Urban escapes on the Côte d’Azur

Menton

A Land of Lemons 

The last French town on the Côte d’Azur before you arrive at the Italian border, Menton – a town dear to Jean Cocteau – has maintained all of its former charm. With its colourful house frontages, ancient graveyard and shaded square, the historic quarter is a place where time stands still. Take time to enjoy a stroll in one of the town’s luxuriant parks: thanks to Menton’s generous sunshine and subtropical microclimate, lemons thrive here. Now a symbol of the town, the Menton lemon is coveted by chefs the world over and celebrated every year for 3 weeks from mid-February onwards at the “Fête du Citron”, when floats decorated with sweet-scented citrus fruit parade through the town.

Cannes

Beyond the clichés

If you want to appreciate Cannes to the full, you need to push past the old stereotypes. Of course, the town that welcomes the Cannes Film Festival every year is synonymous with palaces, luxury boutiques, casinos, glitter and flashy cars. But to grasp the essence of Cannes, it’s best to move off the beaten track. Nothing beats a walk in the old Suquet quarter – the cradle of the town –, redolent with Provencal charm and offering stunning views over the bay. Alternatively, opt for a boat ride to the Iles de Lérins islands: two little beauty spots adorning the Mediterranean waters. It is here, on the island of Sainte-Marguerite, that the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned under the reign of Louis XIV. The island also boasts a beautifully-preserved plant life and little coves lapped by crystal-clear waters. Its neighbour, Saint-Honorat, is dominated by Lérins Abbey, where monks have been perpetuating Cistercian traditions since the 5th century. A far cry from razzle-dazzle and designer shops…

Grasse

A scent of Spring

Welcome to France’s perfume capital! Perched on the heights of Cannes, at the foot of the French Southern Alps, Grasse owes its renown to its rich soil, ideal for flower growing. Jasmine, lavender, roses, mimosa, narcissus and orange blossom are still lovingly nurtured all around the town. Enjoy a casual stroll through the picturesque, ochre streets of the 7^th-century historic quarter before visiting the International Perfume Museum and one of the town’s three perfumeries open to the public. Set inside a 17^th-century former tannery, the deliciously-fragrant Parfumerie Fragonard offers a captivating insight into the various stages of perfume making.

 

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Saint-Raphaël

A popular resort

A former fishing village, Saint-Raphaël became a highly-coveted seaside resort in the 19th century. It was here that F. Scott Fitzgerald drew the inspiration for his famous novel “Tender Is the Night” in the Twenties. Stop off to admire the vast Neo-Byzantine basilica, then wander along the Promenade des Bains before heading to the town’s plush quarters such as Valescure, lined with magnificent Palladian-style villas.