Excursions. :
Visit Grasse, surrounded by fields of lavender and jasmine and centre of the French perfume industry since the 16th century. At the Fragonard Perfume museum, you can see the traditional techniques and you can create and bottle your own unique perfume under the guidance of the experts.
Drive along the 'Moyenne Corniche', one of the most beautiful coast roads in Europe, to Monaco. Visitors come from all over the world for the Monte Carlo rally in January and the Grand Prix in May. Visit the Casino, decorated in original Belle Epoque style and see the changing of the guard outside the Royal Palace, every day at noon.
Drive through the Verdon Gorges, in the country to the north of Draguignan, where the River Verdon cuts through the rocks reaching depths of 700m. Along the route are breathtaking views, interesting old villages and lovely walks.
Leave the car at home: the excellent coastal railway takes you west to St Tropez or east to Ventimiglia's famous Friday market in Italy.
Family Fun. :
Marineland, one of Europe's largest fun parks, is a 5 minute drive. The entertainment complex includes: an aquapark with water slides, a thrilling sea-theatre with orcas and seals, a wild west show, a farm, the Antibes- Land funfair, crazy golf and a go-kart track. There is something for children of all ages.
For an unusual day out, try Villa Kerylos along the dramatic coast road from Nice port to Beaulieu. Go back in time in a luxurious palace on the shores of the Mediterranean and enter the second century BC world of a wealthy Greek merchant. Interactive audio guides introduce guests to daily life in Ancient Greece and the family can even create a ceramic masterpiece in the pottery workshop.
Discover the Cap d'Antibes in the 'Visiobulle' - a glass-bottom boat which leaves from the beach at Juan-les-Pins, showing the underwater view of the millionaires' bay with its cliffs and sea reefs.
Contact us for the Med View Villa website, with more details about the local area.
Ski:
The nearest French Alps ski resorts are Isola 2000 and Auron, on the edge of the Mercantour National Park, approximately one hour north of Nice, towards the Italian border.
At 2000 m, Isola has 120 km of pistes - a total of 45 (4 black, 14 red, 20 blue, 7 green). Purpose-built in the 70s, there are ample ski lifts and one rarely has to queue.
Auron, at 1600m, is a typical alpine village with 132 km of pistes.
The 'Ecole de Ski Francais' runs beginners and advanced classes in several languages, including English, with 110 instructors in each resort . Lessons start at 35 Euros for individuals and 18 Euros for groups. Plenty of shops renting skis and equipment. Also snowboarding and snow-karting.
Lively restaurants and cafes on the edge of the pistes, and a panoramic view from the cable-car up to 2300m.
Christmas : Santa visits in a sleigh and champagne and hot chocolate are served at midnight on the piste on New Year's Eve with skiers descending the slopes with flaming torches.
Golf:
Fourteen excellent golf courses are within an easy 20 minute drive of the villa.
'Golf Country Club' Cannes-Mougins : created by Dave Thomas and Peter Allis with wooded hills and lakes. Truly one of the best courses in France.
'Royal Mougins' : an attractive course requiring accuracy with interesting water hazards, it has hosted the French Open.
'Old Course' Cannes-Mandelieu : founded in 1891 by Grand Duke Michael of Russia. The river Siagne runs through the course and the fairways are bordered by umbrella pines.
'La Bastide du Roy' is just a few minutes from the villa. An old course with a quaint club-house overlooked by the hilltop village of Biot, it is suitable for old and young alike.
See our Med View Villa website for contact details for the golf courses.
Other Activities:
close to the Riviera's best golf courses; ski resorts Isola and Auron ; museums, festivals, fascinating shops,perched villages,provencal markets,
marks the location of the property in Cannes - Grasse - Antibes
