{"id":33354,"date":"2020-07-27T20:36:33","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T18:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2020\/07\/top-10-things-to-do-on-the-french-riviera\/"},"modified":"2020-07-27T20:38:21","modified_gmt":"2020-07-27T18:38:21","slug":"top-10-things-to-do-on-the-french-riviera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2020\/07\/top-10-things-to-do-on-the-french-riviera\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 things to do on the French Riviera"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The French Riviera. With its palm trees, three hundred days of sunshine a year and a sea so stunningly blue, it is one of the most classic European holiday destinations. We all have that one image in mind when we talk about the C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur. But, it has a wealth of different places to be discovered. So, what are the best things to do this summer on the French Riviera?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The L\u00e9rins Islands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Easily accessible and an unmissable site for fleets upon fleets of yachts, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat are the two jewels of the L\u00e9rins islands, just 15 minutes from Cannes by boat. Saint-Honorat is the smallest, full of history, with its eponymous abbey founded by a certain monk in the 5th century. The island of Sainte-Marguerite<\/a>, which is said to bear the name of the monk\u2019s sister, is protected by a fortification of Vauban himself. A former state prison, it has notably housed the famous Man in the Iron Mask. It certainly makes for a fascinating story, in a setting sure to wow any visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. We ART French Riviera<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The arts occupy the number one spot on the list of \u2018what to see on the French Riviera\u2019, thanks to the many artists who have always been passionate about the breath-taking region. It\u2019s why today there are countless unmissable museums, such as the Matisse museum, the national museum of Marc Chagall (both in Nice), or the Pablo Picasso museum, housed at the Ch\u00e2teau Grimaldi in Antibes, as a tribute to the Spanish painter who had a studio in the same castle during a visit to Golfe-Juan in 1946. France\u2019s first private art foundation, the Maeght, is also worth a visit, found in the hills above Cagnes-sur-Mer, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tribute to Jacques Monory at the Maeght Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. A beach for everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How could you go to the Riviera and not visit one of the beaches? It is a region which counts kilometres of sandy, pebbled and rocky coastline. There truly is something for everyone \u2014 the pebble beaches in Nice, the coves hidden away at the foot of the steep red Esterel rocks in Th\u00e9oule-Sur-Mer, the more popular beaches in Cannes, the paradise that is Cap d’Ail or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the family beaches of Juan-les-Pins. Anyone on any day will find the slice of coastal heaven they are looking for!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larvotto Beach ready to welcome disabled people<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The sweet scents of Grasse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Molinard, Fragonard and Galimard are all names you may have heard before when browsing for your next bottle of perfume. Well, these fabled scents can all be found in the equally mythical village of Grasse! Workshop and factory visits are available for visitors to discover the story of how the region’s flowers are transformed into perfume, but also the history behind its prestigious French cosmetic brands. It is also an opportunity to find out more about the cultural importance of the region\u2019s perfume production, which has contributed to its fame over the year. Earlier this year, the area even requested official recognition in the form of a \u2018Geographical Indication\u2019, one of France\u2019s most prized cultural labels of honour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France\u2019s perfume capital seeks recognition for its original flowers and plants<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. More than 100 hikes to do around Le Mercantour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Le Mercantour is one of the ten national parks in France, boasting one of the country\u2019s most beautiful natural settings, only an hour’s drive from Nice. About a hundred hikes and walks, aimed at all different hiking abilities, are possible to complete in one day. However, there are also trails for real immersive stays \u2014 the newly set out GR-GTM (Grande Randonn\u00e9e – Grande Travers\u00e9e du Mercantour, or Long Hike Mercantour), between Entraunes and Menton, offers 220 kilometres of hiking between mountain and sea. The very definition of a change of scenery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discovering the 7000km of hiking in Alpes-Maritimes<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Discover the region\u2019s best wineries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although less well-known than its neighbour at C\u00f4tes de Provence, the Bellet territory brings together nine wine-growing estates on fifty hectares that are opening their doors to visitors this summer. It presents a real opportunity to discover (in moderation) the local reds, whites and ros\u00e9s on offer, as well as meeting and talking with winegrowers who are passionate about their terroir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wines of Nice: Exceptional and little known<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. See wolves in the mountains <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the wolf was introduced to the Mercantour national park in the early 90s, Parc Alpha<\/a> was created to tell the story of this wild animal, while teaching visitors about its ability to live beside man and its surrounding species. Located in Saint-Martin-V\u00e9subie, in Le Massif du Bor\u00e9on, it recently welcomed three new white wolves \u2014 quite a touching lesson of human and nature living side by side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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