Along the French Riviera

The French Riviera is one of those opulent places that everybody seems to like. I’ve been here several times before, but it’s nice to revisit old favorites as well as discovering new locations. Even though many towns in the Riviera are all about money and luxury, most of them still have a few gems.

Antibes

Antibes dates back to the Phocaeans and was once named Antipolis. During the 10th century, the city was fortified with massive walls. Today parts of the wall still stands and is great for walking.

The fortress Fort Carré is an unmistakable sight in the northern part of the harbor, once featured in the Bond movie “Never Say Never Again” from 1983 as Largo’s “Palmyra” fortress. The harbor also has a large sculpture by Jaume Plensa and was once the location where Captain Cousteau’s famous ship Calypso set out.

The city walls of Antibes.

Juan-les-Pins

Juan-les-Pins is another one of many premium Côte d’Azur locations for sunsets. It used to be a pine-covered area where the inhabitants of Antibes went for a walk. Today it’s a popular seaside resort with a lively nightlife.

The busy streets of Juan-les-Pins.

Cannes

Cannes is well-known for the annual film festival and attracts the rich and beautiful with their large yachts. The town itself is not that bad, but lacks the historic charm of Antibes.

Vieux Port in Cannes.