Sightseeing tours – list

The sightseeing tour will take you along the coastal road, through Golfe Juan and Juan les Pins (known for its Jazz festival taking place every year in July), and the famous peninsula of Cap d’Antibes, discovered by the rich and famous . The tour will stop in the old town of Antibes and you will stroll through the narrow streets, visit the provençal market (every morning exept on monday). Antibes once surrounded by ramparts ( partly still existing), founded ca. 400 BC by the Greeks, today has preserved its authenticity, hosting the Picasso museum in the old Grimaldi Castle, an Archaeology museum, the Peynet cartoonist Museum and a 16th century fort overlooking one of the largest private yachts harbour in France.The tour will continue a couple of miles away from the sea to the hansdome village of Biot, once in the roman time specialized in wine and oil jars, and today, since 1950 known for its glass factories producing a unique type of glass suffused with tiny bubbles. You can stop and visit one of this glass factory and a modern art glass museum. Biot is also known for its Fernand Léger museum.

The tour will then take you to Vallauris, famous for its pottery, where Picasso discovered his new passion and spent a few years creating pottery, some copies of his ceramic are still sold at the Madura Pottery. In Vallauris Picasso painted in 1951 the chapel near to the castle, the famous plywood painting of La Guerre et la Paix. You will be able to stroll through the main street, lined up with pottery shops, and you can visit a pottery factory.

A sightseeing tour along the famous Croisette boulevard of Cannes, feel like a star in front of the famous steps of the Cannes Film Festival Palais, and visit the old town.

The tour will drive you to the old village of Mouginsvisit the village where Picasso has lived, stroll through the narrow streets and enjoy the panoramic view to Cannes on the south and Grasse on the north.The tour will continue to the city of Grasse, known for two centuries as the capital of perfumery, home of the painter Fragonard, climatic resort in the 19c.. Stroll around the streets of the old town and discover the numerous middle age buildings, its Cathedral (hosting 3 paintings of Rubens), visit the old Fragonard perfume factory, where you will be explained the manufacturing process and you will be able to shop, visit the private perfume containers collection of the owners and the museum of the provencal costume.

Your tour or shore excursion will take you through Nice, you will enjoy the beautifull panoramic view of the capital of the French Riviera from one of the the hills, where Nice was founded, the tour will then continue through the coastal road, around the bay of Villefranche, through the small town of Beaulieu.

The tour will continue to the Principality of Monaco, drive through the F1 racing track to Monte Carlo, stop in Monte Carlo and see its Casino (open as from 2pm) and perhaps gamble and become a millionaire!. See the Casino square, surrounded by beautiful gardens, luxury hotels, restaurants and shops.

Your sightseeing tour will then take you back through the mountain coastal road, you will have a view of the old perched village of d’Eze, located 429 meters above the sea, offering the most beautiful panorama of the Riviera.

Your sightseeing tour will take you through the countryside to the old medieval village of Saint Paul, where you will walk through the old gate of this fortified village and stroll through the narrow pedestrian streets and discover its numerous art galleries.

Continue your tour crossing the medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, known also as the city of violets.

The sightseeing tour drive will continue through the hills to Grasse, known for two centuries as the capital of perfumery, home of the painter Fragonard, climatic resort in the 19c.. In Grasse you will stroll around the streets of the old town and discover the numerous middle age buildings, its Cathedral (hosting 3 painting of Rubens), visit the Fragonard perfume factory, where you will be able to shop, visit the private collection of perfume containers and the museum of the provencal costume.

The tour will take you to Grasse, the capital of perfume and have a full guided tour in the Fragonard perfume factory.

Then drive to a second perfume factory to its tarinology studio where you will be receiving an introductory course in perfume-making, with the help of a specialist (called “the Nose”), you will create your own unique fragrance, and at the end of the course you will receive a personalized perfume bottle (100cc) with the name you have choosen for this new creation.

You will receive as well a diploma certifying the completion of your course and you formula will be kept by the perfume factory so that you can reorder it whenever you like.

Your sightseeing tour or cruising shore excursion will take you around the old and new city of Nice, where you see the Russian church, the residential area of Cimiez and its roman archeological site and the old Palaces of the last century, have a panoramic tour view of the old and new Nice from the hills, visit its provencal market (morning only).The sightseeing tour will continue along the coast to Villefranche, where you will see its old harbour and its narrow medieval streets, then the tour will take you to the Principality of Monaco, passing through the villages of Beaulieu and Cap d’Ail. Once in the Principality, if you wish, you can be dropped at the port and you can walk to the old town of Monaco to see its Prince’s Palace, its narrow streets, the Cathedral housing the tombs of the former Princes of Monaco and as well Princess Grace’s tomb (cars are not allowed in the old town).

