Resorts of the French Riviera. Budget resorts on the Cote d'Azur - are there any? Beach holiday on the Cote d'Azur

The French Riviera is a prestigious and famous coastline that starts from Nice and stretches to Menton.

Translated, the name of the Côte d'Azur means “coast of the sky” and is named after the azure color of the waters Mediterranean Sea. This prestigious holiday destination receives hundreds of thousands of tourists during the season and has received the status of a place for wealthy and important people who own luxury mansions on the seashore and expensive yachts moored in the harbor.

The tranquil coastlines, famous restaurants and 5 star hotels keep its reputation for glamor and elegance. You can laze on the beach in Cannes, sail from the port of Monaco or wander the famous boulevards of Nice. Overall, the French Riviera promises to please you.

Nice

Located in a charming location on sea ​​coast, with hot weather and exquisite local climate- is the calling card of the Cote d'Azur. The most famous street of the city is the Promenade des Anglais. This is a spacious boulevard that stretches along coastline beach

The boulevard was lined with elite buildings such as the Théâtre Méditierence and the glamorous Villa Massena (65 Rue de France), where a princess once lived. Today Villa Massena is an art museum that attracts crowds of visitors every day. It features charming landscaping and traditional French gardens. Plus, by walking along the Promenade Boulevard, you'll be close to Nice's main attractions.

On Rue Saleya there is a traditional Provençal market. It is open daily (closed on Mondays) and offers a wide range of offerings from local food and flower producers. Another main attraction in Nice is the Albert I Garden, which is a couple of minutes from the Promenade des Anglais. This huge garden was one of the first public luxury parks in the city. Having a typical Mediterranean style, this park is lined with palm trees and fountains.

Saint Tropez

Cannes Film Festival

As the main event of the French Riviera, this vibrant event attracts stars and other representatives of the film industry. Residents and guests of the city annually watch the procession of actors on the red carpet and stage next to the Palace of Festivals and Congresses. This building is equipped with high-quality sound and light systems, which were made only for this event.

The famous film festival is not only about the participation and awards of stars of the film industry, it is also launching pad to discover new talents in cinema. During the event, posts with giant posters were hung on all billboards in the city, welcoming world stars and their famous films.

Beaches and Jazz Festival Antibes

The beaches in Antibes are legendary, and guests of the city have a wide choice: from classic free beaches to small ones closed beaches with small restaurants at the water's edge. The city is divided into two main areas, which contain the lion's share of beaches: the Juan-les-Pins area and the Cap d'Antibes peninsula. They are ideal for sunbathing. The beaches of Antibes are famous for their pristine nature and sandy shores.

The city's coastline is a charming path along untouched nature, which is ideal for a leisurely stroll. The Juan-les-Pins area gets its name from the large number of pine trees that actively bloom in the area.

For fans of fine French cuisine, Antibes offers many signature cafes and a huge selection of bistros. Another highlight of a visit to Antibes is the local jazz festival, which takes place annually in late July outdoors. This festival is quite famous and brings together professionals and talented young artists.

In the category " Best resort Western Mediterranean" for 2009.

Probably the most famous region France - Cote d'Azur, or French Riviera, stretching throughout the western part Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the Italian border. This relatively small territory, which does not have clear administrative boundaries, is protected from northern winds at the foot of the Alps and the Mercantour mountain range, has long been transformed into a “pan-European recreation center.” The entire coastline is dotted with luxury hotels, restaurants, private beaches, boutiques and expensive villas. There are many historical monuments and beautiful natural attractions, and a pleasant climate and warm sea create excellent conditions for all possible types of recreation. However, foreigners are strongly advised not to plan their trip here during July and August, when hotels and restaurants are crowded and local residents frankly annoyed by the abundance of tourists.

Around Marseille

Resort area around the city includes a lot interesting places. The wild mountainous coastal region of the Calanques (from the Occitan calanque - “small bay”, “cove”) is considered the center of the most picturesque landscapes and natural beauties, and therefore serves favorite place active recreation.

The islands of the Friulian archipelago, lying 1-4 km directly opposite the Old Port, are extremely popular for relaxing holiday by the sea and picnics. To the islands Ratono(Ratonneau) and Pomege(Pomegues) is an artificial dam, Tibulan(Tiboulain) is known as a nesting site for seabirds, but near the island If a completely different fate. Located on this tiny island in the Gulf of Lyon, the Chateau d'If is open from January to March - from Thursday to Sunday, from 9.00 to 17.00; from April to May - daily, from 9.00 to 17.00; from June to September - from 9.30 to 18.30; from September to December - from Thursday to Sunday, from 9.30 to 17.00; entrance - 5 euros) was built in the 16th century to defend Marseille from attacks from the sea. From the end of the 16th century, the castle was used as a prison for special prisoners. dangerous criminals, and this is what made him famous after the release of Alexandre Dumas’s novel “The Count of Monte Cristo”. Today this is one of the " business cards"Marseille, the site of numerous excursions and photo sessions, since it is from here that the most picturesque panorama of the coastal part of Marseille opens. The castle is connected to the mainland by regular traffic (in the summer every hour, in the winter - 5 times a day) from the embankment des Belges in the Old Port special ships depart, the transition takes only twenty minutes.

