Want more than a suntan?:
Cannes has so much to offer fabulous beaches, restaurants and fashion galore! The town owes its popularity to the beauty of its setting, its mild climate and magnificent festivals. It's early fame as the winter salon of the world's aristocracy is easy to understand, its sunny even in the winter!
Visit lively St-Tropez, Old Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Menton, Grasse to name just a few there is something for everyone and every budget!
The TGV high speed rail link means that you are in the centre of Nice in 20 mins, Monte Carlo 35min, and Italy 60mins who could ask for more.
Investigate the old picturesque villages some perched like an eagle's nest on a hilltop, other surrounding a church or chateau, my favorites are Tourrettes-s-Loup, Gourdon,Carros, Bonson, St Paul, Eze,Peille the list is endless.
Skiing- ISOLA 2000 1hr away mod.complex. Golf-The Mandelieu Golf Course is 3km away facing the sea, with 20 courses along the coast all public, need to book and they do hire clubs at some.
The sea is really that blue!:
If you fly into Nice you will see the stunning Alps that lay behind the Riviera and the hills that roll down to the sea.
It seems to me all along the coast are marinas but Cannes, Monaco and Menton are long-established pleasure boat ports, beautiful yachts with gleaming steelwork lie anchored in the bays or are moored to the quays.
If you fancy more than a swim, there are many water based activities all along the beach front, water skiing and parascending are very popular.
You don't have to have your own boat, many companies hire out on a daily basis or hop on one of the boats that come into Cannes Port- two companies Trans Cote d'Azur or Bateaux des Iles have boats going to Ile de Porquerolles (one of the golden islands), Saint Tropez, Monaco and San Remo.
The Sea Museum in Cannes on dry land is in the old state prison cells famous for the cell of the 'man in the iron mask' and murals from the imprisoned painter Jean Le Gac.
Food and wine on the Riviera-Yes Please!:
The restaurants are fantastic, the fresh fish at the restaurants has to be seen to be believed along the Croisette.
I love French food markets packed with locally grown produce, they get the Jamie Oliver in everyone going, stalls with smelly cheeses, olives galore, sausages/ cured meats, multi coloured fruit and veg stalls all delicious, no wonder the food is good. There is a food market every day in Cannes town.
Famous dishes- Bouillabaisse is a must, it consists of three fishes cooked in a broth served with thick slices of bread or can you manage the traditional 13 desserts at Christmas (representing Christ and the 12 apostles)?
Wines have been cultivated in the Provence since Antiquity, whites are generally dry and the reds can vary but Bandol is full bodied and very good. From the bakers why not try onion tart and pan Bagnet perfect for a picnic.
CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR are wonderful times to visit, christmas markets and streets lit up, at new year there is a fire work display!
Other Activities:
Skiing 1 hr away
