Visiting Cote d’Azur, the French Riviera

Cote d’Azur is a beautiful area in southern France known for its seaside resorts, colourful yachts, the rich and famous, and wine. This sun-kissed strip of coastline along the Mediterranean between Marseille and Italy instils a love for those who have penchant for a laidback lifestyle. The lively little port towns are just perfect for watching the world go by with the warmth of the sun on your face and a glass of rosé in hand.

Fishing boats, pastel buildings and palm trees

Sanary-sur-Mer is a very pretty village based around a fishing harbour

Sanary is little known but is a little treasure

Toulon is homeport for “Charles de Gaulle”, the French Navy’s nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Toulon was the first port on our Grand Mediterranean cruise and an excellent gateway to the riches of Provence and the Cote d’ Azur. Surrounded by Provencal hilltop villages and superb vineyards to the north and west, this unspoiled area is famed for its rosé and beaches.  To the east are the fabled coves and beaches of the Cote d’ Azur, the setting for the legendary resort of St Tropez.  Everywhere there is a fusion of sky and sea that form the essence of Southern France.

Market day is not just a time to buy what you need, but a time to observe

We drove along one of the world’s most famous coastlines and stopped at two charming villages and enjoyed some of the magic of this area.  We headed west to the lovely and authentic Sanary-sur-Mer.  Along the way we marvelled at the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean on one side and the rambling hills on the other.

Many artisanal fishers still use the region’s traditional wooden fishing

Locals develop a laissez-faire attitude immersed in the relaxed lifestyle

Mooring spaces closest to the town are reserved for colorful pointus, or traditional provencal fishing boats

Within 45 minutes we arrived at this enchanting 16^th century town which is open and active all year and known as the sunniest place in France due to only having 60 days of rain a year.  Our camera’s were kept busy snapping the panoramic views and delights of this pretty harbour, lined with palm trees and homes painted in pastel shades.  In the centre of town there were shops, restaurants and cafés where we could shop for French fashions, sip a cappuccino or enjoy an ice cream or crepe.  We found a Boulangerie and purchased a hot dog and quiche and the best éclair au café (coffee éclair) I’ve ever tasted. It was a delicate melt in your mouth choux pastry filled with coffee crème patisserie, topped with a glistening coffee glaze. What a perfect moment to soak up the ambiance of this exquisite area.

There are many restaurants, along the water and in the back streets

The Hôtel de la Tour is an unfussy but classy place to stay on the water’s edge since 1936

Despite having a population of around 16,000, the village maintains its small town authenticity, and Cote d’Azur character and charm. We wandered through some streets of the main area and fell in love with the quaint architecture and the most unique downpipe ever featuring the head of a snake.  The harbour has a 13^th century tower and the main hill of the town is home to the 16^th century Chapelle Notre-Dame, noted for its simple design and view over the bay.  Jacques Cousteau had a home in Sanary and it was there he pioneered the deep sea diving equipment he invented and developed.

On the harbour front there are several cafes for watching the world go by

Many restaurants and shops are easily located on the harbour front and the street behind

This sleepy seaside town boasts a thriving fishing industry and authentic French restaurants

We tore ourselves away and continued along Cote d’Azur for another 45 minutes to our next destination. Bandol is a tranquil town, encircled by hills in a sheltered bay, known for its great weather and peaceful setting. In the morning in Place de la Liberté is a bustling market which offers fresh seafood, flowers and fruits.

Fridays and Sundays are time to hunt for antiques and bric-a-brac at the colourful market on the waterfront

Bars and restaurants are plentiful, all with outstanding local food

On the promenade between the marketplace and seafront we came across a fun little statue of a naked flute player, named L’improvisateur. Judging by the cheeky grin on his face, the mythical Pan gets as much pleasure as he brings. It is said that touching the appendage of the weathered flute player will bring good luck and fertility.

A picturesque yachting harbour, with fishing boats moored

Every morning fishing boats come into harbour to sell their catch

We strolled along the boardwalk admiring all the boats docked in the marina. Being the second largest marina in the French Riviera there are boats and yachts of all sizes and we found ourselves daydreaming of sailing away on one of them. Continuing around the boardwalk, near the carpark we came across a beautiful carousel similar to the beautiful, belle epoque-style, double decker carousel in Sanary. Themed along the creations of Jules Verne the whimsical double story carousels honour adventure, travel and exploration replacing some of the horses with a replica of the Nautilus submarine, hot air balloon, planes, motorbikes and a Jules Verne rocket. There is a mix of other exotic animals with giraffes, lions, tigers and adding to the underwater theme, even a seahorse and 4€ gets you a ride on this carousel at Charles de Gaulle Quay.

The picturesque harbor is the main magnet

Colourful fishing boats moore at the harbour

Surrounded by vineyards, with views of the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, this picturesque little village has lots of charm making Cote d’Azur well worth a visit.

The seafront is a delightful promenade shaded by pine, oleander and palm trees

Sanary-sur-Mer is a place for strolling around and relaxing in the Provençal sun

Old traditional sail-driven fishing boats line the harbour, making for a wonderfully photogenic part of the coast

The very name Cote d’Azur conjures up a magical mix sand, surf, sky and sea and even though we had only been in this part of France for such a short time, seeing two of its charming villages was a relaxing and unique experience. Driving along one of the world’s most famous coastlines was a magical experience and the images of the most beautiful of Provence’s towns will remain memorable.

With the old traditional fishing boats lining the harbour, this part of the coast is picture perfect

Have you experienced the magic of this area and walked along one of the world’s most famous coastlines?

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