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The French Riviera
The Côte d’Azur, otherwise known as the French Riviera (covering the region of southeast France that runs along the coast from Bandol, west of Toulon, to Menton and the Italian border in the east) has been synonymous with chic elegance and lofty living for well over a century. However, its heyday was during the 1950’s / 60’s, when practically everyone who was anyone seemed to have upped sticks and bought a villa along its pebble-strewn shores! It’s still a ‘playground for the rich and famous’, especially at stylish resorts such as Nice, Cannes, St-Tropez, and of course the epitome of extravagance, Monte Carlo.

The quaint harbour fishing villages have become chic tourist destinations, now full of pleasure yachts and crowded summertime beaches. Elsewhere there are the perfumed streets of Grasse, the balmy beaches of Menton and the history-stained cobblestones of Fréjus & St-Raphaël to explore. Up in the hills are the quieter medieval villages: Sainte-Agnès, which offers magnificent panoramic views of the sea and mountains; and in St.Paul-de-Vence tourists can browse through shops and galleries set on narrow winding cobblestone streets. Nature is abundant within the glorious landscapes, stunning gorges, national and regional parks and peaks culminating at 3000 metres of height on the Italian border. Throughout the region, are charming country homes and terraced private villas overflowing with beautiful flowers, olive trees, orchards and vines.

Antibes
The Mediterranean town of Antibes has a long and interesting history stretching back thousands of years. It was the Greek seafarers who first began turning the southern corner of the ‘Bay of Angels’ into a trading post known as ‘Antipolis’ - meaning 'the city opposite'. Due to its naturally protected port, the town has long been used as an important trading centre. Many different groups of people ruled over Antibes, until France finally took control. The town has retained much of its ancient charm, which makes it one of the more special destinations along the famous French Riviera – with a wonderful climate and scenery attracting thousands of tourists each year. There are 48 beaches along the 25km of coastline that surround Antibes and Juan les Pins.

In more modern times and before mass tourism discovered this part of the coast, the area surrounding Antibes was a market garden covered in glass for growing flowers. Hence the area is still famous for its wonderful roses and innovative florists.

Inside the ramparts is the ‘Old Town’ of Antibes, with its quaint narrow streets, food and flower market, and small squares clustered around the Place Nationale. According to the season, early morning shoppers at the Provencal Market buy aubergines, figs, tomatoes and wonderful mixed leaf salads, gladioli, tulips, and roses, farm cheeses and meats.

The marina itself, is home to some of the world's largest and most expensive yachts, which sway elegantly along its quays. Its 1,600 moorings make it the largest pleasure port in Europe. The ancient ramparts contrast with high tech, multi-million dollar floating homes. The IYCA (International Yacht Club of Antibes) can accommodate many of the largest Superyachts around, and is frequently full. Port Vauban has a dozen or so quays, many of them occupied by Superyachts. Currently, Port Vauban is having a major facelift and extension with the aim of being the best and most ecologically advanced marina in the Mediterranean by 2022.

Antibes is bustling with supp liers of every product a yacht might need. This ‘mecca’ for yacht crews, offers a large English speaking social scene with numerous bars and restaurants.

Cannes

Cannes has come a long way from the little fishing village it used to be and is best known today as the town of famous festivals and congresses! In December of 1834, Lord Brougham, the Lord Chancellor of England, was forced to winter in Cannes. Seduced by the natural beauty of the site, its friendly inhabitants, and good weather; he decided not to look elsewhere and settled permanently here. A wave of British aristocrats soon began flooding to the area. 

The town received the prestigious visits of royalty and noble personalities who came here in winter in search of peace and good weather; their presence encouraged the development of the Croisette and cemented Cannes as a fashionable resort.

As one of the world’s most iconic destinations, Cannes is a magnet to superyachts. Owners and charterers alike can’t resist mooring just a few metres away from La Croisette – the elegant boulevard that starts at the Old Port and wraps its way around the Bay of Cannes past Port Pierre Canto to Palm Beach – where Belle Époque buildings and landmarks like the Hotels Martinez and Carlton dominate the buildings on one side, with the sparkling Mediterranean waters shimmering on the other. 

The annual Cannes Film Festival is a glamorous addition to the French Riviera events calendar. In front of the Palais de Festivals, the Allée des Étoiles - France's version of the star-studded footpath in Hollywood - can be seen. Over one hundred and fifty celebrity handprints have been immortalized here.

Cannes offers luxurious designer shops, superb restaurants, elegant and modern hotels and trendy bars. Yet despite these images of luxury and opulence in the sun, Cannes is also a popular base for yachts and their crews throughout the year. It is a short walk (2-3 minutes) from the Old Port to the heart of the town, and just 10 minutes more from Port Pierre Canto. The railway station is not far either, from where frequent trains connect to Antibes, Nice and Monaco to the east, and Toulon and Marseille to the west. To the west of Cannes lies the pleasant town of Mandelieu and the port of La Napoule, which accommodates a large number of superyachts that regard it as their home berth.

Nice 
Situated at the south eastern-most tip of France, Nice is a privileged junction between the Alps, Provence, Corsica and Italy. The city, nicknamed ‘Nice la Belle’ which means ‘Nice the Beautiful’, is the capital city of the Alpes Maritimes Département, the largest town on the Côte d’Azur, and the fifth most populous in France. The city has changed hands many times throughout the ages due to its importance as a strategic port and is believed to be one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. The Greeks of Marseille founded a permanent settlement on the site around 350BC, and called it Nikaia, after ‘Nike’, the goddess of victory.

After being an Italian dominion for years, Nice became part of France in 1860. In the second half of the 18th century, the mild Mediterranean climate and spectacular natural beauty enticed the English upper classes to spend their winters in Nice. The Promenade des Anglais (‘the Walkway of the English’) owes its name to these earliest visitors to the region.

There are many buildings from the ‘belle époque’ era, and gardens, statues and fountains remain adjacent to palm tree-lined boulevards. The port has its own unique atmosphere, below the towering Mont Boron, and surrounded by plenty of restaurants and bars. Yacht facilities also include the ‘Commercial Quay’, suitable for the largest yachts, which they share with sizeable car ferries connecting Nice to Corsica.

Nice is now visited by 4 million tourists a year, second only to Paris, attracted by the varied landscape and climate of the region. Therefore the city has a large number of hotels and the airport is the second most busy in France after Paris.

Nice is much more than just a place for fun in the sun. Art aficionados ‘must-sees’ include major museums and for archaeological buffs there are the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Cemenelum. You can wander the cool passages and narrow pedestrian lanes in the romantic old town, lingering over the sights and scents of the colourful flower and produce markets, and trawling for antiques. Festival fans descend for the many summer events. There are many wonderful restaurants; from chic little bolt holes to family-style French cooking and Michelin-starred cuisine; and then there are the many, many late night bars, often with live music.

 
 
 
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  • Bohobos Crewhouse

    Highly recommended. Very friendly, welcoming and professional family run crewhouse. Excellent very clean rooms, kitchen, living and outdoor areas. Superb location near the train and bus stations the port, crew agencies and the centre. Facilities such as laundry, computers etc. make things as easy as possible for yacht crew. The owners are wonderful, making each guest feel welcome and helping to connect people. For these reasons and more this crewhouse has become my home away from home in Antibes.