Best secret experiences in the French Riviera
Best secret experiences in the French Riviera
The French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur) is the Mediterranean coast of the Provence region, includes famously glamorous beach and resorts.
Beyond the coast, the region is also home to some spectacular hilltop villages and mountain scenery, along with vineyards and flower farms that feed the French perfume industry and an outstanding lifestyle.
Authentic experiences in top rated places
Cannes is famous for its International Film Festival but enjoy a walk along the famous Croisette and take an aperitif with a view on the infinite Azur Mediterranean Sea, it is definitively an amazing and relaxing experience.
The old Nice is a unique place to mingle with locals but make sure to have lunch at the Palmyre restaurant, an authentic and convivial little space that has been open for over 90 years. The menu is very meat-heavy, with plenty of tripe, veal, pot-cooked chicken and the like, true to the traditional tastes of Provençal cuisine. It’s a bargain, and understandably popular.
Menton is the Easter city on the French Riviera, situated only a few kilometres from the Italian border. It welcomes tourists with its small port, but only 10 km after a sloping drive will you reach the village of Saint Agnès which seems to be another world with a 360 ° view of the sea and the Alpes mountains to the North.
Saint Tropez is an amazing village with a picturesque port and yachts of billionaires, but it can also reveal to be a quiet and peaceful place when you climb to the Citadel which overlooks the gulf. And for more authenticity go to Ramatuelle, a medieval village perched on a hill, with narrow streets, typical bistros and its small shops.
Unexpected but worth a try
Lerins Islands with Ste-Marguerite and St-Honorat – lie within a 20-minute boat ride of Cannes. Tiny and traffic free, they’re oases of peace and tranquillity, a world away from the hustle and bustle of the Riviera. Saint-Honorat is my favourite, and consists of the main Abbaye de Lérins, seven ancient chapels and an abbatial which date back to the 11th century. Ten of the 18 monks who live on Saint-Honorat today are involved in producing six vintages, equally divided between white and red, totalling 40,000 bottles per year. Do not miss the first Friday of the month which gives you the opportunity to have a special guided tour.
Le domaine du Rayol, situated between Saint Tropez and Borme les Mimosas, offers a journey through the Mediterranean landscapes of the world. Designed by Gilles Clement, the Mediterranean garden is an invitation to travel through world Mediterranean landscapes (South Africa, Australia, California, Chile...) and through arid climate or subtropical landscapes (Mexico, Canary Islands, Asia, New Zeland, subtropical America...). This small piece of land of 20 hectares is a sample of our planet that focuses and highlights interactions of man and nature with strength and beauty.
Less known than the old Nice food market, the Forville Cannes Market (Marché Forville) is for buyers to sample the freshest locally produced or even homemade or homegrown fruit, vegetables and flowers that the French Riviera can offer. The Forville Market is located in the famous le Suquet, between the town hall and the Cannes railway station is open every day except for Monday. Try to come before 10am to avoid the crowd then on the Sunday morning visit the Marché de la Brocante, or flea market, where various items of all kinds are being displayed, ranging from paintings and books to vintage jewellery in a bric-a-brac manner.
Secret Spots and Experiences in the Cote d’Azur
Ideally located on the French Riviera, in Biot, a town renowned for its glass tradition, the Pierini family invites you to discover glass in its most prodigious finery. There, you can see glass artists at work! It is actually Antoine, the son of the glassmaker Robert Pierini, and his wife Gaelle, who work hand in hand and perpetuate the family inheritance. Their art is sold all over the world and they are able to design anything that your heart desires.
Chapelle Saint Pierre is a 14th-century Chapelle painted by Jean Cocteau at Villefranche, a picturesque fishing town that had stolen his heart. He transformed the Chapelle into a mirage of mystical frescoes scenes from St Peter’s life, which are interspersed with references to Cocteau's cinematic. Simply stunning!
Gorbio, is a hilltop medieval village, high-up above Menton. This picturesque historic village is a secret place with an impressive view, 354 meters above the Mediterranean Sea. People here are lovely and one of the hidden gems is an animated nativity scene that everyone can start by actioning on a simple switch.
Domaine de la Royrie at Grasse is a little gem for people who want to be in a beautiful quiet environment where you can learn about the olive trees and all the medicinal plants. Jean-Marie is giving his all to keep up the high-quality standard of the old olive trees, the olives and olive products, like oil, pâte and cosmetics. He is new to the business and bought the domaine in April 2018, however he puts his whole heart and soul into it. If you are interested in spending the night, he also has two charming rooms and his wife’s cooking will make you feel at home in this hearty atmosphere.
Now it is your turn to find other hidden spots in the French Riviera…. and feel free to share them with me!