Carnaval de Nice
The 'Carnaval de Nice' almost rivals Rio with its extravagant and colourful parades down the Promenade des Anglais.

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler

© Alison Shayler
Medieval town with prehistoric artefacts and great hiking routes
Tende is a wonderful little town right on the Italian border with a rich heritage, fascinating architecture, prehistoric relics and plenty of outdoor activities to keep everyone happy.
From the centre of the town you can take a stroll up one of the narrow side streets that climb steeply up to the remains of the Château Lascaris, the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, the old medieval village and spectacular views over the lower part of the town and the valley beyond. The village is steeply terraced and old stone bridges link some of the streets with little hobbit-sized tunnels running underneath others.
One of the many charming things about Tende is that it is a true community, not just a tourist destination or a monument to years gone by. All the ramshackle streets are home to local families and, consequently, the bars and restaurants are frequented by locals as well as holidaymakers.
August is a good time to visit Tende; not so busy as some of the more famous towns and they have a number of local festivals going on celebrating local traditions.
July and August see many local events taking place, such as agricultural fairs and traditional parades. Tende holds an annual celebration of the humble chestnut with the "Fête des Châtaignes" every October.
The 'Carnaval de Nice' almost rivals Rio with its extravagant and colourful parades down the Promenade des Anglais.
The start of spring is celebrated every Sunday in May with a grand celebration in the Jardins de Cimiez.
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang...well, several in fact, fireworks always feature heavily.
Exceptional locations around France, including Nice, will be open to visit on the Journées du Patrimoine - a European wide event inspired by by France’s Journées Portes Ouvertes which started in 1984.
Tende was Italian for many years (since 1860) and only became French as recently as 1947, meaning that it still has a strong Italian influence in its architecture, cuisine and way of life. The streets of Tende have an air of Italian flamboyance about them with brightly painted facades and intricate little features, mixed in with some very Provencal-style barns and wooden houses.
Tende is home to the Musée des Merveilles, a modern exhibition space showcasing discoveries that date back almost 5,000 years. Excavations have revealed prehistoric settlements and the museum featured lots of artefacts relating to their daily life. You can also find out where to hike to see prehistoric and bronze age rock carvings in their original location.
Situated on the Chateau hill, this large cemetery has more than 2,800 tombs on terraces, and boasts wonderful views overlooking Nice and the Mediterranean.
The museum of modern and contemporary art was opened in 1990 and features artworks from the 1960s to the present day.
Come and see bison, deer, horses, boars and hawks roaming on 700 hectares of land, just one hour from the French Riviera
Situated within the Royal Fort on Ile Sainte-Marguerite in the Bay of Cannes, this museum is a place not only of learning but also of rich history.
This museum was created to protect one of the most important petroglyph sites in Europe, in the Merveilles Valley (valley of Wonders).
Guarding the Bay of Angels, this 19th-century tower is where composer Hector Berlioz created the opening of the famous King Lear overture in 1831, whilst staying here.
Plage Buse is a pretty and undulating stretch of pebbly coastline tucked away to the west of the Roquebrune Cap Martin peninsula.
This family-friendly beach is easy to get to but not so easy to find, which is perhaps why it always stays fairly quiet even in peak season.
Plage Marquet is the most easterly of the Cap d’Ail beaches and is right on the border with Monaco.
This is a small and secluded beach with two excellent restaurants and safe swimming. Plage Mala is a little haven.
Located just beneath Restaurant La Pinede along the Sentier Littoral, Plage Gramaglia is more a series of rocky coves than a traditional beach.
Eze-Sur-Mer has only one beach but it’s a lovely one; great for swimming as the water comes very high up the beach and it's in a calm bay.
Laurent Paccini is the chef at this Relais & Châteaux hotel and brings the food of different cultures to his excellent Mediterranean restaurant in Saint-Paul de Vence.
In a Regency-style dining room decorated with magnificent 18th century woodwork, Jean-Denis Rieubland proposes two menus, "Découverte" and "Chantecler".
Château Eza offers a Michelin recommended restaurant serving à la carte French and Mediterranean cuisine against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera.
La Table de Pierre offers refined, garden-led cuisine by Chef Emmanuel Lehrer in a romantic setting with views over the estate.
Enjoy refined regional cuisine in an iconic setting featuring original works by Picasso, Matisse, Miró and more.
Gourmet restaurant of the Saint-Martin Spa & Chateau hotel to the north of Vence.
It is this eclectic and cosmopolitan atmosphere which makes it a place very "French Riviera".
Situated right on the seafront of the Promenade des Anglais this stunning building plays host to some of the city's biggest events.
An intimate pub with open mic and acoustic nights, a good atmosphere and happy hours!
A vibrant pub in the heart of Nice's busy quarter, the Old Town. Popular with locals and tourists alike but especially the International crowd.
Originally set up by Russian jazz musician Dimitri Shapko, this venue plays host to local and international jazz, soul and R&B.
Right on the corner of the Place du Palais de Justice is a little cluster of bars, our favourite of which is Master Home.
Tende is part of the Mercantour National Park and the surrounding countryside is perfect for rugged hikes, long mountain bike rides, rock climbing, via ferrata, canyoning and paragliding. It's also one of the best sites in the world for potholing (or “spelunking”, as it is also known), with the nearby Piaggia Bella being one of the deepest potholes in the world at -850m.
The GR52 “Grande Randonée” hiking trail passes by Tende on the way to Saorge, as well as many other routes of varying lengths. All trails in this region are marked on the map IGN (1/25,000) #3841 OT "Vallée de la Roya".