Just 26 km southeast is “the best French Mediterranean resort outside of Saint-Tropez” - the town.

A little further south, on west coast a small cape, there is another popular tourist attraction - the town. And on the other side of La Ciotat Bay there is a calm family resort Les Lecques(Les Lecques) is one of the suburbs of the old town of Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer www.saintcyrsurmer.com. Besides the good ones sand and pebble beaches, guests are attracted here by the ten-kilometer coastal promenade, running from the eastern edge of the city beach past many secluded coves to quiet resort Bandol, whose vineyards produce some of the best red wines on the Cote d'Azur, and whose marina is very popular with yachtsmen.

East of Toulon

The picturesque wooded coastline between Hyères and Fréjus is also one of the most beautiful places France, and the most crowded with tourists, which cannot but leave its mark on these regions. Picturesque forests of typical Mediterranean vegetation, luxurious beaches hidden between rocky cliffs, isolated islands and colorful medieval villages - all this is literally languishing from the influx of guests in summer months, but changes completely in the off-season. And if you add to this dozens of fashionable resorts, thousands of luxurious private villas, bohemian restaurants, expensive hotels and the eternal bustle of boats and yachts at sea, then you can roughly imagine how well the famous Cote d'Azur lives up to its advertising image.

The town, located 15 km east of Toulon, is the oldest resort on the Côte d'Azur, among whose admirers were Queen Victoria and Leo Tolstoy. Directly opposite the city lie (Iles d'Hyeres) - Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Levant.

17 km east of Hyères lies the green town Bormes-les-Mimoses(Bormes-les-Mimosas) with its carefully restored castle and summer riot of mimosa (by the way, brought here from Mexico in the 1860s), bougainvillea and oleander. To the southwest lie the vineyards of Bregancon and Cabazon, among which the government residence at the Cap de Bregancon castle is hidden. A few kilometers east is the city Le Lavandou www.lelavandou.com, famous for its good sandy beaches.

A little to the north the picturesque slopes begin mountain range Maures (Massif des Maures), more like green hills ( highest point- 800 meters). The picturesque village here is worth a visit Colobriere(Collobrieres, considered the "cork capital" of France), huge monastery La Chartreuse de la Vergne(XII century, 12 km from Colobriere), ruins medieval castle and the 11th century church in the village Grimaud(Grimaud, 25 km east), a village famous for its straw products Kogolin www.cogolin-provence.com and the ruins of a 15th century castle near La Garde Fresnais www.lagardefreinet-tourisme.com.

Around Saint-Tropez

In the very center of the Saint-Tropez peninsula lies a picturesque town Gassin(Gassin), which was once an Islamic citadel, and today is a chic resort, the main decoration of which is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1558), the home of the famous football player David Ginol, “the narrowest street in France” - rue I "Androuno (here really only one person can pass) and the most picturesque panoramas opening onto the Bay of Cavalier and the Hyères Islands.

Town Ramatuelle(Ramatuelle) is slightly larger than its neighbor, although just as old and picturesque. Its first-class vineyards, narrow streets, Notre Dame Cathedral (16th century) and fortress wall (14th century) attract thousands of visitors. But no less interesting picturesque beaches towns hiding at the foot of ivy-covered cliffs (by the way, the famous Pampelonne ends here), clean water And beautiful scenery, attracting hundreds of artists.

Another typical town for this region is Sainte-Maxime(Sainte Maxime) - stretched along north coast so “at ease” that he almost merged with Fréjus. This is a more democratic analogue of Saint-Tropez, not as colorful as its western neighbor, but much less pretentious and lively (which is important - the shores here are much cleaner than on the opposite side of the bay). And 10 km north of the city, among the green slopes of the Mor massif, there is the amazing Museum of Photography and Jukeboxes (open from Easter to June and in September, from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10.00 to 12.00; in July and August - from 10.00 to 12.00 12.00 and from 16.00 to 18.30; entrance - 3 euros) with an amazing collection of sound equipment, jukeboxes and pianos from all times (there is even one of Thomas Edison's "talking machines", dating back to 1878!).

