Page 198 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

196  FR ANCE AND THE L OW C OUNTRIES

The Côte d’Azur
The Côte d’Azur is, without doubt, the most celebrated seaside
in Europe. Almost everybody who has been anybody for the
past 100 years has succumbed to its glittering allure. Today, the
Côte d’Azur is busy all year round; expect heavy traffic around
Cannes and St-Tropez in summer. Between Cannes and Menton,
the coast forms the glamorous French Riviera, playground of
the rich and famous. The bustling city of Nice lies at the area’s
heart, richly deserving the title “capital of the Côte d’Azur.”

Beaches of the Côte d’Azur
The sun-drenched coastline of the Côte d’Azur Uma Thurman arriving at the Cannes
is one of the busiest in Europe. To the east lie Menton Film Festival
the Riviera’s big, traditional resorts while Nice Monaco n Cannes
to the west are smaller towns in Cap Ferrat
coves and bays. Beaches are Alpes-Maritimes. * 70,000. g £
sandy west of Antibes, and Cannes Antibes @ n Palais des Festivals, 1 La
more shingly to the east. Croisette (04-92 99 84 22). ( daily.
Juan-les-Pins
The first thing that most people
associate with Cannes is its
St-Raphaël
many festivals, especially the
International Film Festival. held
0 kilometers 20
each May. The first Cannes Film
St-Tropez 0 miles 20 Festival took place in 1946 and,
for a while, it remained a small
and exclusive affair. The mid-
Exploring the Côte d’Azur Greeks, Antibes is one of the 1950s marked the change from
The Côte d’Azur is the most oldest towns along this stretch artistic event to media circus,
popular destination in France for of coast, and home to a large but Cannes remains the
sun-worshipers, with its seaside museum of Picasso’s work, international marketplace for
vacation towns and long, golden donated by the artist himself. moviemakers and distributors.
beaches. St-Tropez is currently Clifftop walks replace seafront The annual festival is held in the
the trendiest resort; Tahini-Plage promenades around the huge Palais des Festivals.
is the coast’s showcase for fun, wooded peninsula of Cap There is, however, more to the
sun, fashion, and glamor. By Ferrat, where grand villas and city than this glittering event.
contrast, the family resort of private beaches can be The Old Town is centered in the
St-Raphaël is peaceful, with glimpsed between the trees. Le Suquet district, which is
excellent tourist facilities. At the eastern edge of the dominated by the church of
East of Cannes, at the western Riviera, past the glitz of the Notre-Dame de l’Espérance,
edge of the Riviera, Juan-les- casinos and hotels of Monaco, built in the 16th and 17th
Pins is a lively resort. Its all-night the beaches of Menton are the centuries in the Provençal
bars, nightclubs, and cafés make warmest along the coast; Gothic style. The famed
it popular with teenagers and sunbathers enjoy a beach Boulevard de la Crois ette is
young adults. Founded by the climate all year round. lined with palm trees. Luxury
stores and hotels look out over
fine sandy beaches.

m Nice
Alpes-Maritimes. * 346,000. k g
£ @ n 5 Promenade des Anglais
(08-92 70 74 07). ( Tue–Sun. _
Carnival (Feb). ∑ nicetourisme.com
The largest resort on the
Mediterranean coast, Nice has
the second-busiest airport in
France. Its temperate winter
St-Tropez harborside, on the Côte d’Azur climate and verdant subtropical
For hotels and restaurants see pp206–8 and pp209–11

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