French Road Trip 2024 Day 7 - 8th October, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Jean Les Pins and Nice - 113km
Our first stop of the day was Cannes - Located on the French Riviera, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Famous for its annual Film Festival, but it is also home to beautiful historical districts, luxury yachts, and vibrant cultural attractions, glamour and Mediterranean luxury.
Cannes
Once again the weather was not in our favour and although not pouring with rain, we had on and off spells of unpleasant drizzle.
This time of year parking was easy and the first car park we came upon was right at the port.
The Port de Cannes is a beautiful marina filled with luxury yachts and serves as a lively focal point of the town, although at this time of year and with the bleak weather it was very quiet.
The most important place for us to visit whilst here was the Palais des Festivals, and no visit is complete without stepping onto one of the 24 most famous steps in the world.
Cannes is famous worldwide for the Cannes Film Festival, held annually in May at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. This prestigious event draws celebrities, filmmakers, and journalists from across the globe to celebrate the best of international cinema.
The red carpet outside the Palais is one of the festival's most iconic spots, where stars gather for premieres, making it a hub of activity and excitement during the festival, although sadly no films were being premiered here on our visit, so no red carpet treatment for us.
Outside the Palais is the Chemin des étoiles, where there is a “Walk of Fame” featuring around 150 handprints of famous filmmakers and actors.
Boulevard de la Croisette is Cannes’ most famous waterfront promenade, stretching along the coastline and lined with luxury hotels, designer boutiques, restaurants, and the Palais des Festivals. It’s an ideal place for a leisurely stroll, where you can absorb the glamorous atmosphere and see iconic spots like the Hotel Martinez and Hotel Barrière Le Majestic.
French Road Trip 2024, Day 7
The Cannes Bandstand, or "Kiosque à Musique," is a charming outdoor music pavilion located along La Croisette, it provides an open-air setting for live performances, cultural events, and concerts, built in 1880, and now listed as a historic building since 1990.
Cannes also has a lot of beautiful buildings and hotels, one being the Hotel Splended - Built in the 19th century, the Hotel Splendid exudes classic French Riviera style with its white facade, wrought-iron balconies, and decorative architectural details.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage (Église Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage) in Cannes is a historic church located near the bustling Palais des Festivals and La Croisette. This charming Catholic church is one of the oldest in Cannes and serves as a peaceful spiritual retreat in the heart of the city.
Originally a small chapel built in the 16th century, the church was expanded and renovated in the 19th century, with the current Neo-Romanesque structure dating back to 1879. It became a prominent religious site for locals, especially fishermen and sailors, who would pray for safe journeys, giving the church its name.
Although only mid-day, restaurants were starting to open and get quite busy, we found a lovely Thai restaurant not far from the church above.
Using our trusty google maps to find out what was nearby we found a few more places of interest:-
Le 7e Art in Cannes, or The Seventh Art, is a well-known cinema located near the city center, celebrating Cannes' deep connection to the world of film. "Le 7e Art" is a term that refers to cinema itself, as film is often considered the "seventh art" in French culture, after the other classical arts (such as painting, sculpture, and literature).
Just a short walk from Le 7e art cinema is a wonderful mural of Marilyn Monroe, paying homage to her iconic status and her connection to the world of cinema. The city, embraces Monroe's image as a symbol of classic Hollywood glamour, and several street art pieces and murals depict her likeness.
Le Suquet is the charming, historic heart of Cannes, situated on a hill overlooking the harbour. Its narrow, winding streets are lined with quaint houses, cafes, and boutiques that feel a world away from the glamour and glitz, unfortunately the weather has now turned for the worse and it was raining quite heavily, so we decided to head back to the car.
Cannes is beautiful all year-round, though it’s most crowded during May for the film festival. For a quieter experience, consider visiting in April or September as it was slightly too quiet on our visit, but we loved Cannes and would not hesitate to return.
French Road Trip 2024, Day 7
After leaving Cannes we decided to drive to Nice via Juan-les-Pins, due to Derek loving the song lyrics of "Where do you go to my lovely" by Peter Sarstedt, released in 1969 which include the lines:-
But where do you go to, my lovelyWhen you're alone in your bed?Tell me the thoughts that surround youI want to look inside your head, yes, I do
I've seen all your qualificationsYou got from the SorbonneAnd the painting you stole from PicassoYour loveliness goes on and on, yes, it doesWhen you go on your summer vacationYou go to Juan-les-PinsWith your carefully designed topless swimsuitYou get an even suntan on your back, and on your legs......
Derek has been singing the song for many years but was never confident his pronunciation of Juan-Les-Pins was correct. It seemed the perfect opportunity to ask a local.
located along the French Riviera in the Antibes area, this is a charming coastal town known for its sandy beaches, lively nightlife, and jazz heritage. Situated between Cannes and Nice, Juan-les-Pins has long been a favourite destination for beachgoers and artists. Its Mediterranean setting, coupled with a mix of modern allure and old-world charm, makes it one of the Riviera's most popular locations for the French themselves.
