3. Best of the French Riviera from Nice
The city of Cannes with its famous promenade which borders the sea from the point Palm Beach to the Palais des Festivals. The palace is the first mythical building along this path. A Belle Epoque treasure, the Carlton luxury hotel opened in 1912. Other luxury hôtels followed : the rather rococo Majestic, then the Art Déco styled Martinez. They still make the promenade famous today, as do the luxury stores, the palm trees, the sandy beaches. In the village of Saint-Paul de Vence, you will pass some legendary locations on foot, even before crossing the fortifications. It is here, on the area for playing boules in place De Gaule, that the great names of the cinema, from Yves Montand to Roger Moore, met to play pétanque and enjoy the gentle Mediterranean way of life. They stayed at the Colombe d'Or. Nowadays, art in all its forms is present everywhere in Saint Paul, as show the famous galleries filling the alleys Eze, most prestigious village on the French Riviera, has two features. It is at once a hilltop village and a small seaside resort, with protected beaches. These two levels are connected by the sentier de Nietzsche, named in honour of the philosopher who drew many an inspiration from this place. One thing is certain, the castle, churches and chapels cannot but move those who discover them. Neither can the wonderful gardens overhanging the village, facing the sea. In Nice you will spend free time in the old town, you enter as if walking into a labyrinth. Following a tangled thread of streets, you walk past ochre, red and yellow houses with half-open shutters. In this maze, let youself be guided by the scent of herbes de Provence (Provencal herbs), pissaladiére and traditional socca. In the squares, both large and small, you can savour a pastis or a lemon ice cream. In every nook and cranny, Baroque palaces and churches reveal their endless treasures. On the famous cours Saleya, the flower market displays its blazing colours. In the old town; life is busy, people speak loudly. You are almost in Italy. Then in Monaco and Monte-Carlo you will have the opportunity to visit the old town, the Cathedral which is the most important Monegasque architecture feature. Erected at one end of the town, it was built between 1875 and 1884 under the direction of the architect Lenormand. Discover the famous Formula One circuit which was inaugurated in 1929 by Prince Peter of Monaco and has barely changed since ! It has become the legendary Grand Prix par excellence which all F1 racers dream of winning. At the heart of the Monte-Carlo aera, the casino is the symbol of Monegasque glamour. Its legendary success lies behind Monaco's wealth. The present building was designed by Charles Garnier in 1878 it is a Belle Epoque jewel, all around he luxury shops and legendary establishments. You will finish this tour by Antibes with its famous ramparts! What painter, what photographer could ignore the charm of these old fortifications separating the old town from the sea ? From the Saint André bastion, the promenade amiral de Grasse, which borders them as far as the port (with its spectacular pleasure yachts), is one of the most romantic walks. At the end is the boulevard d'Aiguillon ... the craftsmen's stalls are set against these old stones in summertime. An important fortified town in the past, the construction of the fortifications of Antibes went through several stages. But Vauban's contribution, in 1860, is particularly memorable. He was the great architect who also perfected another remarkable Antibes symbol: the fort carré.
