No doubt, the French Riviera Beaches are renowned for their beauty. A destination for a variety of tourists each year, as well as a trendy get away for locals, the French Riviera is always bustling with activity.
French Riviera Beaches
France's Mediterranean coast extends the full length of the Southern part of the country, giving way to some of the most beautiful and best known beaches in the world. From St. Tropez to Nice, the French Riviera beckons ocean lovers to bask in its glow. If you're traveling, it's always a good idea to check with your hotel as to what amenities a particular beach provides. With that said, the destination is so popular that it is rare to stumble upon a beach in the South of France that does not offer a full array of amenities.
St Tropez
The best beaches in France are said to be in St. Tropez. There is a three mile stretch along la Route des Plages that boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
- Moorea Beach-This is supposedly one of the most exclusive beaches in the French Riviera. This is where the rich and famous hang out to catch some sand and sun.
- Tahiti-La plage de Tahiti is the famous (or perhaps infamous) topless/nudist beach in France. It is supposedly the first beach to be designated as a nudist beach.
- Plage des Greniers-is only a ten minute walk from town and although it's a little beach in comparison, it's quite accommodating.
French Riviera Beaches in Ste-Maxime
One of the best things about visiting Ste-Maxime is that it is a great family friendly resort. While it is quite built up (with apartment buildings and a seaside highway nearby), locals still attest to the fact that the beaches here are relaxing, clean and friendly. Locals will note that Jean de Brunhoff, creator of Babar, lived in the area for a long time, as do many other artists and writers. This makes a rather interesting place for culture to meet in the more relaxed southern France atmosphere. Two of the most recommended beaches include, La Croisette and La Nartelle.
Antibes and Juan-les-Pins
Antibes and Juan-les-Pins together claim more than fifteen miles of coastline and some 48 beaches. Antibes is considered more historic, while Juan-les-Pins is more modern, hip and definitely a sight to see. Most international tourists venture no farther than Juan-les-Pins for their vacation. Many believe the beaches here to be so perfectly pristine, that this sufficiently describes the French Riviera in its entirety.
Cannes
Of course Cannes is known for hosting the famous international film festival. However, it also offers miles and miles of beautiful, white sandy beaches. La Croisette is the most famous beach in Cannes but those in the know like to visit les Ìles de Lérins which is a little archipelago of four small islands: Saint-Honorat, Sainte-Marguerite, St-Féréol, and Tradelière.
Nice
Nice is another destination for many of the rich and famous and it's no wonder: nestled among Nice's beautiful public beaches are a slew of privately owned beaches. However, never fear, the tourist can find plenty of surf and turf in this town, particularly if you are staying in a local beachside hotel.
