For Unwinding :
Explore the cobbled meandering alleys, which open onto the colourful port, noted for its variety of waterside restaurants, artists and promenading friends. Enjoy a beach barbecue, watching the sun descend in an amber glow over Fort du Mont Alban. Or how about fresh fish from the fish monger on the harbour just five minutes away.
The Citadel, built by the Dukes of Savoy houses a number of museums and art galleries together with an open air theatre / cinema. Jardin I’Octroi is the location for antique markets (Sundays AM) and the regular weekly food market (Saturdays AM). Just 10 mins. by bus and you can enjoy the street atmosphere of Nice with its boutiques, museums, and Promenade. Take a 'day trip' or a 'night at the opera' in the principality of Monaco, 20 mins. to the east. The apartment allows you to enjoy the best of what the south of France has to offer, a perfect combination of modern luxury and relaxation in the heart of a centuries old village on the Cote d’Azur.
For the Energetic:
There is a wonderful selection of sea sports in the area including diving and sailing schools in Villefranche. There is fishing from the rocks or deep sea fishing, canoeing, water skiing, snorkelling, and sailing. There is a very popular Water World in the area of Antibe.
For hill walkers there numerous routes along the coast line, in the hills around Eze and Menton and 'les villages perchez' like Aspermont, all accessible from the bus route to Menton or from Nice. For the more energetic there are higher walks in the Roya valley - Sospel & Tende, which makes a nice day trip as it is an hours train journey from Nice. There is good walking in the Var Valley of Haut Provence - St Martin en Vesubie, which is also one hour from Nice but you will need a car. North western Italy and Alpine ski resorts are also no more than 1.5 hours away. Details of these activities including bus and train time tables and walking maps are included in the welcome pack.
Garden Trips :
The Maritime Alps create a unique microclimate east of Nice, protecting it in winter from the cold northern European winds and cooling it in summer - east of Beaulieu is known as Petit Afique. This climate of warm winters and pleasant summers creates a gardener’s paradise of exotic plants and shrubs. Consequently, there are many world-renowned gardens within walking distance of the apartment which are open to the public, such as Villa & Jardin Ephrussi de Rothschild on Cap Ferrat. This is a formal garden and villa in a fantastic setting on the ridge of Cap Ferrat, well worth a visit not forgetting a very pleasant coffee shop, bus 81 to Cap Ferrat. Then there is Villa & Jardin Kerylos in Beaulieu sur Mer, which is an accurate reproduction of a classic 5th centaury BC Greek villa reconstructing the life style of that time, also in a fantastic setting, waves lapping around its perimeter, bus 100 to Menton. There are other renowned gardens in the area of Menton, details in the apart.
Other Activities:
Hill walking, snorkling, painting, museums and art galleries, and Institut de Francais
