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Towns and Villages
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ANTIBES
Visit
• Port Vauban;
• The old Provençal town: its narrow streets and flower-covered squares, the cathedral, the ramparts;
• The Picasso Museum, Peynet Museum, Naval and Napoleonic Museum.
Nearby
• CAP d’ANTIBES: the road follows the Cape along 16 miles between the sea and pine groves (splendid views) and a trail along the water's edge conects La Garoupe beach and the tip of the Cape
• PARC EXFLORA : several theme gardens are combined in this 5-ha estate with direct access to the sea.
PICASSO MUSEUM
(Château Grimaldi)
Works by Picasso, collection of contemporary art, sculpture garden.
VILLA THURET
At the centre of the cape, the oldest acclimatation garden on the French Riviera groups 3000 plant species on a 4-ha estate managed by the INRA (National Institute for Agronomic Research).
Office de Tourisme d’Antibes — Juan–les–Pins
www.antibes-juanlespins.com
11, place du Général de Gaulle, 06600 Antibes
Tel.: 33 (0)4 92 90 53 00 (Antibes)
Tel.: 33 (0)4 92 90 53 05 (Juan–les–Pins)
BEAULIEU–SUR–MER
Visit
• Yachting harbour;
• Villa Kerylos.
VILLA GRECQUES KERYLOS
In the enchanting location of the "Baie des Fourmis"an authentic replica of an ancient Greek Villa (mosaics, murals, artefacts, furniture). Mediterranean garden.
Also the "le café Kerylos" tea-room; view of Cap Ferrat.
Office de Tourisme
www.ot-beaulieu-sur-mer.fr
Tél.: 33 (0)4 93 01 02 21
BIOT
Visit : The old village and 15th century church.
Nearby : La Valmasque and La Brague natural parks (fitness trail, jogging trails, botanical trails, bridle paths).
VERRERIE de BIOT (Glassworks)
The verrerie de Biot offers around the traditional glass-blowing workshop of bubble glass, the Ecomusée de la Verrerie, International Gallery of Glass and Novaro Gallery.
MUSÉE national FERNAND–LÉGER
Ceramics, mosaics, paintings and sculptures by the artist.
Office de Tourisme de Biot
www.biot-coteazur.com
rue Saint Sébastien, 06 Biot
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 65 78 00
CAGNES–SUR–MER
Visit
• The fortified medieval town of Haut-de-Cagnes, its narrow winding streets, brimming with flowers, its 14th century castle;
• The Renoir Museum and its thousand year-old olive trees.
CHÂTEAU–MUSEUM
The vaulted rooms on the ground floor present a permanent exhibition on the history of the castle. Very fine Renaissance inner courtyard surrounded by two levels of galleries with arcades ; olive treemuseum, Suzy Solidor donation.
RENOIR MUSEUM
(Domaine des Collettes)
Reconstitution of Renoir's studio in the home where the painter spent the last years of his life.
The estate covers 2,5 ha. From the garden (olive and citrus trees, rose garden), there is a magnificent view of Haut de Cagnes.
Office de Tourisme
www.cagnes.com
Tél.: 33 (0)4 93 20 61 64
CANNES
Visit
• La Croisette and the Festival Hall ;
• The elegant city centre and luxury boutiques;
• Old Cannes and the Suquet hill (Tower, Musée de la Castre, panorama over the bay of Cannes and the Estérel mountains).
Nearby
• Les îles de Lérins. Just a few minutes from the Port of Cannes, these islands offer pristine nature.
- Île Sainte-Marguerite (170 ha of forest, botanical trail, 17th century fort, Museum of the Sea)
- Île Saint-Honorat (Cistercian monastery).
MUSÉE de la CASTRE
The museum presents the third largest ethnographic collection in France.
MUSÉE de la MER
Atrefacts from excavations and shipwrecks.
Office de Tourisme
www.cannes-on-line.com
Palais des Festivals
Tél.: 33 (0)4 93 39 24 53
LE CANTON AUX 10 SOURIRES
This lovely name ("the canton of ten smiles") groups the villages of the hinterland, with their rich history and traditions. Surounded by pine and oak forests and agricultural terraces with olive trees, these villages harbour treasures of Baroque religious art and remain close to nature, some twenty kilometres from Nice.
