Côte d'Azur, France
March 2026
The Côte d'Azur (French Riviera) is a beautiful stretch of Mediterranean coastline where the mountains meet the sea in southeastern France. It is well known for its warm sunny climate, the rocky coastlines and the beautiful bright blue "azure" water of the Mediterranean Sea. We especially loved the mix of visiting small hilltop villages, walking along beaches and exploring medieval towns, sometimes all in one day!
The medieval villages of this region, with their old stone buildings and narrow cobbled alleys, offer an authentic glimpse into the past. Each village we visited had its own unique charm and magic, with some being on the coast with magnificent ocean views while others were a short drive inland perched on defensible hilltops that dominate the surrounding green valleys.
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Mougins
Mougins is a hilltop medieval village, with numerous art galleries, shops and high-end restaurants, plus scenic viewpoints overlooking the Bay of Cannes. It is the place where Picasso gained inspiration for the art he created during his final 12 years.
We enjoyed wandering the well-preserved old town ("Vieux Village"), which is arranged in a circular, spiral formation, featuring narrow cobblestone streets with restored stone houses. These houses were built in the Middle Ages, around the 11th century. In several places, we saw large Plane Trees growing through roofs of restaurants and shops!
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Théoule-sur-Mer
Théoule-sur-Mer is a tranquil and scenic village, known for its red mountain rocks and sandy beaches. It was pouring rain on-and-off while we were exploring the area. We didn't actually visit the village, but enjoyed the beautiful rocky coastline, and walked down to the beach.
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Saint-Raphaël
Saint-Raphaël is a resort town known for its long coastline, its red-rocky coves, its many churches and its sandy beaches. Apparently Saint Raphael is the patron saint of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers!
While we were visiting, the Nao Santa Maria was being docked in the Vieux-Port of Saint-Raphaël as a floating museum. The Nao Santa Maria is a full-scale (32-meter) replica of the flagship used by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It tours various international ports to educate the public on maritime history.
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Saint-Tropez
Although it was an overcast and rainy day, the drive along the coastline towards Saint-Tropez was beautiful and scenic. Saint-Tropez is known for its luxurious yachting, vibrant nightlife and its charm. We had a nice lunch along the waterfront (under an awning!), and walked the pier towards the lighthouse.
And yes, we saw a couple of peacocks taking a stroll.
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Cannes
If you've heard of Cannes, it's probably because of its prestigious annual Film Festival. It definitely has a Hollywood vibe, with photos of actors everywhere. While we were visiting, Cannes was hosting the Global Urban Festival, with over 20,000 delegates from 90 different countries! We were definitely surrounded by men and women in black suits, and beaches covered with food and drink tents.
Cannes is a city with lots of character, a mix of high-end stores and restaurants alongside old architecture. We passed a jewelry store displaying a set of earrings with a price tag of €27,500 ($39,500)! All along the shore is a beautiful beach with a boardwalk, a nice walk but a little crowded with black suits! We also enjoyed walking the pier to the lighthouse, where we saw a helicopter making a tricky landing to drop off a VIP.
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Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a 16th-century walled medieval village located inland near Nice, and in my opinion is a "must see" if you're in the French Riviera! It is a pedestrian-only hilltop commune with cobblestone streets and art galleries. We walked along the fortified walls for beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.
You'll have to excuse all the alley photos, but I was so taken by the stonework and the atmosphere of this place!
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Vence
Vence is another beautiful medieval town located inland from Nice, with narrow streets, shady squares and thousand-year-old walls. We entered the pedestrian-only old town through a gate, and as we wandered through the narrow alleys and quaint squares, we came across several more gates in the wall. This town, along with several others we visited, has these funky Plane Trees that have their well-trimmed branches growing straight up.
One of the more prominent churches is the "Chapelle Des Penitents Blancs" (Chapel of the White Penitents), which is apparently famous for its unique bell tower featuring a beautiful and vibrant polychrome tiled dome.
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Antibes
Antibes is a historic, charming town right on the Mediterranean, between Nice and Cannes. It is known for its large superyacht marina and its sandy beaches. Antibes is enclosed by 16th-century ramparts, which we could walk to take in the great views of the rocky coastline below. We wandered along the narrow cobblestone streets, which had many artisan shops and a large vibrant market which is apparently a daily affair. Taking a moment to relax, we enjoyed some coffee and avocado toast at a sidewalk café, watching the hustle-bustle of the town.
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Grasse
Grasse is internationally renowned as the world capital of perfume, a title it has held since the 17th century. Its fragrance industry specializes in jasmine, rose and lavender flower cultivation. The prestigious perfume houses we visited had such huge collections of perfume vials, that I couldn't imagine how anyone could pick their favorite!!
The town of Grasse is built on the side of a hill, and we took a city bus to get to the medieval Old Town at the top. From there, we could see the picturesque valley below, and beyond that to the Mediterranean Sea and all the towns we previously visited.
We couldn't help but stop at one of several nougat stores, "Le Chaudron D'Oscar", since my husband is a huge fan! Nougat is a chewy (or sometimes brittle) confection made by whipping egg whites into boiled honey or sugar syrup. The store had a multitude of colors and flavors, and I must say that the pistachio-almond we picked was delish.
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Gourdon
The curvy road to Gourdon is through the very green and picturesque Alpes Maritimes that divide France and Italy. Gourdon is another walled medieval village and it is another "must see" when you visit the French Riviera. It apparently has a nickname "The Eagle's Nest", since it is perched at 800m altitude with 360° panoramic views of the Mediterranean and surrounding hills.
The village has so much character, with its old stone houses and funky art. The many colorful shops were selling perfume, glass, pottery, and yummy delicacies like nougat and honey spiced bread.
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Nice
Nice is considered the capital of the French Riviera, and is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean coast. One of the things I love about Nice is its beautiful waterfront, with long sandy beaches framed by the coastal hills. We walked up several different hills around Nice, all with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Along the beach is a famous 7-kilometer (4.35-mile) long coastal boulevard ("Promenade des Anglais"), which is lined with palm trees and blue chairs inviting both tourists and locals to take a moment to sit and enjoy the sea air.
On our drive to Nice it was pelting down rain, and as you'll see from our photos, the two days we spent in Nice were a little misty and wet! We really enjoyed walking through the Vieux Nice (Old Town), which was pedestrian-only and very colorful, with narrow windy streets. Nice is known for its extensive daily flower market, plus fresh produce, local foods and delicacies, beautiful woodwork, cheeses and perfumes.
We walked up to the top of Castle Hill, a 16th century fortress that has become a popular scenic hilltop park offering panoramic views of the city and bay. The park features an artificial waterfall, ruins of a Château and tall defensive walls bolstered by a steep cliff.
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Èze
Èze is divided into the medieval Èze Village on the hilltop, and "Èze-sur-Mer" which is the beach area below. Èze village is stunning, and gives the appearance that it is clinging to the cliff edge above the Mediterranean Sea.
We spent most of our time in the hilltop village, with its cobblestone alleys, panoramic views and charming atmosphere. An authentic time machine into the world a millennium ago.
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Thanks for visiting!
