Move Over St-Tropez! 3 Secret French Riviera Towns With Less Crowds & Ancient Culture

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We all know St. Tropez for the pastel-colored alleyways that at all times appear to result in both a picture-perfect bell tower or charming piazzas flanked by cafe terraces, the scenic beachfront, and, in fact, the round the clock partying.

Exciting as all of that may appear, we’re undecided about you. We’re not precisely followers of St-Tropez’s loopy crowds, which solely appear to worsen every passing yr. Once once more, that is too small of a city to be internet hosting hundreds of thousands of individuals yearly—and do not get us began on costs.

We’re speaking $30–$45 per particular person for an off-the-cuff meal in a ‘mid’ restaurant, and a whopping $253-a-night for lodges.

But hey, it is not like St-Tropez is the French Riviera‘s solely vacationer provide, and for that matter, we learn about these 3 (type of) secret options with each much less crowds, and all that Old World allure you are craving:

Antibes

Let’s get the ball rolling with Antibes, a laid-back town on the shores of the Mediterranean relationship again 1000’s of years, with the identical St-Tropez pale-colored palette, cobbled streets, and coastal environment, minus the hordes of tourism.

It’s not like Antibes is a secret vacation spot, both, however it positive lacks the latter’s ‘done-and-dusted’ really feel, and that raucous nightlife:

The Old Town is characterised by its Provençal morning markets, the place every thing from recent fruit to lavender merchandise are offered, artsy museums, together with Musée Picasso, housed in the identical waterfront château he used to dwell, and the peaceable, sandy Plage de la Gravette hardly ever feels packed.

Moreover, nights listed here are all about no-frills dinners in family-owned bistros down Rue Sade, within the coronary heart of the Old Town, and romantic strolls alongside the lamp-lit promenade: it does not get any extra quintessentially Côte d’Azur than this.

La Turbie

This one’s for our fellow tradition buffs:

Southern France is well-known for its affiliation with the bygone Roman Empire, however whereas a lot of the eye is centered round cities like Arles and Nîmes, La Turbie is a a lot smaller, criminally ignored village with an equally fascinating ancient history.

It is the proud dwelling of the Trophy of Augustus, a landmark, temple-like construction that dominates the townscape, constructed within the yr 6 BC—and in case you climb to the very high, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the riviera within the distance.

La Turbie itself has Provence’s typical stone-paved streets, tiny squares revolving round previous fairytale wells, and native eateries serving seasonal dishes: Café de la Fontaine and its meat ravioli with spring greens are a transparent spotlight.

As far as beaching goes, La Turbie is located additional up on a hill, so there aren’t any our bodies of water within the speedy neighborhood, nonetheless, Plage des Marinières in stylish Villefrance-sur-Mer remains to be a brief 15-minute drive away.

Biot

Keen on one thing much more offbeat, providing breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and an unmatched medieval environment? Leave the jam-packed coast and drive the slender uphill streets to Biot:

If you are in any respect acquainted with Southern France at this level, you know the way it goes: cobblestones and humble dwellings which were handed down by generations, a leafy major road lined with cozy eating places and artisan outlets, and each conceivable hue of pastel.

St-Tropez could have the Hollywood Golden Age glamour, however Biot is the unsung cultural hub of the French Riviera. It is dwelling to the landmark Fernand Léger National Museum, devoted to the world-renowned French painter, and quite a few artwork galleries displaying native glasswork.

When strolling across the Old Town, must-see spots are Place des Arcades, a bustling major sq. ringed by arcaded buildings, the Sixteenth-century gateway to the village, and the Clock Tower, tucked away in a hidden courtyard amidst the maze of winding streets.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead author at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ international locations below his belt (and at present weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that can have you ever packing your baggage.

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