Information.
Association Touristique du Canton de Levens
Maison des Cantons des Alpes d’Azur
www.canton-de-levens.com
E–mail: contact@canton-de-levens.com
EZE
Eze, noteworthy meeting point between the mountains and the Mediterraean. At 10 mn from Nice by the Middle Corniche, RN 7, Eze-Village, the medieval city "in an eagle's nest", with its narrow streets shaded by tunnel-vaults, shelters a lot of art galleries, workshops and gastronomic restaurants. From the very top, in the ruins of a medieval castle, the exotic garden overlooks one of most beautiful panorama of the French Riviera. Eze will unlock your emotions.
Visit :
• Its baroc church with paintings in “trompe-l’œil”.
• Its white penitent chapel.
Nearby :
• The coast road along the shady shore discretly shrouds its surprising vegetation.
• The Grande Corniche Park is a direct escape route into Nature, along pretty scented pathways.
Information :
Office de Tourisme d’Eze
http://www.eze-riviera.com
GOURDON
Visit
• The medieval village, the 12th century church;
• The 12th century castle;
• From Place Victoria, an incomparable view over 50 miles of the French Riviera, from Nice to Théoule sur Mer).
CHÂTEAU de GOURDON
The castle, built on the foundations of a 9th century fortress , houses two museums (weapons, paintings, furniture, naîve art). Terraced gardens designed by Le Nôtre.
Syndicat d’initiative
www.gourdon-france.com
Tél./Fax: 33 (0)4 93 09 68 25
GRASSE
Capital of perfume
Visit
• Free tour of the perfumeries, the old city, the cathedral and Place aux Aires (14th century arcaded market square);
• International perfume Museum, Fragonard Museum, Museum of Art and the history of Provence, Naval Museum, Museum of Provençal Costume and Jewellery.
MUSÉE INTERNATIONAL de la PARFUMERIE
The museum presents the history of perfumery throughout the world over the past 3000 years
MUSÉE d’ART et d’HISTOIRE de la PROVENCE
MUSÉE FRAGONARD
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 40 32 64
Many of the artists paintings, displayed in the 18th century house he occupied after the French Revolution.
Office de Tourisme d’Animation et de Promotion
www.ville-grasse.fr
Tél. : 33 (0)4 93 36 66 66 - 33 (0)4 93 36 03 56
MANDELIEU–LA–NAPOULE
Visit
• The gulf;
• Château de La Napoule.
Nearby
• The San Peyre natural park , on a promontory facing the sea (picnic area, botanical trail, orientation table).
• Panorama over the gulf of La Napoule, the îles de Lérins, the Estérel mountains and the Prealps.
• Mimosa forests (in bloom in February).
CHÂTEAU de LA NAPOULE
This 19th century chateau, rebuilt by Henry and Mary Clews on the ruins of a medieval castle, is surrounded by a splendid park overlooking the sea
La CORNICHE d’OR de l’ESTÉREL
Between Mandelieu–la–Napoule and Fréjus, the coat road bears the evocative name of "Corniche d’Or". Over some thirty kilomentres, it is cut into the red rocks of the Esterel mountains. The rocky inlets surrounded by maquis form a beautiful rugged landscape.
Nearby: the natural park of Pointe de l’Aiguille (beaches, botanical trail, viewpoint with spectacular views).
Office de Tourisme
www.ot-mandelieu.fr
Tél. 33 (0)4 93 93 64 64 - 33 (0)4 93 93 64 75
MENTON
Visit
• The old city,Saint-Michel church and parvis;
• The port and Jean-Cocteau Museum;
• Regional Prehistory Museum;
• Gardens (Palais Carnolès and its citrus garden, Jardins Biovès, Parc du Pian, Jardin Fontana Rosa, Square des États-Unis, etc.)
JEAN-COCTEAU MUSEUM
Closed Tuesdays and holidays.
The museum, in the Bastion on the port, displays mosaics and paintings by Cocteau.
JARDIN de la VILLA MARIA SERENA
Right on the border between France and Italy, this garden is said to be the most temperate in France. Reputed for its rich collection of palm trees, it also has tropical plants, citrus and olive trees.
