It's not just the rich and famous who enjoy the blue coast - everyone can find a place to dream on France's Mediterranean coast. If you book your vacation in the south of France outside of the high season, you will discover heavenly places for yourself.
Admittedly: Anyone traveling to the south of France in July will have nerves of steel - this is when the French go on vacation, and the towns are not only crowded with jet-set tourists from all over the world, but also lots of locals. This drives up prices. But before and after that, in the low season, the French Riviera is also worth a trip for those seeking peace and quiet. And the sea is wonderfully warm until October.
Vacations in the south of France by the sea: the old charm remains
The great thing is: even 50 years after Brigitte Bardot, a vacation in the South of France still offers the brightly painted fishing boats in Saint-Tropez, the shiny sailboats and fat yachts in the port of Cannes or the sophisticated casino in Monte Carlo. But you also see the housewives in Nice hanging their clothes out to dry on lines across the alleyways. Or old ladies walking their small dogs in the parks. Families and students eating their "flûtes des maison" (baguettes with pâté) in the bistro on the corner. With a pastis (aniseed schnapps) - wonderful.
A must-do on a vacation in the south of France - Monaco
One thing we definitely don't want to miss on our vacation in the south of France is the Palais Princier de Monaco in the Monte Carlo district. We walk up the hill on which the princely residence is located. The Grimaldi family has resided up here since 1297 - and in 1956, fairytale princess Grace Kelly moved in... Some rooms and halls can be visited for an entrance fee of 8 euros, for example the Blue Salon, where Prince Rainier III received his official visit. Also nice to see: the great changing of the guard, which takes place daily at five minutes to twelve in the palace courtyard. If you then walk back down the hill, you will be amazed by this incredibly narrow racetrack, which you will recognize from the Grand Prix de Monaco on television. The Formula 1 car race takes place every year in spring.
Vacations in the south of France with cornering
It's time to take your vacation in the south of France on the road: In our little Renault, which we rented for three days and around 110 euros, we also feel like winners with the windows open on the coastal road. This panoramic landscape, this sea view! Every now and then we wind our way through the mountains. And learn to honk the horn before every bend. An hour's drive through Nice along the palm-lined promenade - and we're in Cannes, on the beach. There are no more sunbeds available - it doesn't matter, we sunbathe on towels like everyone else. Wonderful! We stay here for the afternoon. Our plan is to drive back along the sea in the early evening as the sun sets, our hair in the wind, the salt still on our skin. Menton is our destination - there are supposed to be great bars here, and we have booked a hotel room for the night for 75 euros. A romantic vacation in the south of France: when we arrive, the air is balmy and the stars are twinkling.