Lazurny coast, Cote d'Azur - the south-eastern Mediterranean coast of France, stretching from the city of Toulon to the border with Italy. The Principality of Monaco is also located on the Cote d'Azur. Another name is the French Riviera.
Cote d'Azur (Cote d’Azur) is a famous southern region of France, stretching along the Mediterranean from Marseille to the border with Italy. The wonderful climate, picturesque nature, warm sea and fashionable hotels make it a favorite vacation spot for wealthy people. The main thing on the Cote d'Azur is not the sea at all: they come here for parties, entertainment, restaurants, discos and casinos.
Often, the Cote d'Azur is called only the southeastern part of the coast, which begins in the Toulon region. In addition to the territory of France with the world-famous Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, the Principality of Monaco is a part of the region. The region offers its guests all the best that is in France: the sea and rocky ledges, sun and lush greenery, luxury shops and ancient sights, delicious food and excellent wines.
Cote d'Azur is the entire southeastern part of the Mediterranean coast, belonging to France. The territory extends to the border with Italy and includes the Principality of Monaco. The region includes the southern part of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var, as well as a small section of the Bouches-du-Rhône.
The most popular tourist area is the Alpes-Maritimes, it is here that the famous Nice, Cannes and Monaco are located. These places are traditionally considered the center of luxury, comfort and expensive life, and the capital of the Nice department is one of the most famous resorts in the world, although this city is more interesting for its cultural heritage and sights than the beach.
In Var, the pace of life slows down dramatically, and the quality of the beaches improves markedly. It was these lands that became the classic example of the Côte d'Azur: cozy villages and towns, lavender fields, vineyards, blue sea. The most famous cities are Toulon and Saint-Tropez.
And Bouches-du-Rhone is the eastern department of the region, in which Marseille is located, the largest, busiest and most unusual town on the Cote d'Azur and the capital of Provence. From here you can go to old Arles, Aix-en-Provence and see many sights. Near Marseille there are quiet seaside villages with good conditions for a beach holiday.
The region is most convenient to travel by train. The railway network covers almost the entire coast, and remote settlements can be reached by buses that belong to the local railway company, they even have the same tickets. It is better to buy them in advance at the office. The site of the French Railways.
In addition, it is easy and pleasant to travel around the Cote d'Azur by bike. Often there are bicycle paths, but even where there are none, it is convenient to drive. In large cities, city bike rentals work, prices are usually lower, and in smaller places you can find private companies. It is worth choosing a mountain model, since on the way you will most likely meet dirt roads near vineyards and hills.
Difficulties can arise only when driving through the cobbled streets of the central part of small towns. In this case, it is better to leave great and go for a walk on foot.
And, of course, having near the sea, you can use water transport. If renting a yacht is not available to everyone, then many can afford a ferry ticket or sea taxi fare. Ferries sailing both over long distances, for example, connect the region with Corsica or Sardinia, or quite tiny: they run between the two banks of the Old Port in Marseille.
Most tourists coming to the Cote d'Azur, rent a car. It is convenient and practical: you can explore the entire region and not depend on the train and bus schedules. True, there is a downside: the route along the coast of the south of France is crowded, in high season there are often traffic jams. The easiest way is to take a car directly at the airport, although you can also use city rentals in Nice, Cannes, Marseille and other cities. Or even in small villages.
The police treat tourists well, always ready to help, but they demand impeccable observance of the rules of the road.
There are many parking lots in the region, but they are all paid, there are parking meters on the streets. And the place is not so easy to find. It is necessary to prepare in advance and see the addresses of multi-level car parks in cities along the way, sometimes they are the only ones saving. Often there are toll roads, at the entrance to which there are also traffic jams. During long journeys, especially in rural areas, experienced drivers advise to fill the tank with gasoline for the future, as refueling is not everywhere.
Beaches of the Cote d'Azur
Cote d'Azur is a very diverse region, and hotels in it also differ. These are luxurious, five-star complexes, where celebrities stay, modest home-based inns of small towns, and guest houses, where they not only provide accommodation, but also enjoy real Provencal cuisine, and modern apartments, and fashionable secluded villas, and simple, affordable price hostels. In the cheapest accommodation options will be offered bed, breakfast and Wi-Fi, in the most expensive - anything you like: from restaurants and casinos to spas, jewelry boutiques and beauty salons for people and pets.
Cote d'Azur has a reputation as one of the best places in the world to relax by the sea. The conditions here are, indeed, quite good, but the quality of the beaches varies greatly. Nevertheless, everywhere there are paid sunbeds and umbrellas, toilets, showers, changing rooms, cafes and various water activities.
Most tourists tend to get to Nice or Cannes, but the beach here can be disappointing: Nice waves are waiting for guests with high waves and very large pebbles, more like cobblestones (stock up on beach shoes!), And in Cannes, the sand is not bad, but almost all the territory belongs to hotels, to sunbathe free will not work.
But further along the coast, starting from Antibes, is a real expanse for holidaymakers. In Antibes itself there is the eponymous, very long and clean beach, surrounded by rocky slopes with pines growing on them. The second city beach of Grania is more noisy, with lots of water entertainment. In Cassis there are two small sandy-pebble sites, which are also framed with stones of amazing beauty, and immediately after them begins the road to Kalanki - narrow rocky bays where you can enjoy the views. De La Gran Mer beach deserves higher marks.
The wonderful sandy beach, awarded with the Blue Flag, is located in the village of La Ciotat near Marseille, it is great for families with children, as the entrance to the water is gentle. The second most popular "children's" resort - in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, there is also small and calm. Another good place to relax with the kids is St. Maxime and the so-called Elephant Beach. There are no elephants there, of course, but there is soft, fine sand and a very comfortable descent into the sea.
The famous Du Prado Beach in Marseille is a two-kilometer stretch of coast covered in pebbles. But we must remember that Marseille is a large port city, so the water is not very clean and can not be compared with the neighboring towns, which can be reached in a few minutes.
Those traveling by car should go to Frejus and turn to the wild, deserted coast, they are considered the most deserted and beautiful, although there is no infrastructure there.
But the most famous seaside resort for many years remains Saint-Tropez - indeed, very picturesque and beautifully equipped, but at times too crowded. Here, De Pampelonne Beach is recognized as the best stretch of the coast, although the prices there are very high.
Not far from Toulon is the place La Lond-les-Mares - another piece of the coast with the Blue Flag, it is very good and almost deserted, since there are no large hotels nearby.
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