JARDIN du VAL RAHMEH
Specialized in solanceous plants, this botanical garden (Mediterranean branch of the National Museum of Natural History) brings together many tropical and subtropical species.
Office de Tourisme
www.villedementon.com
Tel.: 33 (0)4 92 41 76 76
MOUGINS
MUSÉE de l’AUTOMOBILISTE
www.weblane.fr/musee-auto-mougins/
Collection of racing and prestige vehicules from 1894 to the present.
Office de Tourisme
Tél. : 33 (0)4 93 75 87 67
PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO
Visit
• On the "rock": the Prince's Palace (changing of the guard), the Oceanographic Museum, old town.
• In Monte–Carlo: the casino, National Museum of Automats, Japanese garden.
• In Fontvieille: HSH the Prince of Monaco's collection of antique cars
Nearby
• Jardin exotique, Observatory and Anthropology (Grande Corniche).
• Coastal trail between Monaco and Cap d’Ail
(3 km, approximately 1 hour).
PRINCE'S PALACE
Changing of the guard
At 11.55 am, every day, in front of the Palace.
OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
JARDINS EXOTIQUES
GROTTE de l’OBSERVATOIRE
MUSÉE d’ANTHROPOLOGIE PRÉHISTORIQUE
Office de Tourisme
www.monaco-congres.com
Tel. : + 377 92 16 61 16
ROYA–BÉVÉRA VALLEYS
To the northeast of Nice, the gorges of the Roya-Bévéra rivers reach the Mercantour National park, near the site of Vallée des Merveilles. Sospel occupies a privileged position, between the sea and the mountains. The road then rises all the way to Tende, the last town before the Italian border. The tunnel under Col de Tende is at an altitude of 3900 ft above sea level and leads to Cuneo and Turin in Italy.
TOURIST ROUTE THROUGH THE 3 PASSES
This beautiful road leads from Nice over the Col de Nice, then over the Col de Braus towards Sospel. Then, it continues towards Tende over the Col de Brouis, and through the towns of Breil sur Roya and Saint Delmas de Tende.
TRAIN TOURISTIQUE
The Nice-Tende-Cuneo train stops in all the villages in the valley. Possibility of continuing on into Italy.
Information SNCF www.sncf.fr
SAINT–JEAN–CAP–FERRAT
Visit
• The village, the harbour;
• Chapelle Sainte-Hospice (18th century) and the Black Virgin; • Ephrussi–de–Rothschild Museum;
• The zoo.
Le cap Ferrat
• the road winds among luxurious estates between the sea and pine groves for 9 miles around the cape.
• it is possible to walk around the cape following footpaths (taking between 1 1/2 and 2 hrs on foot ) or reach Beaulieu-sur-Mer from the village of St Jean Cap Ferrat (approx 1/2 hour).
EPHRUSSI–de–ROTHSCHILD VILLA AND GARDENS
This sumptuous home, built from 1905 to 1912, illustrates the splendour of the Belle Epoque at a time when the Mediterranean coast, with its wealthy winter visitors, was becoming the "Riviera". Built on a rise in the heart of a 7-ha estate, the villa is surrounded by a splendid park made up of 7 theme gardens. There are nearly 5 000 exceptional works of art and pieces of furniture.
Office de Tourisme
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 76 08 90
SAINT–PAUL–DE–VENCE
Visit
• Art galleries (70 galleries-studios);
• The fortified village, 13th century church, ramparts and panorama over the hills and sea;
• Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul Museum (exhibition of contemporary art), Museum of local history.
Guided tours on request from Office de Tourisme.
Nearby : La Colle-sur-Loup, village of antiques
FONDATION MAEGHT
Collection of contemporary art; landscaped garden with works of the greatest modern artists (mosaics, sculptures, etc.)
Office de Tourisme
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 32 86 95
E–mail: artdevivre@wanadoo.fr
SAINT-TROPEZ
Visit
• The village (its narrow streets and provençal squares);
• The port;
• The 16th century citadel and the Naval Museum ;
• Musée de l’Annonciade.
Nearby : discover the famous sandy beaches (Pampelonne, Tahiti, etc.) and magnificent pine groves on the peninsula of Saint Tropez via the coastal footpaths.
MUSÉE de l’ANNONCIADE
COLLECTION BEAUX–ARTS.