Riviera

Beyond the eastern outskirts of Saint-Raphael, the Riviera itself begins - the most modern and fashionable part of the French Cote d'Azur. Usually the concepts of the Côte d'Azur and the Riviera are mixed together, but local residents clearly divide the coast into two parts - Cote d'Azur itself, that is, the Côte d'Azur itself with its ancient history dating back to the times of the Phoenicians and Greeks, and the Riviera - a 70-kilometer coastline between Cannes and the Italian border, which includes Nice, Grasse, Antibes. The reason for the division is simple - until the beginning of the 20th century, the modern Riviera was a narrow strip of a rather inhospitable coast with a few natural harbors and tiny villages, of little interest both for relaxation by the sea and from the point. from the perspective of history, however, the gradually mild climate captured in the paintings of painters. rocky shores and numerous films did their job, and by the early 1950s the Riviera began its rapid development.

Along the coast between Antibes and Cannes there is a series of rather unremarkable new resorts like Villeneuve-Loubes-Plage(Villeneuve-Loubet-Plage), Val Claret or Les Logies du Banneau. However, there are much more interesting places away from the coast - a town closely associated with the name of Renoir Kan(Cagnes, better known as Cros-de-Cagnes) with beautiful castle in the "lower town" (now a museum), an old fortified village Saint-Paul-de-Vence(St Paul de Vence) - home of the Fondation Maeght art fund, old town Vance(Vence) with numerous ancient buildings, fountains, the Chateau de Villeneuve Fondation Emile Hugues (XV century), chapels and a cathedral in which you can see Roman tombstones and Chagall mosaics, as well as many small villages, each of which has something... that's interesting. And even further east lies the famous dwarf state - .

Cote d'Azur – French Riviera– known in France as the Cote d Azur, the eastern end of which is western part Provence. In the southeast, the Riviera borders the Mediterranean coast, in the west it reaches the Italian border, and in the east it passes by the kingdom of Monaco. Crowds of people come here in the summer, although this is somewhat strange, because it is nice here in October, November and even December. Christmas on the Riviera is great! The climate here is mild, plants begin to bloom in February.

Map of the French Riviera

The French Riviera stretches along a coastline with hills that slope down to sandy beaches with luxury resorts equipped with marinas. In between the hotels, mountains covered with forests approach the water itself. Several kilometers inland and the towns located on the hills seem to float above the sea. Main resorts of the Cote d'Azur– Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Antibes, Saint-Raphael, Principality of Monaco. Every 30 minutes, trains run along the entire coast connecting these resorts.

International airport And fast train made from Paris Nice- the most visited resort and capital of the Cote d'Azur. From the airport you can get to Nice in 15 minutes by bus. The city, with its turquoise sea, is located in Bay of Angels at the eastern tip of the Riviera. Snow-white villas, luxury hotels, wide boulevards, yachts, gardens with palm trees and magnolias - this is its modern appearance. Nice also called the “Queen of the French Riviera.” Nice is a city of music and theater festivals. It is famous for its museums: Museum contemporary art, Paleontology, Navigation. In February, Nice hosts a carnival that is as colorful as the Brazilian one. It lasts 10 days. The carnival parade is accompanied by modern music and dancing. This is a place where the best musicians, theater-goers, artists and choreographers compete. The flower procession, when thousands of fresh flowers are thrown into the crowd, and the night procession of fantastic figures in iridescent rays of light are unforgettable moments of this extravaganza. A magnificent fireworks display and the burning of the Carnival King on the beach are the final chord of the holiday.

Cannes is one of the most luxurious resorts on the French Riviera, famous for its film festival. Every May, thousands of film industry professionals, world film stars and their fans come here. The most prestigious award among independent film directors is the Palme d'Or. The tourist area in Cannes is very small and can be easily covered on foot. It includes the old town of Le Suquet, located on a hill and Boulevard Croisette, stretching for 2 km along the coastline, with beautiful gardens and parks, majestic palm trees. At the end of the boulevard is the New Palace of Festivals and Congresses, where films are shown. On the famous Avenue of Stars Traditionally, many celebrities leave their handprints. The city hosts exhibitions, conferences, and international congresses. In August, the port of Cannes is filled with snow-white yachts and the most expensive cars.

Saint Tropez located on the shore of the picturesque bay of the same name with sandy beaches. Previously, this town with 5 thousand inhabitants attracted artists with the soft light and turquoise colors of the sea, now it attracts tourists’ money. On wild beaches There are ample opportunities for yachting, windsurfing, and water skiing. Saint-Tropez is a yacht port. World celebrities come here to relax. The city is full of boutiques displaying the latest fashion. Sights of Saint-Tropez: Museum of the Sea, Anonsiade Art Museum, the famous Butterfly House. The most striking sight is the market (almost oriental, noisy bazaar).

Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea Principality of Monaco, near the border of France and Italy. It covers only 2 square kilometers of area, making it the most densely populated country in the world. Its capital Monte Carlo has a unique appearance, growing in height. There are modern sandy beaches, casino, exotic gardens, oceanographic museum. Entry into the Principality of Monaco is free.

The western tip of the Riviera is quieter, cheaper and has the most beautiful sandy beaches, even in high season. If you are looking for a place to stay, the most great place– town of Pramousquier. There are hotels with reasonable prices right along the beach.

Direct tickets from Moscow to Nice

He thought of holding the carnival in Nice, in Monte Carlo, where at this time the most selective society flocks - the same one on which all the benefits of civilization depend: the style of tuxedos, the strength of thrones, the declaration of wars, and the well-being of hotels.

Ivan Bunin. "Mr. from San Francisco"

“I will take you to Nice and save you.”

Mikhail Bulgakov. "Zoyka's apartment"

For 150 years, the French Riviera has been the main resort in Europe. Sun, soft Mediterranean climate, the charm of mountain and sea landscapes and small villages attracted kings, industrial magnates, writers and artists. Today, the French Riviera is not only the pristine beauty of nature, but also villas, palaces, and elegant yacht marinas.

The Côte d'Azur, or French Riviera, is a region in southwestern France. This is the Mediterranean coast from the border with Italy in the east to Toulon in the west. The length of the coastline is over 200 km. From the north, the coast is protected by the Maritime Alps and the mountains and Mor.

In the 19th century, this region became a favorite vacation spot for the European aristocracy. Since then, the Côte d'Azur of France has been one of the main resorts in Europe, invariably winning hearts with its pleasant mild climate and diverse nature.

The cultural richness of the region, whose history goes back thousands of years, is also impressive.

Administrative structure

Cote d'Azur- part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) and belongs to the Alpes-Maritimes and Var department. The unofficial capital of the Côte d'Azur is the city. It is also located here largest airport in the region.

20 km east of Nice is the Principauté de Monaco, an independent dwarf state.

Other important cities of the Cote d'Azur: , Hyères, Toulon.

Population

Estimates of the population of the Côte d'Azur vary depending on what is considered the western border of the region. Together with the population of the French Riviera exceeds 2 million people. Most large city on the Cote d'Azur - Nice (360,000 inhabitants).

Most of the population of the Cote d'Azur are French. There are quite a lot of other Europeans here (Italians, Spaniards, etc.), as well as emigrants from Africa, Asia and South America.

Official language is French, Italian is also spoken in the Nice area. Hotel employees and waiters speak English. In schools, children also learn the Provençal dialect of the Occitan language, a historical language supplanted by French after the annexation of the Côte d'Azur by France in 1860.

Climate on the Cote d'Azur

The climate of the Cote d'Azur is Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters. The sun shines about 300 days a year. The remaining 60-odd days it rains - usually in March-April and October-November.

The key influence on the climate of the Cote d'Azur is wind mistral(mistral), blowing from the northwest. It is strongest in the Toulon region, but weakens to the east. It is the mistral that is responsible for sunny weather and clean local air.

Swimming season begins on the French Riviera at the end of May and continues until the end of September– during this period, the water temperature remains between 20-25°C.

Beaches of the Cote d'Azur

Beaches occupy approximately a third of the coastline of the Cote d'Azur. All beaches to the west of Antibes (to Saint-Tropez) are sandy, to the east they are pebble (from Monaco to Antibes). There are small sandy areas in Monaco, Menton, but the sand here is imported.

There are many beaches on the Cote d'Azur with paid infrastructure. They are separated from free ones by a symbolic fence. City beaches are kept perfectly clean.

In the 19th century, thanks to its ideal climate, the Cote d'Azur served as a winter refuge for many wealthy northerners, including Russians. People went here simply to spend the winter - away from snow and frost.

After the revolution, there were many Russian emigrants on the Cote d'Azur. Chaliapin lived and worked in Nice, lived in Grasse not far from Nice, and in “Dark Alleys” the action partly takes place on the Cote d'Azur.

The Cote d'Azur is a land of contrasts. There are vibrant university towns and small mountain villages clinging to the rocks, hanging over the cliffs. a couple of hours drive from warm sea. There are vineyards, olive groves, villas in gardens with shining orange trees, mimosa forests, ice lakes and warm lakes, excellent museums, research departments of companies in small villages, port cities.

