Luxury Real Estate

By Philip Weiser of Carlton International

Evocative place names remind us of the historic appeal of the Côte d’Azur. The Promenade des Anglais, magnificent boulevard bordered by Mediterranean palms, was created by the British residents of the City of Nice early in the 19th century as a footpath for the first tourists to meander along the seaside. 

Queen Victoria spent several winters in the Grand Hotel and the Rothschild family property in Grasse, city celebrated then and now as the birthplace of the world’s finest perfumes.

How impressed Lord Brougham would be today, he who, in 1834, inspired the English aristocracy to follow him to the sunshine of Cannes, to see the sophisticated resort it has now become. Renowned the world over for its beaches, boutiques, Casinos, the Cannes Film Festival, nightspots, restaurants and year round glamorous events.

Between Nice and Cannes, Antibes, once a Greek, then Roman port, today is proud to possess the largest yacht marina in the Mediterranean. Nestled against the ancient stone ramparts of the old city, with its Provencal Market, winding pedestrian streets, it is filled with charm and colour. Juan les Pins, exciting seaside resort, home to all manner of water sports, bright boutiques, cafés and bars. Vallauris on the hills above the sea, former residence of Picasso, is still famous for its ceramics and pottery, museum and at the coast the pretty village of Golfe Juan with beach restaurants and modern marina.

Not far from the coast, in the heart of the Provencal countryside the clash of ancient and modern…the Sophia Antipolis high tech park, centre for research and development in the pharmaceutical and information technology industries, University and International schools, all enveloped in greenery and surrounded by golf courses. Nearby, Valbonne, a charming13th century village overflowing with small restaurants and shops.

The French Riviera coast is peppered with amazing mediaeval hilltop villages such as Mougins, Saint Paul, Eze, Biot and Cagnes.To the west, Saint Tropez with its famous beach clubs, elegant hotels, open air market, port and star studded nightlife.

To the east, a short distance from the Italian frontier and seaside towns of Ventimiglia and San Remo, the Principality of Monaco glitters in the sunshine. The Casinos of Monte Carlo, the Monaco Grand Prix, Somerset Maugham, Grace Kelly, the memories of this world apart are endless.Small wonder that this Côte d’Azur is still so sought after by visitors the world over.

No other destination offers so great a combination of advantages. Superlative sea sports facilities and ski slopes only an hour away. Marinas and golf courses in abundance, the arts, museums, jazz festivals, theatre, opera, English language cinema, the carnival of Nice. A seemingly endless choice of scenery and sights to discover. Perched villages, picturesque Provencal market places, cobbled streets, an ever changing landscape and stunning vistas to the sea. All this in a benign climate and in an environment of political security.

It is evident that the lure of the French Riviera of yesteryear has nurtured the dreams of the world today and with sound advice and straight forward mortgage facilities many will turn their dreams of a home on the Côte d’Azur into reality.