Three great beaches on the Côte d’Azur
The Côte d’Azur is renowned for its beaches and bright blue sea. However what a lot of people don’t anticipate is that many of the incredible beaches of the Côte d’Azur comprise of pebbles.
One of the best pebble beaches is Villefranche, where the whole beachfront is open to the public, and the beach is more coarse sand than stones, and no shoes are needed.
If you’re looking for a sandy beach to idle away the days whilst on holiday in the south of France, here are three fabulous beaches with sand.
Plage du Port Galice, Juan les Pins
Hidden between the Cap d’Antibes and Juan les Pins, is a lovely little beach that not so many holidaymakers are aware of. It is basically a sailing port, but the beach is protected by a pretty stone wall, which absorbs the sun’s warmth and protects you from any wind.
The port of Gallice tends to be sheltered and calm, making it an ideal choice for families. The sand is lovely and fine here and the water is shallow for splashing about. At either end there are some rocks that make for great climbing and exploring.
Plage Passable, St Jean Cap Ferrat
This beach looks across the majestic Bay of Villefranche, which happens to be amongst the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. The beach is not sand, but a very fine form of gravel and is easy to walk on without sandals. The beach has a solid jetty and there are rocks suitable for jumping off into the sea.
Plage de la Gravette, Antibes
This beach is situated close to the old town of Antibes; it is calm and protected by the old ramparts of the city. The water is reasonably shallow making it ideal for adults to play with their children in safety.
You can easily find fresh food to eat from the nearby market that is open every morning. There is nothing better than olives, tomatoes, gorgeous cheese and fresh bread with olives, plus fresh seasonal fruit, for your beach lunch.
When you have had enough of beach life, you can spend the evenings wandering around old Antibes with its boutiques, tourist shops and great places to eat whilst gazing at the incredibly expensive yachts, moored at what is known locally as Billionaires quay.
The high season on the Côte d’Azur lasts from April until October if you want warm water. However out of high season the beaches are quieter but the sea is rather nippy. Late summer/autumn is a great time to visit this beautiful part of France when there are less crowds, and the sun’s heat isn’t so strong.