French riviera-must sees
 

We will be in the area of the french riviera from June 25-28 and are staying in St. Paul de Vence at Le Hameau. We will have a car and are interested in the "must see" places while there. I plan on going to the museums, but what else?

So much depends on your interests (antiques, beaches, gorges). You should visit La Colombe D'Or for lunch or dinner-just outside the walls of St Paul. It's a wonderful setting & their art collection is famous. Make sure to check out the pool area & the indoor dining room.

The Matisse chapel on the way to Vence is famous.

The town of Biot has a glassworks as you enter the town where you can watch them blow glass. Further into the town is an old arcaded square.

The Ephrussi Villa & gardens in Cap Ferrat is one of my favorites. Next door, the Villa Kerylos is also supposed to be lovely.

You should also do a text search here for daytrips from Nice for more ideas/info. Ofcourse make sure to visit Nice.

Drive up to the town of Vence and walk around the old town, which is cool and pleasant. As for the Matisse Chapel, don't set your heart on seeing it: it took us 3 tries. Opening times are limited and often cancelled because of religious holidays--check before going.

After Vence, drive on to Tourettes-sur-Loup, a pretty little village in the mountains. Then, for an amazing drive, head out to the perched village of Gourdon, which has a fantastic view from the castle, which you can visit.

Visiting those 3 spots would take up a day. On the other three days you'll have, spend one in Nice, especially Vieux Nice: beautiful churches, the open-air market at the Cours Saléya (parking beneath), interesting shops, good restaurants and cafés...then a walk along the Promenade des Anglais and the elevator up to the top of the Castle Rock for a great view.

Day 3 would be a drive around St.-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, with a visit to the port for a café and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild for the house and gardens--and the tea room with a view. Then drive along the middle corniche to Monaco and back, with a stop at Eze-village. The scenery is breathtaking.

On Day 4, have an early breakfast and head over to Antibes for a walk around the area near the Marché Provençal and the Picssso Museum. Getting into and out of Antibes is frustrating because of the traffic jams; so don't be surprised. Then drive out around Cap d'Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. Finish up with a visit to the old town of Mougins and dinner at Le Feu Follet.

Thanks! This information will help me get started!

Regarding the 'middle corniche' to Eze--what highway number would that be?

hopingtotravel - Don't believe the "Middle" corniche has a route number, but the signs will read "Moyene Corniche."

The "Lower" corniche, is referred to as the "Basse" (base) and the "Top" corniche is the "Grande Corniche."

>...the signs will read "Moyene Corniche."

The "Lower" corniche, is referred to as the "Basse" (base) and the "Top" corniche is the "Grande Corniche."<

Which route is the "Cornichon".

Thanks. I try to keep my husband's driving as stress-free as possible so he'll let me plan future trips!