The Côte d’Azur, which has no strict borders, is said to range from the Italian border all the way to the town of Toulon or Cassis in the west. The area has hosted some of the world’s most iconic figures throughout its day, from Queen Victoria to Matisse and Picasso. Opinions on the Côte d’Azur are quite varied: some still consider it a fantastic playground, while others can find it a little passé.
Towns in the Côte d’Azur such as Cannes, Monte Carlo and St-Tropez are the epitome of wealth and extravagance still to this day. But despite its reputation, the Côte d’Azur is much more than a playground for the wealthy. At more than 31,400km sq in size, the landscape varies greatly. It offers desolate and quiet beaches along the coast of Menton, history-filled streets in the town of Fréjus, the fragrant winds of Grasse – known as the perfume capital of the world – and wild ponies roaming the Camargue national park. Apart from the obvious towns that make up the Côte d’Azur, many others are active and have a working town atmosphere all year round.
The Côte d’Azur is popular for a reason – with a wide array of activities, it offers something for everyone. It has one of the world’s largest yachting communities, and hosts nearly 50% of the world’s super yacht fleets. It is home to Europe’s deepest canyon, a research and technology centre in Nice, and has over 100km of white sand beaches, among many things.
