THE BEST OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA
by Michelle Bienias
We’ve put together a collection of 16 fullscreen cubic VR panoramas that represent the best of everything the French Riviera has to offer, from the quaint fishing-village-turned-paparazzi-infested Saint Tropez in the west, all along to the stately Belle Epoque town of Menton in the east, near the Italian border. Technically, the French Riviera comprises the area of coastline bordering the Mediterranean from Menton to Frejus, while the Cote d’Azur is the larger area from Italy to Toulon.
Just click on the link below and the VR Tour will open in a separate window with a map of the French Riviera with white dots representing each of the towns listed on the left. Open a fullscreen panorama by either clicking on the name of the town/city or clicking on one of the white dots.
Additionally, we’ve included more VRs of each location from VRWAY and these are accessible by clicking on the link below each section in the text below. A new window will open with a map of the town. Clicking on a particular section of the map will open a list of VRs with a short description.
In the next issue of VRMAG we will be covering the Best of the Italian Riviera with a collection of fullscreen VR panoramas.
 Background
In 1000 BC, the Lugurians occupied a large part of the Mediterranean coast, followed by the Phoenicians four centuries later, who planted olive and fig trees and vineyards. In 500 BC, the Greeks established the towns of Antibes, Nice and Monaco. Julius Caesar founded Frejus in 49 AD and the Romans civilized the area for the next three centuries. Christianity appeared in the 4th and 5th centuries.
Today, the Riviera is home to more than a million people, with 95% of the population residing in the cities of Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, Menton and Monaco.
Saint Tropez
Saint Tropez was a sleepy fishing village, home to painters and artists until French sexpot Bridget Bardot popularized in the 1950s with the movie ‘And God Created Woman’. Located 75 km southwest of Cannes, Saint Tropez is the only north-facing town on the Riviera. There are 40 private beaches, high-end shopping and nightclubs and a busy harbor filled with sailboats and yachts. The best beaches lie just outside of town, including the trendy Pampelonne.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Saint Tropez
Port Grimaud
Nicknamed ‘Little Venice’, Port Grimaud was built out of marshland in the 1960s by architect Francois Spoerry, at the midway point between Saint Tropez and Frejus. Spoerry’s vision was to create a ‘Provencal’ Venice, complete with canals and islands and yachts moored outside the homes.
It attracts thousands of tourists each year to its seven km of canals and 12 km of quays and bridges. The village is entirely pedestrian – cars must park at the entrance. Port Grimaud has its own large, sandy beach overlooking the bay of Saint Tropez.
See 'Holiday in Port Grimaud'
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Port Grimaud
Saint Maxime
Saint Maxime is located at the northern end of the Gulf of St. Tropez and is sheltered from the wind by the mountains of the Moors (Maures). It was built on the site of the old Marseilles trading post of Calidianis and some traces of Roman settlements have been found.
Sheltered from the wind by the Maures (Moors) mountains, Saint Maxime boasts a microclimate and more than 300 days of sun with an average winter temperature of 19 C and 22C in the summer. There is a ferry that departs every half hour for the 10-minute ride to Saint Tropez.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Saint Maxime
Saint Aygulf
Saint Aygulf has a 3 km wide sandy beach with a view of the Frejus gulf. The town has an aquatic water park. This ancient Roman village is in the commune of Frejus and has all the charm associated with Provence.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Saint Aygulf
Frejus
A city of about 43,000 people located in the Provence region, it was originally a Roman naval station.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Frejus
Le Trayas
Le Trayas is a hilly village located high above the sea and the red rocks of Esterel and is part of the bay of Miramar and La Figuerette and has a train station, bus service, general store and local restaurants, as well as a sandy beach. The nearby Corniche de l’Esterel is one of the most beautiful roads and coastlines in the south of France.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Le Trayas
Theoule-sur-Mer
Located west of Cannes, Theoule-sur-Mer is less frenetic than parts of the Eastern Riviera and is an elegant resort with a number of smaller beaches and fewer summer crowds.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Theoule-sur-Mer
Grasse
Slightly off the beaten track 30 miles inland from Nice, Grasse is a medieval town famous for one thing: fragrance. The perfume industry in Grasse dates back to the early Renaissance, before which it was known as an important trading center and producer of fine leather goods. Most of the famous perfumes of today were created in Grasse by “a nose”, a person who can recognize up to 3,000 scents by memory (compared to the average person who struggles to identify a couple dozen).
There are four perfumeries that provide tours – the largest is the house of Fragonard, which includes a museum.
Read more about Grasse here.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Grasse
Cannes
Today the epitome of chic, Cannes was nothing more than a simple fishing village until the 19th century, when Lord Brougham arrived, prompting the arrival of British and Russian aristocrats (Oscar Wilde, the Rothschilds) during the winter months. The main promenade, La Croisette, was developed as a walk to see and be seen. Since then, Cannes has become an international destination renowned for its glamour, in part due to its hosting of the annual International Film Festival, held each spring since 1946.
