The holidays are here, are you ready for takeoff?
A favorite holiday destination for European aristocracy and the odd millionaire, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is renowned for its peninsula of verdant vegetation and pristine beaches.
For many though, Nice is all about the beach which fronts the seemingly never ending Promenade des Anglais.
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.
The medieval village of Èze has been described as an "eagle's nest" for its elevated position overlooking the Mediterranean.
An administrative district of Monaco, Monte Carlo is a byword for the extravagant display and reckless dispersal of wealth, and you either love it or hate it!
A notable Menton resident was Jean Cocteau (1889-1963). The French artist spent much time in the town, and a collection of work, including drawings, paintings, and lithographs, can be appreciated at the Bastion Museum (pictured), which is located on the harbor wall.
The Bandol wine region is one of Provence’s most internationally recognized wine regions. Shop around in the village for a bottle or two.
A Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat must-see is the regal rose-colored Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Open to the public, it's crammed with antique furniture, Old Master paintings, sculptures, objets d'art, and a collection of rare porcelain.
The second-largest island in the Lérins group is Île Saint-Honorat. It's been home to a community of monks since the 5th century. You can visit the fortified abbey.
Set close to the Italian border, Menton is blessed with a temperate Mediterranean climate. Nicknamed the "Pearl of France," the town is famous for its lush, verdant gardens, and the annual Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival) that takes place in February.
The very name conjures up images of glamour, wealth, luxury, and a world-famous film festival. And while Cannes is indeed known for all things rich and famous, the city's environs are worth exploring for picturesque beaches and Le Suquet—the old town known for its cobbled lanes lined with traditional restaurants. Pictured is the city viewed from Le Suquet.
Mercantour National Park's big cultural draw is the Valley of Marvels, named for the amazing petroglyphs carved into the rock faces.
Largest of the Lérins Islands, the tiny forested island of St Marguerite is famous for its association with the Man in the Iron Mask. The unidentified prisoner was incarcerated for 11 years in the island’s fort, now renamed the Musée de la Mer (Museum of the Sea).
Always worth a visit for its charming harbor full of colorful fishing boats, Bandol is also an alluring destination for its wine.
One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is distinguished by a warren of narrow lanes that all seem to lead to the church atop a rocky outcrop.
Another show-stopping Riviera destination, Nice is renowned for its ornate hotels, historic squares, and grand palaces and churches.
For eye-watering views of Toulon, take the cable car to the top of Mont Faron, which summits at 584 m (1,916 ft).
Surrounded by greenery, the pleasant rural retreat that is Ramatuelle offers an alternative to the beaches of the nearby Mediterranean coast.
Still a jet-set destination, Saint-Tropez nevertheless has managed to retain some of its yesteryear charm, most noticeably in and around the old port.
An ideal excursion out of the city is to visit the three nearby islands of Îles d'Hyères—Île de Porquerolles (pictured), Port-Cros, and the Île du Levant.
Linger here and breathe in the atmosphere, made sweeter by the fact that this is the center of the French perfume industry.
A sovereign city-state, glitzy Monaco is one of the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world: 30% of the population is made up of millionaires. You have to see the place, but look and don't touch.
Nestling in hills, Bormes-les-Mimosa's medieval houses are overgrown with bougainvillea flowers, and the bouquet is quite intoxicating!
Cottages of terra-cotta peer over a high cliff 427 m (1,401 ft) above sea level to lend Èze a decidedly lofty air.
The Verdon Gorge in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is often considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful. This is where to take a dip in crystal clear alpine water and indulge in other water sports.
If you're all beached out, head inland for some truly breathtaking mountain scenery in places such as Rocher de La Baume.
The Romans called their Fréjus 'Forum Julii' and today their presence is everywhere, not least with the remains of the once mighty aqueduct.
The "invaders" today are tourists seeking the sun on the town's numerous golden beaches.
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?
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.
Cavalaire-sur-Mer was one of the sites of a beach landing in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France in 1944.
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?
It's changed a bit since then, but the old port (vieux port) area still retains vestiges of the town's historic veneer.
One of most scenic of these inlets is Port-Milou, a very long and narrow creek of shallow, turquoise water that harbors a marina.
It's the location for several world-famous buildings including the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and of course the celebrated casino (pictured).
East of Marseille is the delightful town of Cassis. A popular tourist haunt, the destination is renowned for the cliffs that overlook the harbor, and for the sheltered inlets called calanques that texture the coast.
A major holiday destination popular with international travelers, Juan-les-Pins is named for the stone pine trees (pins in French) that once embroidered the area in great numbers.
Besides attracting admirers of Renoir, Cagnes-sur-Mer draws visitors to its coast, behind which the French Alps form a spectacular backdrop.
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.
The celebrated artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir moved here in 1907 in an attempt to improve his arthritis, and remained until his death in 1919.
Napoule meanwhile claims all the historic glory for its splendid 14th-century Château de la Napoule.
The village is dominated by an 11th-century castle. Partly restored, its crumbling walls are fun to clamber over.
Modern Mandelieu applauds itself as a sophisticated ocean and golf resort.
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.
A lovely diversion from Toulon, Sanary-sur-Mer boasts an appealing harbor front where seafood restaurants do a roaring trade.
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.
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.
Behind the Riviera deep in the hinterland are places like Grimaud, a hilltop village whose foundations date back to the 10th century.
Saint-Raphaël makes a great option for anyone looking for a quiet but chic destination with plenty of history to catch up on.
A host of legendary jazz performers have played the town’s annual jazz festival, which takes place over the second and third weeks of July. Along the Boulevard Edouard Baudoin ceramic tiles containing hand prints of more than 50 musicians who have appeared at the festival dot the sidewalk, including those of Ray Charles, Keith Jarrett, and Sony Rollins.
See also: The world's most exclusive celebrity vacation destinations.
The French Riviera is one of the most celebrated stretches of coast in the world. Known in French as the Côte d'Azur, this Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France extends from Cassis in the west to Menton at the France-Italy border in the east. Along the way the landscape melds golden beaches and glitzy celebrity resorts with medieval villages and beautiful national parks.
Click through the gallery to travel along this stunning region of Europe and find out where to go and what to see.
Dating back to the Bronze Age, the ancient rock art represents weapons, cattle, and human figures that often appear quite mysterious.
The ultimate travel guide to exploring the French Riviera
Discover the delights of this stunning Mediterranean coastline
TRAVEL France
The French Riviera is one of the most celebrated stretches of coast in the world. Known in French as the Côte d'Azur, this Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France extends from Cassis in the west to Menton at the France-Italy border in the east. Along the way the landscape melds golden beaches and glitzy celebrity resorts with medieval villages and beautiful national parks.
Click through the gallery to travel along this stunning region of Europe and find out where to go and what to see.