Three cultural landmarks on the Cote d’Azur
The Cote d’Azur has not earned its reputation as being a ‘playground for the rich and famous’ lightly, and anyone who has been to this stretch of coastline in the south of France, will know that the region is alive with stylish eateries, glitzy nightclubs, glamorous casinos and beautiful sandy beaches adorned by equally as beautiful bodies.
There is another less known side to the Cote d’Azur, which often goes overlooked. Being home to a bountiful amount of historical and cultural landmarks, choosing which one to head to for a cultural day out on the Cote d’Azur is difficult.
To help you make your decision, we have highlighted three great historical and cultural landmarks on the Cote d’Azur.
Saint-Paul de Vence
The medieval walled town of Saint-Paul de Vence is an artist’s haven and should be an essential place on all Cote d’Azur travellers’ itineraries. This picturesque town is a maze of cobbled streets and provides a fantastic aspect of the hills of Provence. Within the ancient walls a world-class museum can be found, alongside many legendary artists’ paintings – definitely a cultural day out not to be missed.
Chapelle du Rosaire, Vence
Being cited as being “a truly wonderful experience”, all visitors to the Cote d’Azur should make a trip to the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence. Often referred to as the Matisse Chapel or the Vence Chapel, this unusual chapel was built for Dominican nuns between 1949 and 1951 under the supervision of Henri Matisse. Regarded by some as one of the great religious structures of the 20th century, the Chapelle du Rosaire houses several of Matisse originals, which Matisse himself viewed as being his “masterpieces.”
Lles de Lerins
If you are in Cannes then hopping on a boat and taking a trip to the Lles de Lerins islands promises to make a memorable day out. This group of four Mediterranean islands are first known to have been inhabited during the Roman times. The Ile de Saint-Honorat monastery was founded in 410 and it is here that Sain Porcarius lived and met his demise during an invasion by Saracens.
Today, Cistercian monks are the only inhabitants of the islands, which, can be reached in 15 minutes by boat from Cannes.