A Côte d’Azur Road Trip on the Coast and to Villages

One of the life experiences I cherish the most is spending time along the Côte d’Azur. However, I must confess that I’m geographically challenged, so the more I visited, the more confused I became about something relatively straightforward. “Which seaside towns are below which hilltop villages?” To settle the question, my friend Heidi and I mapped out the region’s topography during a seven-day road trip along the Côte d’Azur and into the “hinterland.” Please click here for Deborah’s original article about their trip and photo galleries.

Where did the ladies visit on their road trip? Here are a few of the highlights.

Côte d’Azur Road Trip

Day One: They drove from Uzès to the Mediterranean coast, stopping in Bandol, Cassis, and driving the stunning Route des Crêtes.

Cassis is a picturesque town tucked into a curve along the Mediterranean Sea between the calanques. The village with 8,000 inhabitants is about 20 km east of Marseille. It’s a fishing port on a steep hillside with vineyards and pastel-coloured houses that tumble to the seaside. Bordering the marina are more pastel-coloured houses, shops and restaurants. The port is filled with little fishing boats, yachts and charter boats that take tourists out to the calanques.

Day Two: St Cyr sur Mer to Mougins via the coast with a stop for a seaside lunch.

Located east of Marseille, Toulon was designated a Royal Port 1494 under King Charles VII, who wanted to prove France’s superior power at sea. His military campaign failed, as did subsequent forays. Challenges and a few successes marked the Napoleonic era in Toulon. On November 17, 1942, the French scuttled their military fleet in Toulon to avoid German capture. The port sustained substantial damage during a bombing campaign in November 1943. Rebuilt from the post-war era, Toulon’s legacy as a French naval centre continues. The city has a manufacturing base related to the navy, aeronautical equipment, and more traditional fishing and wine production.

Sentier du littoral ©Estérel Côte d’Azur

The Estérel coastal mountain range straddles both the Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments. Of volcanic origins, the massif is roughly 32,000 hectares of rugged terrain awaiting exploration. Mont Vinaigre is the highest peak at 618 metres. According to the Estérel Côte d’Azur tourism office, there are 72 trails for biking (road, gravel and mountain), hiking, and walking that crisscross the range, including many within the protected Forêt domaniale de l’Estérel.

Day Three: Mougins to Vallauris, Gourdon and back.

Mougins, a tiny jewel of a hilltop village —where Picasso lived his last twelve years—is located on the Côte d’Azur, just under seven kilometres inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The views of the lush countryside are magnificent, as are its fascinating Greco-Roman, culinary, and art legacies. Plus, it offers easy access to both snazzy Cannes and charming Valbonne.

Day Four: Nice to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin

Nice is a city where centuries-old architecture and traditions blend seamlessly with modern-day attractions to create an unforgettable French Riviera experience. It has been one of my favourite places to visit since I moved to the south of France.

Bordered by Monaco and Menton, the communities of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin occupy an enviable spot on the French Riviera. Wedged between the sparkling Mediterranean and the Alpes-Maritimes, there is no doubt why crowds flock to the Côte d’Azur for their holidays. Although not undiscovered in the late 1920s, the area was the “playground” of a select group that included architects revered a century later. Cap Moderne, a one-time holiday refuge for creative types, is a unique property even for exclusive Cap Martin.

Visitor Guide to the French Riviera and Alpes Maritimes

Day Five: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin to Menton Return

We drove along the coast to Menton, known for its orange groves, lush gardens, and unique food products made with citrus. After a day of market shopping and perusing the town, we returned to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin for a spectacular sunset.

Menton ©Camille Moirenc

Menton is a must-see city in southeastern France, the last major town before leaving the French Riviera. It is located on the French-Italian border, and the architecture has clear Italian influences. Menton is where you can tickle the turquoise sea or enjoy the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Day Six: Roquebrune-Cap Martin to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Flanked by towering cliffs, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie resembles a Provencal nativity scene protected by a 150kg gold star suspended between the bluffs. In 1981, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie joined the ranks of the beaux villages, attracting visitors year-round.

Day Seven: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to Uzès via Roussillon

Our final day began in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie with a peaceful morning walk and a leisurely breakfast. On our way out of town, we passed a small village with stunning views of Lac de Sainte-Croix.

The red hills of Roussillon inspire artists, but I had no idea how many famous authors visited the region. On my first visit to Roussillon, while riding along the winding roads of the Luberon, I was amazed to see the massive red hills up ahead. They seemed to appear from nowhere, and the nearby towns had only slight tinges of red.

©Paul Shawcross