The French Riviera, AKA Cote d'Azur, has been the summer playground of choice for the rich and famous for over a century now. With the best climate in France and some of the most stunning coastal scenery, it has attracted artists and writers such as F Scott Fitzgerald and Picasso as well as celebrities like Bridget Bardot who brought glamour to the fishing village of St. Tropez.
Today Cannes is famous for its film festival, Nice as the Riviera’s buzzy metropolis and the Caps of Antibes and Ferrat for offering many of the most expensive seaside homes in France. Easy access to the Italian Riviera at its eastern end, and the beautiful hinterland of Provence and the foothills of the Alps is another plus point, but there are also superb international schools serving a very large cosmopolitan expat community, golf courses, fantastic restaurants and vibrant village markets.
The legacy of its long history as a holiday destination is a slew of beautiful Belle-Epoque mansions and trophy homes at eye-watering prices, but the good news is that if you head back from the coast a little, it’s surprisingly affordable - you can get properties within little more than an hour from the coast from €100,000.
Expert Property Guide