The ultimate travel guide to exploring the French Riviera

[jw5]

Calanque de Port Miou -

One of most scenic of these inlets is Port-Milou, a very long and narrow creek of shallow, turquoise water that harbors a marina.

 

[jw5]

La Ciotat -

Did you know that La Cioat was the setting of one of the very first projected motion pictures, 'L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat,' filmed by the Lumière brothers in 1895?

 

[jw5]

Vieux port -

It's changed a bit since then, but the old port (vieux port) area still retains vestiges of the town's historic veneer.

 

[jw5]

La Lavandou -

Believe it or not, this is where the well-known song 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square' was written by Eric Maschwitz, with the music provided by Manning Sherwin.

 

[jw5]

Le Lavandou -

Years later an attempt was made to find the bar where this classic song was first performed, but to no avail. Why don't you try?

 

[jw5]

Fréjus -

The Romans called their Fréjus 'Forum Julii' and today their presence is everywhere, not least with the remains of the once mighty aqueduct.

 

[jw5]

Roman Fréjus -

The rich Roman architecture extends to the ruins of an amphitheater, a lighthouse, a bridge, and the fridarium arch (pictured), which formed part of a Roman bath complex.

 

[jw5]

Cavalaire-sur-Mer -

Cavalaire-sur-Mer was one of the sites of a beach landing in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France in 1944.

 

[jw5]

Cavalaire-sur-Mer -

The "invaders" today are tourists seeking the sun on the town's numerous golden beaches.

 

[jw5]

Saint-Raphaël -

Saint-Raphaël makes a great option for anyone looking for a quiet but chic destination with plenty of history to catch up on.

 

[jw5]

Saint-Raphaël -

Napoleon Bonaparte and his forces landed here from Egypt in 1799 prior to his coup d'état in Paris. Back then Saint-Raphaël was a small fishing village, but the destination has lost none of its charm.

 

[jw5]

Sanary-sur-Mer -

A lovely diversion from Toulon, Sanary-sur-Mer boasts an appealing harbor front where seafood restaurants do a roaring trade.

 

[jw5]

Sanary-sur-Mer -

The colorful wooden fishing boats moored in the harbor are known as pointus. Part of local heritage, they're maintained with care and traditional know-how.

 

[jw5]

Grimaud -

Behind the Riviera deep in the hinterland are places like Grimaud, a hilltop village whose foundations date back to the 10th century.

 

[jw5]

Grimaud -

The village is dominated by an 11th-century castle. Partly restored, its crumbling walls are fun to clamber over.

 

[jw5]

Mandelieu-la-Napoule -

Modern Mandelieu applauds itself as a sophisticated ocean and golf resort.

 

[jw5]

Mandelieu-la-Napoule -

Napoule meanwhile claims all the historic glory for its splendid 14th-century Château de la Napoule.

 

[jw5]

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin -

The area that encompasses Roquebrune-Cap-Martin includes several towns and small villages. Roquebrune itself enjoys a fabulous location overlooking the cape and the bay.

 

[jw5]

Cap-Martin -

Cap-Martin is named after the headland, an affluent enclave that's attracted wealthy individuals for over 100 years. Coco Chanel’s La Pausa, the villa she designed, built, and owned until 1953, is located here.

 

[jw5]

Cagnes-sur-Mer -

The celebrated artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir moved here in 1907 in an attempt to improve his arthritis, and remained until his death in 1919.