8 ideas of villages to visit on the French Riviera

Do you want to leave the sea and the city to go and perch on the sumptuous villages of the French Riviera?

The Alpes Maritimes are full of villages perched on the hillsides overlooking endless valleys. They exude a great authenticity and a rich regional heritage rooted in their stones. Some of them have incredible panoramic views of the sea and of an invasive nature. Perched between the sea and the mountains, the villages of the French Riviera are unique in their kind.

After the series of seaside walks on the French Riviera, you will find below a selection of villages to visit in the Alpes Maritimes from Cannes to Menton.

1. Tourette sur Loup

The village of Tourette sur Loup is a magnificent medieval village perched on a rocky spur between the sea and the mountains at an altitude of around 400m. Its surrounding houses form the ramparts of the village. It is located 6km from the town of Vence. It owes its success to the violet which became its main crop in 1880.

Worth a visit:

• the medieval village
• the Sainte-Grégoire church
• the chapel of Saint-Jean
• the 30 artists’ galleries, craft and designer shops
• the Wednesday morning market
• the Violet Festival which takes place on the first weekend in March
• the bastide of violets
• canyoning and rafting for the more sporty in the Loup valley

2. Roquebrune Cap-Martin

The village of Roquebrune Cap-Martin is a medieval village overlooking the village roofs and the Mediterranean Sea. Located between Monaco and Menton, it culminates at 1145 meters of altitude. Its mild climate gives it a beautiful vegetation all year round. Its panoramic viewpoint overlooking Italy and the peninsula of Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat has earned it a great reputation.

Worth a visit:

• the medieval village
• the castle dating from 970
• the oldest olive tree in Provence
• the church of Sainte-Marguerite
• the chapel of la pausa

3. Eze village

Eze village is a medieval perched village considered as one of the most beautiful villages on the French Riviera due to its aesthetics and its exotic garden overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Perched at an altitude of 429 metres, it is located on the middle corniche halfway between Nice and Monaco. Its plunging view on the peninsula of Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat and the Baie des Anges makes this village one of the most famous and most visited.

To visit :

• the medieval village
• the baroque church
• the exotic garden with its incredible panoramic view (please note that there is a charge)
• the terraces of Eze
• the many art galleries and designer and craft shops
• the fragonard perfume shop

4. Saint-Paul de Vence

Like the above-mentioned Eze village, the village of Saint-Paul de Vence is one of the best known villages on the French Riviera. Perched on a rocky spur fifteen minutes from the sea and thirty minutes from Nice, the village offers an exceptional panorama of the greenery and hills of the Vence pass. Its fame is due in particular to the many artists who have passed through the village such as Yves Montand, Picasso, Matisse…

To visit :

• the medieval village
• the dungeon of the castle
• the church of conversion of Saint-Paul
• the oil mill
• the place of the big fountain
• the Place de Gaulle at the entrance to the village for a game of pétanque
• the Maeght foundation
• the village ramparts
• The restaurant les remparts saint paul de vence

5. Le Haut de Cagnes

Le Haut de Cagnes is a perched medieval village much less frequented than its neighbours. And yet, its narrow streets, its architecture and the energy that emanates from it make it a pleasant place to spend time. Located on the heights of Cagnes sur Mer, 25 minutes from Nice, we stroll through the narrow streets one after the other while admiring the pastel facades and the bougainvilleas. These alleys lead us to the top of the castle with a breathtaking view. This village has also been home to many artists.

Worth a visit:

• the Grimaldi castle
• the church of Saint Paul and Saint Peter
• the chapel of Notre-Dame de la Protection
• the artists’ house
• the museum of contemporary jewellery
• leCagnard Castle

6. Mougins

The village of Mougins is a medieval village perched above the bay of Cannes at an altitude of 260 metres. It is an artistic village which exhibits many works of art in the open air. There are many museums and art galleries (some of which are internationally renowned) as well as gourmet restaurants which give the village a certain popularity. In addition, the village holds the International Gastronomy Festival every September. It has retained its authenticity from ancient times with beautiful medieval stone houses.

Worth a visit:

• the medieval village
• the museum of photography
• the museum of classical art
• the church of saint jacques le majeur
• the chapel of saint barthélémy

7. Gourdon

The village of Gourdon is known for its impressive location as it is a medieval village perched in an eagle’s nest on a vertiginous cliff at an altitude of 760 metres overlooking the Gorges du Loup. The village is a real balcony which offers an incredible view over more than 80km between Nice and Théoule. There are several creative shops (perfume, soap, honey, glassware…) but above all the castle and its sublime garden laid out by Le Nôtre, the famous landscape gardener of Versailles.

To be visited:

• the chapels of St Pons, St Vincent and St Catherine
• the gardens of the castle
• the remains of a Roman camp
• the church dating from the 12th century
• Starting point for the Chemin du Paradis hike to Bar sur Loup

8. Sainte-Agnès

The village of Sainte-Agnès has a particularity of size, that of being the highest village in Europe! Indeed, the village is perched at an altitude of more than 800 metres, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the French Riviera. Its strategic location on the heights led to the construction of a fort by the military with the Maginot line. Thus, the village was for a time a defence post on the French-Italian border. Today, you can find art and designer shops.

To visit :

• the medieval village
• the ruins of the castle at the highest point
• the castle garden
• the church of Notre Dame des Neige
• the chapels of Saint-Sébastien and Sainte-Lucie

This article has introduced you to a series of perched villages on the Côte d’Azur, the most famous ones anyway. I will prepare a new article presenting you a new selection of equally incredible villages!

Stay tuned!