South of France Yacht Charters
The luxury yacht charter cruising season in the South of France begins in May with the annual film festival in Cannes and the Monaco Grand Prix.
St. Tropez, Cote d'Azur
St. Tropez has to be one of the great places to start a luxury yacht charter. Ringed by a centuries-old wall, small, intimate restaurants line the harbor, specializing in seafood and Provencale cuisine. Behind the waterfront restaurants you'll find a maze of little streets and alleys (‘chemins') with countless little shops selling everything from traditional Provencale foods and brightly colored linens to designer gear and hand-made one-off accessories.
Isles d'Hyeres
These three islands, also known as Iles d'Or (Islands of Gold) due to the yellow colour of their rock, provide a special contrast to the rest of the Riviera. Just a short cruise away from St. Tropez, each has its own distinct characteristics. Poquerolles, the largest of the islands has an excellent selection of lovely sandy (and often uninhabited) beaches, as well as a truly colonial feel to its villages, especially the main village of the same name. The smallest island, Port-Cros, is a National Park. The island has a wild feel to it and is a great place to hike and picnic.
Cannes, Cote d'Azur
All along the waterfront runs the legendary la Croisette. This is where millions of people watch the glittering celebrity turnout for the Cannes film festival every year. Lining the beach are dozens of restaurants that also rent sun loungers, some of which morph into funky nightclubs when the sun goes down. For shopaholics, rue d'Antibes runs parallel to la Croisette and is crammed with everything from typical French high street fashion to designer shops. The Old Town of Cannes has its own charm: a covered market selling local produce and flowers. A must to include on your yacht charter vacation.
Isles de Lerins
Just a short ferry or yacht tender ride from the old port of Cannes, St. Honorat and Ste. Marguerite are a breath of fresh air. The old abbey on St. Honorat, which is still a functioning monastery for Cistercian monks, has laid a blanket of calm over the island. Both islands are criss-crossed with walking trails which are so gentle they're perfect for the least active of visitors. It's worth going just to check out the abbey. Fort Royale (built in 1712) on Ste. Marguerite was, for a time, home to The Man In The Iron Mask - it's a short walk from the port and makes for an engrossing trip. Take a picnic up to the fort - have lunch looking out over the bay to Cannes. Take your camera!
Antibes
Antibes' old town will be one of your favorite places. Must-sees: the Picasso museum and the Marche Provencal in front of the Mairie (town hall).
Nice
Nice has so many faces, but has long been acknowledged "Queen of the Riviera": with good reason. The famous Promenade des Anglais walkway skims the beach for a good couple of miles, and is always busy with tourists, locals, rollerbladers, skateboarders, joggers - you name it, it's on the Promenade des Anglais. On the westernmost end of the Promenade des Anglais is the old town, between Place Massena and the Chateau. Take a break from the boutiques and galleries at on of the many bistros with a café au lait at a table on the street and watch the world go by. Your charter yacht will likely berth near the old town.
Villefranche and Cap Ferrat
Villefranche de Mer and St. Jean Cap Ferrat, two idyllic seaside villages hiding superb restaurants, secret bays and excellent anchorages. Short inland trips arranged from your charter yacht can include ancient hilltop towns complete with picturesque passageways and countless galleries. Many yachts anchor off either harbour and guests use the yacht tender to shore.
This quiet little town is becoming really popular with celebrities snapping up holiday homes on the Riviera, and with good reason. With a 16th century citadel and church and a beautiful beach, Villefranche is situated right between Cannes and Monaco. Stretch out on the beach or walk around the town. A walk up to the Musee Volti in the lovely old Citadelle (fort), or the nearby Musee Goetz-Boumeester, will make a few hours flash by. Visit the cool, serene Chapelle St-Pierre or soak the Citadelle St. Elme, home to three museums. Don't forget a trip up to the tiny medieval village of Eze.
Monaco
The famous harbor, always lined with megayachts, is surprisingly small and the foothills of the Alpes Maritimes just tower over Monaco. The harbour is lined with instantly recognizable landmarks: on the one side, the Hotel L'Hermitage; on the other, the Royal Palace and beautiful old town, not to mention the Casino Royale. For raw, unadulterated glamour, this is the place. For shopping, there are lots of ritzy shops in the twisty streets behind the port and in the old town.
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