Discovering French Riviera's Artistic Soul

While glitz and glamour is the lifestyle of the French Riviera, history, art and culture is its soul! The towns of Antibes and Vence and villages around in Côte d'Azur give a glimpse of this

- Pallavi Pasricha

The deep blue Mediterranean Sea, white sand beaches, sunbathing and fiery sunsets that's the vision of the French Riviera I have. But instead, a dark cloudy sky and rain greeted me as I arrived. Being an optimist, I hoped that the weather would clear soon and I would get a glimpse of the crystal clear azure waters that I had been dreaming of, after all, this glamorous region is said to be drenched in nearly 300 days of sunshine. However, clouds also come with a silver lining, so I ended up seeing a double rainbow on my first evening. Usually people head to Nice and Cannes, but I was here to explore Antibes and Vence and the charming small villages that lie around in Côte d'Azur, another name for the French Riviera.

Arty Antibes

Antibes, the second largest city in the French Riviera, is home to more than 30 pristine beaches. Far more exclusive than Cannes or Nice, Antibes is a draw for the super-rich and famous for long, luxury yachts line Port Vauban, the largest leisure port in Europe that lies here. The understated glamour of Antibes is set against the backdrop of an ancient walled city that was once part of the Greek and Roman Empires, then independent for many centuries before joining France in the 15th century.

The signs of history lie all around. It is ringed by sturdy walls built for its defence that overlook the oh so blue Mediterranean Sea. The 16th century Fort Carré, made during King Henry II's reign, resembles a four pointed star which made it possible to spot if an attack was coming from any direction.