Cote d'Azur
From Italianate Menton in the east to the glitzy bay of St Tropez, taking in Monaco, Nice, Antibes, Cannes, St Raphael and everything in between, the Côte d'Azur or French Riviera has been welcoming tourists for more than 200 years.
With more than 300 days of sunshine per year and kilometres of attractive public and private beaches, it's not difficult to see why. The Mediterranean climate offers northern Europeans the chance to enjoy various degrees of summer most of the year round.
But the Côte d'Azur isn't just about beaches. Outdoor sorts can enjoy activities such as walking, cycling, horse-riding and the increasingly-popular canyoning in the mountains of the Mercantour National Park north of Nice or the rosy-hued Esterel range near St Raphael.
There's more than enough to satisfy culture vultures too. World-class museums in Nice showcasing Matisse and Chagall, modern art at the Maeght Foundation in St Paul de Vence and the Annonciade Museum in St Tropez with its impressionist masters, all have works to rival the best collections.
The summer wouldn't be the summer without a top-notch music festival such as Jazz in Juan-les-Pins or Nice Jazz Fest where some of the planet's finest musicians play in attractive outdoor venues on balmy summer nights.
So whether you're looking for a gentle saunter around some fairytale medieval perched villages, a visit to the verdant gardens of Menton, eating in some of France's finest restaurants or playing with your kids on the beaches of Ste-Maxime, there's no better place for a holiday or weekend away.
Useful links
Cote d`Azur Tourist Board
Added 2008/07/10 @ 22:17:19
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