MUSÉE NAVAL
Office de Tourisme
www.nova.fr/saint-tropez
Tél.: 33 (0)4 94 97 45
SOSPEL
Visit
• the medieval town and old bridge;
• houses with "trompe-l’œil" facades;
• Cathédrale Saint-Michel and its square (baroque style)
Nearby
• Saorge, spectacular perched village overlooking the valley.
• Breil–sur–Roya (ecomuseum of the hinterland).
• Organs: there are seven made by the finest Tuscan and Lombard masters of the art in churches is the valley.
Sporting activities
Hiking, riding, mountain bike, climbing, para-gliding, 4WD, canyoning.
Information
Syndicat d’initiative
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 04 15 80
TENDE
Visit
• The mediéval town, its vaulted passageways, chapels, collegiate church, ruins of the castle;
• Musée des Merveilles.
MUSÉE DÉPARTEMENTAL des MERVEILLES
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 04 32 50
Natural history, archeology, local art and traditions. Slide projections and casts of petroglyphs in the Vallée des Merveilles.
The SITE of the VALLÉE des MERVEILLES (from Saint Delmas de Tende, take RD 91 to Lac des Mesches. Then, proceed on foot or by 4WD vehicule approved by Mercantour National Park).
At 6000 ft above sea level, the "Vallée des Merveilles" has preserved more than 30 000 Bronze age petroglyphs.
Office de Tourisme
Tél.: 33 (0)4 93 04 73 71
TOURRETTES–SUR–LOUP
Visit
• Medieval village, l11th century castle, 15th and 16th century church, Chapelle Saint-Jean (murals by Soupault);
• panorama over the hills and sea;
• Village of violets - Art and crafts (30 artists' studios and galleries).
Nearby :
• Hamlet of Pont du Loup (free tour of the confiserie Florian ).
• Gorges of the Loup river: the road winds along 3 miles through the gorges in the limestone rock with many waterfalls.
Office de Tourisme
www.tourrettessurloup.com
5, route de Vence
06140 Tourrettes–sur–Loup
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 24 18 93
VALLAURIS GOLFE–JUAN
Visit
• Picasso's "War and Peace";
• Pottery making;
• Art galleries;
• Local crafts
CHÂTEAU–MUSEUM
TEl.: 33 (0)4 93 64 16 05
The Magnelli museum and Ceramis museumare located inside the Château; the National Picasso Museum is in the Romanesque chapel.
Office de Tourisme
BP 155, 06227 Vallauris Cedex
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 63 73 12 - 33 (0)4 93 63 82
E–mail: tourisme-vgj@wanadoo.fr
VENCE
Visit
• Arts and crafts (numerous artists' galleries and studios)
• historic town and 11th century Cathedral;
• Chapelle du Rosaire;
• Château Notre–Dame–des–Fleurs (galerie Beaubourg).
CHAPELLE du ROSAIRE
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 58 03 26
This chapel, designed and decorated by Matisse, features splendid stained glass windows.
Château de Villeneuve - Fondation Émile–Hugues
Tel. : 33 (0)4 93 24 24 23
Office de Tourisme
Tél.: 33 (0)4 93 58 06 38
VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
Visit
• The bay;
• The 16th century citadel and its three museums;
• The port and its colourful facades, the Saint-Pierre chapel;
• The old town.
CHAPELLE SAINT–PIERRE
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 76 90 70
Small chapel situated by the entrance to the harbour, decorated by Jean Cocteau.
Office de Tourisme
villefranche-sur-mer.com
Tél. : 33 (0)4 93 01 73 68
VILLENEUVE–LOUBET
Visit
• The old village with its paved streets, Saint Marc Church, fresco and old washing houses;
• Museum of Culinary Art;
• Military Museum.
Nearby
• Vaugrenier natural park (100 ha of greenery at 100m from the beach: picnic areas, hiking footpaths, fitness trails).
MUSEUM OF CULINARY ART
(Fondation Auguste–Escoffier)
Tel.: 33 (0)4 93 20 80 51
The museum is located in the birthplace of Auguste Escoffier, "king of chefs and chef for kings".
Office de Tourisme
Tél.: 33 (0)4 92 02 60 56