Back from your visit of the old town the tour will then continue driving you through the F1 racing track to Monte Carlo where you will be able to visit its Casino, the luxurious shopping galleries, see the Casino square and why not gamble and become millionaire.

The tour will return driving through the mountain coastline road “moyenne corniche”, the tour will then stop in order to visit the old perched medieval village of Eze, clinging, like an eagle’s nest, to a rock spike towering at 427 m above the sea. You will walk through the 14c double gateway and strolls through the steep narrow streets where you will find artist workshops and boutiques, you are also free to visit a perfume factory (Fragonard). (Meal is not included in the sightseeing tour rate, but can be taken either in Nice, Villefranche or Monaco)

The sightseeing tour will take you along the coastline road from Cannes to Monaco or from Monaco to Cannes. Drive through Cannes, Juan les Pins and Cap d’Antibes tothe old town of Antibes, see the market (morning only, except Monday) and the old town, the tour continue by driving to Nice where you will visit the capital of the French Riviera, the Russian church, the residential area, the old town.

The tour will continue by driving you through the coastline road (basse corniche) to the Principality of Monaco driving around the the bay of Villefranche and through the towns of Beaulieu and Cap d’Ail.

The sighseeing tour will stop in Monaco so that you will visit the Principality of Monaco. If you wish, you can be dropped at the port and you can walk to the old town with the Prince’s Palace, see the Cathedral housing the tombs of the former Princes of Monaco and Princess Grace’s tomb, (cars are not allowed in the old town). The tour will continue driving through the F1 racing track to Monte Carlo where it will stop again and you will be able to see the Casino square and visit its Casino (open after 2pm).The sightseeing tour will then continue by driving you through the mountain coastline road (moyenne corniche) to the old medieval perched village of Eze, where you will stroll through its narrow streets full of artist workshops and boutiques.

(Meal is not included in the excursion sightseeing tour rate, but can be taken in any of the town you will be visiting)

Your sightseeing tour and shore excursion will take you to the old provençal town of Grasse , lthe capital of the perfume industry, and if you have read Patrick Süskind’novel Perfume you might also wish to have a free visit of the Fragonard Perfume factory where you will be explained how the perfume were created in the past, and you will be able to buy perfume and cosmetics.Then stroll through the old town. Your tour will then drive you through the countryside road to Tourrettes sur Loup, a charming old medieval small village standing on a rock plateau above a sheer drop, known for its local production of violets flowers, now also an arts and crafts centre. Walk and pass under the belfry gate and stroll through the main narrow road lined with small pottery and local shops where you can see and meet craftmen at work.

Then the sightseeing tour will continue to the old fortified medieval town of Saint Paul de Vence, set on a spur, behind ramparts, discovered in the 1920’by painters like Signac, Modigliani, Matisse, who used to meet at a café at the entrance of the village, which has since becometh Auberge de la Colombe d’Or, this made St.Paul famous. You will be able to walk through the old gate into the main narrow street lined with artist’studios and art and craft galleries. You will walk to the cemetery, at the other end of the main street, where Marc Chagall painter is buried.

Your tour will take you along the corniche road of the Esterel Massif where you will enjoy this area of breathtaking natural beauty with high porphyry red tint rocks, the tour will take you accross Agay , Saint Raphael , lthe Roman ruins of Fréjus , Port Grimaud.

The sightseeing tour will take you along the bay of Cannebiers to finally reach the little port of Saint-Tropez, one of the best-known resorts of Europe, a crossroad where writers, artist and celebrities all meet, you could be among them. The tour will stop in Saint Tropez where you will visit this charming little village, its harbour where fishing boats, commercial vessels share the mooring with the most luxurious yachts. From the waterfront you will stroll through the neighbouring narrow streets where the old pink and yellow houses have been converted into cafés and pastry shops, restaurants and luxury boutiques and galleries. Visit the old 19c Italian-Baroque style church. Walk to the hillrock where from the Citadelle fortress you could enjoy a panorama view to Saint Tropez and the bay.The sightseeing tour will then depart from Saint Tropez and you will be driven back through the countryside roads, along the numerous vineyards of the Cote de Provence, visit one of the vineyard and taste one of the best wines ot this region.