Although the weather was still overcast, it had stopped raining long enough for us to enjoy a coffee and for Derek to ask the friendly owner exactly how to pronounce the name, for next time he is singing the song in Benidorm.
We had a very brief stop in Antibes, just to stretch our legs, but did not go into the town itself as we wanted to arrive in Nice at a reasonable time to see as much as possible.
French Road Trip 2024, Day 7 - Nice
Nice is the capital of the French Riviera, and is a beautiful coastal city known for its stunning Mediterranean views, vibrant culture, and mild climate. Nestled between the sea and the mountains, Nice combines the charm of Italian influences with a distinctly French elegance, attracting visitors with its famous promenades, historical neighbourhoods, and art galleries.
The area we decided to explore was the Vieille Ville (Old Town)
This is a charming maze of narrow streets, colourful buildings, and bustling markets. This historic area reflects Nice’s Italian roots with its ochre facades, green shutters, and vibrant atmosphere.
The Palais de Justice in Nice is an impressive courthouse located in the city's historical Old Town (Vieux Nice). Built in the late 19th century, it remains an active courthouse and is a notable landmark for both its architectural beauty and its importance to Nice’s civic life.
Surrounding the square are cafés, shops, and historic buildings that add to the atmosphere. The square often serves as a venue for concerts, festivals, and other community events.
Key spots include the Cours Saleya, a lively market square filled with fresh flowers, produce, and antiques, and the Place Rossetti, a picturesque square with cafes, gelaterias, and the Baroque-style Nice Cathedral.
The Nice Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice), located in the heart of Nice’s Old Town (Vieille Ville), is a stunning Baroque-style cathedral dedicated to Saint Reparata, the patron saint of Nice. Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, the cathedral is known for its elaborate façade, beautiful interior, and impressive dome decorated with colourful tiles.
The area is also filled with artisanal shops, boutiques, and cafes where you can sample traditional Nice cuisine, including socca (a chickpea pancake) and pissaladière (a type of onion tart).
French Road Trip 2024, Day 7
The Divo Jacobo Church, formally known as Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur or Église du Gesù, is a beautiful Baroque-style church in Nice’s Old Town (Vieux Nice). Originally built in the 17th century by the Jesuits, the church is dedicated to Saint James the Greater, one of the Twelve Apostles, and is known for its rich architectural and artistic details.
Castle Hill (Colline du Château). An area we only saw from a distance but it offers some of the best panoramic views of Nice and the Mediterranean coastline. Although the castle itself no longer stands, the hilltop park has beautiful gardens, a waterfall, and ancient ruins.
The other area that is worth a visit if you are here for a longer period of time is the Cimiez neighbourhood, located on the hill above Nice, it is home to beautiful Roman ruins, gardens, and historic landmarks.
The Promenade des Anglais is Nice’s iconic seafront avenue, stretching over 7 kilometers along the Baie des Anges (Bay of Angels). This palm-lined boulevard is perfect for strolling, cycling, or simply people-watching, just not today with the weather and lack of time being against us.
We both loved Nice as it offers a blend of beauty, history, and Mediterranean charm. Whether you’re drawn to its famous promenade, artistic heritage, Nice provides a unique Riviera experience for visitors seeking both relaxation and cultural enrichment.
It is a city I would not hesitate to return to.
French Road Trip Night 8 Accommodation B&B L'Avelan - La Trinité 80.23€ including city tax, free parking on-site and Breakfast.
Situated a short distance from Nice in a quiet country location, this was a little difficult to find, and we must have driven past it 3 times before giving in and phoning them, it turned out we were right outside the house.
First impressions were a little daunting, the car was parked in a garage, which although safe and secure, it was very difficult to get the car in and out and we would have had to ask for assistance each time.
The garage was also located in a cellar with quiet a few steps to get to the room itself, so not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties or needing to bring in a lot of luggage, the steps up to the room were through various different levels of the property being used as storage areas and quite cluttered, we did wonder what on earth we had booked.
Once inside our room it was easy to forget about the problems with the parking, stairs and clutter. The room itself was large, bright and tastefully decorated, the bed comfortable and the internet signal good, the best selling point was the lovely large Spa Bath.
On the plus side, to avoid the issue of needing to get the car in and out again and we had not yet eaten, the host provided us with a lovely supper of homemade soup which was very generous and we were not charged any extra for this .
Breakfast could either be served in our room or the small lounge area which was available, we chose the lounge, and at an agreed time went down for breakfast, which was a good choice of breads, croissants, pain au chocolate tea, coffee and fruit juice and the hosts even put the TV on with BBC news.
The friendliness of the hosts made this an excellent choice and an overnight stay that we will not be forgetting anytime soon.
Tomorrow we plan to visit 2 different countries, Monaco and Italy.
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