Page 259 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

a must-do, as is a night-
TRIP HIGHLIGHT time stroll along the 2 Antibes & Juan-
1 Cannes boulevard, illuminated by les-Pins
What glitzier opening coloured lights. A century or so ago,
Outside festival time,
could there be to this Cannes still feels irresist- Antibes and Juan-les-Pins
Côte d’Azur cruise than ibly ritzy. Private beaches were a refuge for artists,
Cannes, which is just as and grand hotels line the writers, aristocrats and
cinematic as its reputa- seafront; further west hedonistic expats looking
tion suggests. Come July lies old Cannes. Follow to escape the horrors of
during the film festival, rue St-Antoine and snake post-WWI Europe. They
the world’s stars descend your way up Le Suquet, came in their droves –
on boulevard de la Croi- Cannes’ atmospheric F Scott Fitzgerald wrote
sette (aka La Croisette) original village. Pick up several books here, and
to stroll beneath the the region’s best produce Picasso rented a minia-
palms, plug their latest at Marché Forville, a ture castle (it’s now a mu-
opus and hobnob with couple of blocks back seum dedicated to him).
the media and movie from the port. First stop is the beach
moguls. Getting your Not seduced? Then resort of Juan-les-Pins.
picture snapped outside head to the Îles de It’s a long way from the PROVENCE & SOUTHEAST FRANCE 23 RIVIERA CROSSING
w
the Palais des Festivals is fashionable resort of
Lérins, two islands a
w
w
20-minute boat ride Fitzgerald’s day, but the
w away. Tiny and traffic- beaches are still good for
free, they’re perfect for sun-lounging (even if you
Roverino do have to pay).
Castellar \ # walks or a picnic. Boats
Ste-Agnès \ # LIGURIA # \ for the islands leave Then it’s on around
# \ Ventimiglia
# \ # \ from quai des Îles, on the peninsula of Cap
c
Gorbio Garavan # Mortola
# \ \ # \ Menton the western side of the d’Antibes, where many of
] # 7
Roquebrune # # the great and good had
# \ R É harbour.
# \ # \ #Carnolès their holiday villas: the
\
É # Roquebrune- 54 p264 Hotel Cap du Eden Roc
#
6
\
#
É
Cap Cap-Martin
# \ was one of their favourite
# \ Martin The Drive »The most scenic
# fashionable haunts.
8
#
_
#
Côte d'Azur coastal D6007. Bear right onto Round the peninsula is
#\ route to Antibes is via the
av Frères Roustan before Golfe
Juan. With luck and no tailbacks, pretty Antibes, with a
harbour full of pleasure
you should hit Juan-les-Pins in boats and an old town
30 minutes or so. ringed by medieval
ramparts. Aim to arrive
before lunchtime, when
LINK
YOUR
TRIP
m Lavender Route o Vars Delights
After the coast, head Mediterranean coast
into the lavender-filled hills and Provençal countryside:
of Haute-Provence. a natural extension west.
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