Meal is not included in the sightseeing tour rate, but can be taken in Saint Tropez while you visit.

Drive from Nice to San Remo through the “middle corniche” coastline road, enjoy the panoramic view of Villefranche, Beaulieu, Eze and the Principality of Monaco.Stop and make a walking visit of the old town of San Remo , the russian church, the market (on tuesday and saturday morning only), visit the numerous italian boutiques with large variety of shoes and leather shops. Have an italian meal in one of the restaurants around the harbour (meals not included).

On the way back you will be visiting the old French border town of Menton , once part of the Principality of Monaco and also shared in the popularity of the Riviera in the late 19c and early 20c by the European aristocracy for it mild climate. Stroll through the narrow streets of the old picturesque village. The warmest resort of the Riviera also known for the high production of lemon trees, surrounded by beautiful gardens arranged around by the english winter residents of the last century. Drive back through the “Grand Corniche” highest coastline road to Nice, and return to your hotel (or to the port of call for the end of your cruise shore excursion)

Drive to Vallauris , a town known for its traditional craft of pottery, where Picasso stayed from 1948 to 1955. Visit the National Museum of ceramic and the chapel “Peace and War” painted in 1952 by Picasso, evoking the horrors of war on one wall and the innocent joys of peace on the opposite wall. Drive by the Madura Gallery where Picasso started working the clay and created some unique pieces of ceramic.

Drive to Antibes and visit the Grimaldi Castle built in the 12C on the foundations of a Roman camp, today house of the Picasso Museum , where the artist created many works in 1946, you will admire La Joie de Vivre, a huge work in fibro-cement, and other paintings inspired by the marine and mythological life of the Mediterranean, Ulysses and the Syrenes, The Oak Tree…… The shocases hold an impressivecollection of Picasso’s ceramics created in Vallauris.

Drive to Mougins , where Picasso has lived the last fifteen years of his life, and visit the museum of Photography gathering a collection of photos of Picasso made by his friend André Villers and other contemporary photographers. (Museum and Parking fees are included in above rates)

See the light, visit the places, villages, houses that have inspired Matisse, the region where he met Bonnard, Renoir or Picasso.

Drive to the city of Nice , where Matisse lived between 1918 and 1954. Drive by the Hotel Beau Rivage, near the Opera house, the Palais de la Méditerranée, on the famous Promenade des Anglais boulevard, walk through the cours Saleya square where he lived for some time, pass by the ex-Regina Palace Hotel on the Cimiez residential area, once his residence, and visit the Matisse Museum , a Genovese-style villa located in the heart of a nice-acre olive grove, near a Franciscan monastery. The villa itself house a permanent collection of 68 paintings and paper cuttings, 236 drawings, 218 engravings, 57 sculptures and 14 illustrates books. From the first donation made by the artist himself in 1953 to the Marie Matisse donation of 1992, this collection is now quite exceptional. The Matisse’s grave is still in a private garden on the top of the Cimiez hill.

Drive to Vence , where Matisse lived during the war time and visit the Matisse chapel, designed and decorated by him, at walking distance from the villa Le Rêve where hi staid and painted Nature Morte aux Grenades. (Museum and parking fees are included in above rates)

See the light, visit the places, villages, houses that have inspired Matisse, the region where he met Bonnard, Renoir or Picasso.Drive to Nice and visit showing the largest public collection of Chagall’works, centred around the set of paintings produced on Genesis, Exodus and the Song of Songs. The architecture of the museum was conceived by André Hermant, the entertainment hall has three stained-glass windows of the Creation of the World that Chagall drew for the museum.

Then drive to the city of Vence where Chagall met his new wife Vava and where you will see a mosaic “Moses Saved from the Waters” maid by Chagall for the cathedral of Vence in 1979.

Then drive to the village of Saint Paul de Vence where he is buried with Vava in the small lovely cemetery overlooking the Bay of the Angels. Visit the Maeght Foundation were Chagall met Marguerite and Aimé Maeght, the founder of the foundation, and admire the Chagall mosaic “Les Amoureux” (the lovers) and the painting “La Vie” (the life).

Drive to Nice, and see the numerous statues and art works displayed all over the city, visit the Modern and Contemporary Art museum of Nice. The collection, exhibited in rotation on the two upper floors, present French and American avant-garde art movements from the 1960′ to the present. A section of the museum is devoted to the French painter Yves Klein whose monumental work Wall of Fire is located on the roof-top terrace. You will see artworks of Cesar, Arman, Nikky Saint Falle.

