Leisure travel
In the 19th century, the French Riviera was discovered by elites from all over the world, attracting Brits, Russian nobles, American writers and anyone who valued fine weather, luxury accommodation and natural beauty. These days, the Riviera’s glamour has hardly dissipated. Every year, Cannes hosts its glamorous film festival, Monaco hosts its Grand Prix and restaurants like Le Chantecler or La Terrasse serve a blend of exceptional Provençal cuisine. It’s the kind of place that will delight those who want premium caviar and freshly harvested truffles as well as fans of the region’s hearty specialities like ratatouille or ravioli à la daube. And, of course, there’s wine, with south-eastern France producing some of the world’s great rose varieties.
Along with the elegance of the Côte d’Azur, the city of Nice is a wonderland of cultural attractions. Most famously, the area around Nice has been a magnet for artists. The light in Provence is legendary, allowing artists to conceive their works in crystal clarity. That’s probably why people like Cezanne, Gauguin and Picasso called the area home. Visitors can get a feel for this artistic heritage at leading galleries like the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain, which hosts works by 20th-century masters such as Calder or Klein. And no art fan should miss the Matisse Museum, one of the world’s finest showcases of the French modernist’s work. Nice also hosts musical festivals, with annual events dedicated to modern electronic and jazz styles, and some enchanting markets such as the flower stalls on the Cours Saleya, where visitors can see, smell and buy some extraordinary blooms of Provence’s countryside.