The amazing and charming French Côte d'Azur with its magnificent resorts Cannes, Nice, Monaco – many people dream of a holiday here. Cote d'Azur- this is a kind of symbol of luxury and a fun life, but this is in the summer, and in the spring - this is simply a paradise for ordinary average tourists.

The resorts of the Cote d'Azur owe their fame not only to their favorable location, excellent climate and wonderful architecture and a large number monuments, and also the fact that life in all its manifestations is bustling here around the clock: many festivals, holidays, parties, here you will find something to keep yourself busy, like lovers beautiful life, and just active tourists.

The fashion for relaxing on the Cote d'Azur appeared in the nineteenth century, when Russian aristocrats and English rich people fell in love with this place. And immediately after the Second World War, a film festival began to be held in Cannes, which began to attract celebrities from all over the world. It must be said that the Cote d'Azur primarily owes its name to cinema: many films were filmed here, making its resorts famous throughout the world. For example, Saint-Tropez, which was once a small fishing village, has now become a fashionable holiday destination whose charm is impossible to resist: majestic pine groves, wonderful sandy beaches, narrow Provencal streets, and all thanks to the film “And God Created Woman” with Brigitte Bardot.

But those who think that the Cote d'Azur are just glamorous resorts, where rich people ply the sea on their luxurious yachts and “golden European youth” party at pretentious parties, are greatly mistaken: the advantage of a holiday on the Cote d'Azur is its diversity. Each coastal resort town is absolutely individual and different from the others. For those who cannot afford a vacation in expensive hotels, it is easy to find a modest refuge in comfortable apartments, and a substitute for Michelin-star cuisine can be found in budget restaurants. You can come to the Cote d'Azur all year round to take part in a fun carnival, admire the unique medieval village of Eze, visit the perfume museum in Grasse, go all-in at the Monaco casino... and the sun and sea are just a pleasant addition to this already , intense pastime.

Nice. Nice is called the gateway to the Cote d'Azur. This place is very dear to many Russians, and many of our compatriots, having come here once, stayed forever. Many cultural monuments in this wonderful city will tell you about the Russian heritage, for example, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which was built with donations from the royal family. And, if previously it was a resort only for the elite, now here you can find quite cheap hotels. In general, Nice is the fifth largest French city. Every year a carnival festival is held here, usually in February or March. At this time, cheerful processions move along the central streets, and the city is filled with bulky papier-mâché dolls. At the Promenad des Anglais, a battle of flowers is held - symbolizing the welcome of spring.

Cannes. The Côte d'Azur resort of Cannes is not only a worldwide famous place holiday, but also the cinema capital of France. And every film fan dreams of strolling along the Croisette during the film festival, as well as sitting on the magnificent terraces of the luxurious Majectic, Martinez, and Carlton hotels, where some famous Hollywood movie star could easily be at the next table. But there are other equally exciting entertainment options in Cannes. If you are a nature lover and a history buff, then be sure to visit the island of St. Margaret, located nearby. There you can find yourself on the island where the famous French “prisoner in the iron mask” was kept for many years. You can also take a ride on a mini-train that will take you up the mountain and visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de l'Esperance, built in 1645.

Menton. A town located near the Italian border and the extreme eastern point Cote d'Azur. Vacationers here say that this is a place where there is no place for boredom. Menton has a wonderful climate and ideal conditions suitable for subtropical plants, including lemons. By the way, the second, poetic name of Menton is the “capital of lemons”. And the holiday dedicated to the citrus fruits of this city usually takes place at the end of February - at the beginning of March. Then, in the center of the city, huge towers and sculptures of tangerines and lemons are built, music and laughter are everywhere. In general, at this time there are plenty of reasons to have fun and try lemon pie or citrus jam.

Monaco. This tiny principality on the shores of the Cote d'Azur of France is the habitat of the most privileged secular society, but what is most surprising is that you will not see any signs of excessive chic and luxury here. A huge part of this wonderful principality is occupied by gardens and parks. And in addition to the world-famous casino, another must-see place is the Prince’s Palace and its unique natural apartments, the Napoleon Museum, where the things of the famous commander are presented to the public, including the well-known “little corporal” cocked hat. Be sure to visit the Oceanographic Museum, because its tropical aquarium is one of the largest in Europe. The male half will most likely be delighted with the wonderful collection of rare cars of the Prince of Monaco. Monte Carlo also hosts the most popular Monte Carlo Rally in the world. If you are planning to attend this significant event, then make sure to make your hotel reservations in advance; the day before, there may not be room available.

These are the different, but no less interesting, resorts of the French Riviera. And a person with a thick wallet or a budget traveler can visit here!