Then you will be driven to Saint Paul de Vence, where you will be able to visit the Modern and Contemporary Art Foundation Maeghtlocated on a hill, surrounded by pine trees and a large park, where you will find a mosaic by Tal-Coat, the Calder stabile, a fountain by Paul Bury, the sculptures and ceramics by Miro , the statues of Giacometti, and many others.

At certain time of the year you will be able to visit as well the N.A.L.L. Association exhibition and workshop of the American artist Nall who designed and builted this museum on a three-hectares estate in a small valley. In his museum, coulour mosaics give way to mirror mosaics on the walls, the floors, painted in trompe-l’oeil, blend with Indian sculpted doors from the XIIth, XVth and XVIth century.

Drive to Antibes and visit the large complex called Marineland , where you can visit the unique naval collection, visit the large marine park, with their sea-lions, sea-elephants, dolphins, whales, seals and penguins.

Then drive to the Principality of Monaco where you will be visiting the Naval museum, showing a large colection of over 250 models and objects dating from the antiquity up to today.

Then drive to to old town of Monaco where you will be visiting the Oceanographic Museum founded in 1910, with one section dedicated to the oceanographic works of H.S.H. Prince Albert 1st and houses an aquarium renowned for the variety and rarity of its species on display, together with a spectacular shark lagoon of 450 cubicm.

You will be driven to the Principality of Monaco where you will be visiting the private collection of antique cars of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III, approximately 100 vehicles are on show in a 4000 sqm area and categorized according to His Serene Highness wishes by class or period; military, horse-drawn carriages, popular, veteran, vintage, sport cars, classic and prestige….De Dion Bouton 1903, Renault 11cv 4 cylinder Torpedo 1911, Panhard Levassor 1913, Ford T 1930…….., and some of the most prestigious models from Maserati, Jaguar, Mercedes and Rolls Royce..After the visit you will be driven through the famous Monte-Carlo F1 track around the Principality of Monaco.

Drive to Nice , capital of the French Riviera, discovered by the English gentry in the 19th century, visit the St.Nicolas Russian Cathedral (built in 1912), drive along the famous Promenade des Anglais boulevard and stop at the Negresco Hotel (1913) , a national historic monument, then continue your visit driving to the hill of Cimiez, lined-up with palaces and villas builded at the end of the 19 century, see the old Regina Palace (1896), once the hotel where the Queen Victoria stayed for the last few winters of her life.

Drive to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild(1912), once the private residence of the Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild, today a museum surrounded by seven magnificent gardens decorated with patios, xaterfalls, ornamental lakes, flower beds…

Have a light lunch at the villa, then drive through the town of Beaulieu to the Principality of Monaco, visit the area of Monte-Carlo, visit the gambling Casino (identity card of passport is necessary !), and the casino square surrounded by “Belle Epoque” buildings, like the Hotel de Paris.

The drive to Menton , another city full of lovely Palaces and villa builded in the Belle Epoque period.

Drive to Nice , in the hill of Cimiez and visit one of the oldest garden in the French Riviera, by the Monastery of Cimiez, then drive to Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and visit the 7 different gardens (Spanish, Florentine, French, Japanese, Provençal, Oriental, Roserai,…) surrounding the previous villa of the Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild .

Have a light lunch in this lovely property and then drive to Menton , the garden city, where you will be visiting the Val Rahmeh botanic garden of exotic plants (founded in 1905 by Lord Radcliffe), visit the gardens of the Palais Carnoles (once the private Palace of the Princes of Monaco), hosting the largest collection of citrus trees in Europe.

You will drive to the old town of Nice , and visit some Palaces, like the Palais Lascaris (once an aristrocratic residence), and churches like the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, one of the major examples of early Romanbaroque art in Nice, redecorated in the 17th century, while Nice was Italian.You will the drive to the city of Menton and visit the Baroque Basilique of Saint-Michel, a fine example of the talent of 17th C. Ligurian architects, this Basilica surveys the old town, which itself forms a baroque neighbourhood. Then you will be driving to the countryside villages of Sospel, and Saorge and finally to Tende (at the border with Italy) and visit the unique splendid churches along the mountain road leading to Italy.

Discover the Provence (Aix en Provence, St Maximin la Sainte Baume).