In winter you can ski at Réserve Blanche, a ski resort with over 100km of pistes straddling the French and Italian borders, just 20 minutes drive from Tende. There are also cross-country ski trails amongst the forests of Casterino, also about 20 minutes from Tende.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
A bike trip for advanced riders, where you can enjoy some of the most scenic roads of the French Alps.
Enjoy a wonderful, peaceful and fume-free journey along the French Riviera on a solar powered motor boat with a professional skipper.
Take a trip onboard this luxury yacht along the Riviera to any destination of your choosing.
This company is based in Nice and offers a wide range of road bikes.
A fantastic way to experience the breathtaking scenery of the South of France.
Fly at 50 metres above the sea by yourself or with friends security attached, enjoy a spectacular view of the gorgeous Baie des Anges, mountains and surroundings.
Paddleboarding along the coast is a fun for the whole family!
Located in the harbour of Nice this diving school enables beginners, intermediates and confirmed divers to explore 25 diving sites.
Rowing, power boating and sailing. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, whether you prefer a leisure or competitive approach, the club offers its resources, its equipment, its fleet (except for power boating).
In Nice, in the residential area of Saint Pancrace, beautiful villa situated on a plot of 1Ha in edge of forest of which 2000m ² done up.
Located in the town of Vence, in a quiet residential area, charming villa set in grounds of 3600 m². Private salt water swimming pool (10m x 5m – Depth 110/170 cm – Alarm), outdoor shower (hot water), pool house (barbecue, oven, gas hob), terrace with garden furniture, deckchairs and dining table. Parking for 4 cars. 2 km shops. Beach 12km.
Just outside historic Vence and a short distance from magnificent Saint Paul de Vence, this beautiful and contemporary house on a generous private plot is very quietly located for exploring all the delights of this beautiful corner of the French Riviera. The villa is located in a beautiful natural setting with views of the mountains.
The villa in La Roquette-sur-Var has 4 bedrooms and has capacity for 8 people.
In Vence, 5 km from Saint-Paul,, in a residential area, beautiful contemporary villa located on a plot of 1000m2.
In the heart of the French Riviera, 10 km from the beach and 13 km from the airport, this villa is set in lush greenery and nature.
In the heart of the French Riviera, 10 km from the beach and 13 km from the airport, this villa is set in lush greenery and nature.
In the commune of Colomars, 10 km from the sea, in a residential area, beautiful villa on a plot of 1500m².
The villa in La Roquette-sur-Var has 4 bedrooms and has capacity for 8 people.
Located in the town of Vence, in a quiet residential area, charming villa set in grounds of 3600 m². Private salt water swimming pool (10m x 5m – Depth 110/170 cm – Alarm), outdoor shower (hot water), pool house (barbecue, oven, gas hob), terrace with garden furniture, deckchairs and dining table. Parking for 4 cars. 2 km shops. Beach 12km.
In Vence, 5 km from Saint-Paul,, in a residential area, beautiful contemporary villa located on a plot of 1000m2.
Just outside historic Vence and a short distance from magnificent Saint Paul de Vence, this beautiful and contemporary house on a generous private plot is very quietly located for exploring all the delights of this beautiful corner of the French Riviera. The villa is located in a beautiful natural setting with views of the mountains.
This hotel has been entirely renovated, combining the historical ambience of its past, plus the modern conveniences of an international luxury hotel.
Situated on its own two-hectare peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, the hotel has wonderful panoramic views. With only 28 rooms spread over four separate locations, it is a very private and luxurious place to stay.
Boasting remarkable sea views of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this luxurious hotel is listed among the 500 World's Best Hotels.
Toile Blanche is a stylish retreat where contemporary design, Provençal elegance and immersive art come together across serene gardens and valley views.
La Bastide Saint-Antoine in Grasse sits within five hectares of lush Mediterranean gardens and olive groves. It overlooks the surrounding plains and the Bay of Cannes, offering stunning views and a feast for the senses.
Distinguished turn-of-the-century resort hotel with a sophisticated aura, surrounded by a beautifully landscaped 14-acre park.
Getting to Tende from the Riviera is fairly straightforward; you can either hop on the Train des Merveilles from Nice or drive up on the D2204 via Sospel, the train takes just two hours and it’s a little over an hour by car. Once there, there is a free car park right in the centre of town.
From the airport to the city centre, they handle the rest. The Côte d’Azur's most trusted private transfers.
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
Chabe Transfers are a renowned luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the French Riviera.
Created in 1976 this company has grown and has now transported well over 100,000 passengers. They have a fleet of 12 craft to meet client demands.
With an International fleet of jets and helicopters based across Europe it is quick and easy to get a private charter flight for business, pleasure or an airport transfer.
Heli Securite offer transfers on a helicopter from the airport to your yacht or various destinations in and around the Cannes area, St Tropez and Monaco. In addition to this they also service all of the main French ski resorts from their base in Courchevel.
Provençal villa with swimming pool and landscaped garden
SOLE AGENT- MONT BORON - CAP DE NICE - nestled in a small private lane, you will discover this beautiful neo-Provençal villa in a peaceful setting on the side of a rock, facing southwest towards the sea.
South-facing terrace flat in the heart of the city, a stone's throw from the tramway and shops.
Find out all about what is happening in Nice and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, fabulous beaches, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in this cosmopolitan city.
See allLatest News & ReviewsYou will not be short of entertainment in this beautiful French Riviera town throughout the year. The most popular public events take place along the Promenade des Anglais, including the Carnival in February, the Bastille celebrations in July and the Nice marathon in November. There are also plenty of live music and cultural festivals.
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