The Hotel Carlton, on the Boulevard de la Croisette, is the grand dame of the strip and worth a look-see, even if one cannot afford a stay there.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Cannes
Ile St Marguerite
Looking out to sea from the beach in Cannes you can see the island of Saint Marguerite, accessible by a 20-minute boat ride. The nearly uninhabited island is covered by a lovely forest of Allepo (parasol) pine and eucalyptus, with many walking paths. The port area has cafes and restaurants and is near Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was incarcerated.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Ile St Marguerite
Juan les Pins
Located on the other side of the Cap d’Antibes, Juan les Pins is famous for its nightlife, shopping, restaurants and cafes, and its 25 km long coast of fine sandy beaches and sunny coves. In the 1950s and 60s it was a magnet for the jazz stars of the day and Ray Charles made his debut here. Today, it is still a popular destination for music lovers and is the setting of the famous “Jazz a Juan”, held every July.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Juan les Pins
Antibes
Antibes was a Greek fortified town named Antipolis in the 5th century BC, and it later became a Roman town but has always been an active trading port. Old Antibes is a traditional seaport with a Provencal market; narrow shopping streets and a medieval castle, and the Grimaldis’ ancient chateau, now the Picasso Museum.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Antibes
Nice
Nice is the fifth largest city in France (pop: 345,000) and the capital of the Cote d’Azur and is popular for its beaches lines with palm trees, belle époque buildings, museums and nightlife. The city stretches along the Bay of Angels, where the Alps and the Paillon River meet the sea
There is evidence that Nice has been settled for 400,000 years with the discovery of prehistoric settlements at Terra Amata. Nice was one of the first cities in Europe to develop a purely tourist-based economy during the 19th century and it was particularly attractive to the English aristocracy, who followed Queen Victoria’s example of wintering in the mild climate. The artists Cezanne, Van Gogh and Matisse called the city home for varying lengths of time. In the 1920s it became a mecca for artists and writers such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Mann. During WWII, Nice was included in the ‘free’ Vichy France zone and became a safe have from occupied France.
The two-week Nice Carnival in February celebrates Mardi Gras with floats and parades and in July the Nice Jazz Festival is a big attraction. Other notable attractions not to be missed are: Musee Matisse with a collection spanning the local artist’s life; the Promenade des Anglais – the seaside walkway dotted with palm trees, be sure to visit the grand Hotel Negresco, the most famous building on the promenade; some of the Italian Baroque churches such as the Cathedrale Sainte Reparate and Saint Giuame; and the Musee d’Art et d’Art Contemporain, which specializes in European and American avant-garde works from the 1960s to the present.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Nice
Villefranche sur Mer
This 13th century medieval city features a citadel that overlooks a lovely bay. A number of fine restaurants line the seafront along the Port Sante, along with a lively flea market on the weekends.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Villefranche Sur Mer
Monte Carlo
This tiny city of 30,000 in the principality of Monaco is only 3 km long (less than 2 miles) and sits on a large rock overlooking the sea. Monte Carlo is a visually stunning city, spread out over the rock and into the sea with many high-rises usually associated with a much larger city. It’s also very expensive and attracts high-roller gamblers to its many casinos, the primary source of income for the city.
The history of Monaco and the ruling Grimaldi family date back centuries, to the time when Caesar held his fleet here waiting for Pompey. Any new law passed in France is automatically sent to Prince Ranier and, if he likes it, it becomes a law in Monaco.
Must-see spots in Monaco: the Musee Oceanographie (overseen by explorer Jacdques Cousteau for over 30 years; Monaco Cathedral, where Princess Grace and Prince Ranier married and where Princess Grace is buried; the Prince’s Palace, where Prince Ranier lives (look for the flag flying to signify he is in residence); the opulent Casino de Paris with its private gaming rooms with stained glass, paintings and sculptures is located (Monegasques are not allowed to gamble in their own casinos!). Shopping is high-end, as one might expect, as is located in the Avenue des Beaux-Arts between the Place du Casino and Square Beaumarchais area, as well as under the Hotel Metropole and in many other hotels.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Monaco
Menton
Menton is a lovely town of 30,000 (one of my favorites) on the eastern edge of the Riviera, several miles from Italy. The beaches are cleaned and disinfected each day in the summer and equipped with showers, and two beaches have even been reserved for dogs. It has a 16th century fort overlooking its harbor and a 17th century Baroque church and is noted for its music and art festival.
In 1848 Menton broke away from Monaco and became a part of France in 1860. From 1880 on, Menton became a popular winter resort for the rich, particularly the English and the Russians. The town was completely demolished during WWII and wasn’t fully rebuilt until the 1960s.
Click here for VRWAY’s VR Tour of Menton
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