Visit the Riviera Riviera and take a stroll at dusk along the Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes. You will see the lights of the hotels beginning to illuminate the promenade and you will pass the famous Carlton Hotel still looking very much like it did in the classic film 'To Catch A Thief' starring Cary Grant. You will see other magnificent hotels lining the promenade including the Hotel Majes
tic and the beautiful architecture of The Martinez. If you are lucky enough to catch one of the regular summer firework displays in the bay of Cannes, then don't forget to look back at the reflections cast in the hotel frontages and the spectacular lights of the fireworks set against the magnificent palm trees which line the promenade. The French Riviera (sometimes referred to as the Cote d'Azur) is indeed one of the most famous coastlines in the world. Breath-taking views and vivid mediterranean colours make it a favourite destination for artists from all over the world. Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Matisse were all drawn to the Riviera as was Raoul Dufy with his paintings of Nice and the French Riviera. It's coastline provides a sophisticated mix of city and beach life and a lifestyle straight out of a James Bond movie. World famous cities line the coast: Nice with it's annual carnival, Cannes with its international film festival and Monaco with its Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Riviera begins just west of Italy at Menton with its near perfect climate and lemon groves. Beaulieu-sur-Mer is a short distance further along the coast and here you will find the only town in France where bananas ripen naturally. For those of you who may have watched the 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Beaulieu-sur-Mer was depicted in the film as Beaumont-sur-Mer. Along the coastline of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Roquebrune and Cap Martin you will find spectacular villas belonging to the rich and famous and high in the mountains you will find medieval villages such as La Turbie. There are hundreds of excellent hotels along the Riviera coastline. These resorts also provide a good base for sightseeing trips to Monaco, St Tropez and the Italian border. Most resorts such as Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Juan-les-Pins and Antibes are easily accessible from Nice airport by train or bus. However without a car, St Tropez is not the easiest location to get to as the train only runs as far as St Raphael. We hope you enjoyed this brief tour of the Riviera, to learn more then please visit us at our Riviera website www.FrenchRivieraVisitor.com
