cocteau).
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a great place to visit
at any time of the year and a lovely destination
for a winter break. Skiing is just an hour
and a half away and in February the annual Villefranche
carnival is held. This is when the fisherman celebrate
with the Bataille des Fleurs (Battle of Flowers).
A wonderful spectacle, the fishermen decorate
their traditional fishing boats and throw flowers
at each other and spectators. Click
here to find out more about this wonderful carnival.
Port Darse, which is a small harbour and home
to several local fishing boats and leisure craft
is another charming area to visit in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Behind the harbour walls there is a small, second
secluded beach which is always a pleasure to visit.
There are also several small cafes around Port
Darse which make the perfect pit-stop for a coffee
and snack.
There is so much to see and do in Villefranche-sur-Mer,
but if you want to go slightly further afield,
the neighbouring towns and villages also have
a great deal to offer:
NICE
There is also so much to do just a short journey away in Nice. As well as the buzzing flower and farmers’ market held every morning (except Mondays when it is a vast antiques market) there is some great shopping along the Pietons area, interesting museums and charming, reasonably priced restaurants and cafes. Several music festivals and carnivals are held in Nice throughout the year.
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MONACO/MONTE CARLO
A short trip in the other direction is the historic principality of Monaco. A spectacular place to visit, be sure to check out the Palace and the Cathedral. A trip to the world famous casino in Monte Carlo is a must. You can also while away many hours wandering around the port, home to some spectacular, privately owned mega yachts. Monaco is also home to the Oceanographic Museum, made famous by the late Jacques Cousteau.
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ST JEAN CAP FERRAT
A fun day out is a trip to St Jean Cap Ferrat to visit the zoo or take a walk around the harbour. You could pack up a picnic and go for an exhilarating walk around Cap Ferrat (the full walk takes around three to four hours, but you can choose just to do a portion of this if you prefer). Here you will also be able to walk past the magnificent villa that used to be the home of David Niven and visit the Rothschild's Villa & gardens (which have musical fountain shows every 15 minutes).
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EZE
A unique, small, charming medieval village. Going to the top is well worthwhile to get the amazing panaoramic views of the Riviera coast. Visit the Jardin Exotique or the Chevre D’Or restaurant, they are the highlights at Eze.
MENTON
Menton has a very nice town centre and another beach for you to visit. It also hosts the annual Citrus Festival.
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BEAULIEU-SUR-MER
Buzzing with life, Beaulieu-sur-Mer has a large marina as well as a casino. It is also home to Villa Kerylos.
ANTIBES
Antibes is a large, old town and home port for many large charter and private yachts. If you tire of walking on the sea front or looking at superyachts in the marina, a trip to the fort will take you back in time.
CANNES
Very chic, and very glamourous. Cannes is host to many film festivals throughout the year. There is also excellent shopping and sandy beaches.
ST PAUL DE VENCE
An historic and beautiful walled town with many tiny shops selling art and other curiosities.
GRASSE
Inland Provence, Grasse is famous for the number of perfume houses located here.
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