"Today luxury hotels, high-end boutiques, and a fine-sand beach compete for visitors’ attention as they stroll the famous coastal walk in Cannes that follows the crescent-shapedborderbetween water and town. Once this glamorous walkway was a marshy path called the Crouseto, traversed by pilgrims who came here to visit and pray at the Lérins Abbey out in the bay. Especially during the film festival, when celebrities arrive by yacht, limo, or helicopter and walk along the street, lounging at the café tables and shopping at thefancystores, it is hard to picture the remote fishing village that was once here."

"Named for the alpha males that are its very raison d’être, the conservation center in the southern Alps' Mercantour National Park ensures the well-being of three separate wolf packs. Each pack is allotted 7.5 acres of the park. Wolf sightings depend on the wolves, of course, but regular feedings everytwo to three days guarantee a lupine visit. In addition to the wolf habitats, there is a farm/petting zoo, a restaurant, and even some lodgings on-site, making it an easy base from which to explore the surrounding forest. (On rainy days, the nearby Vesúbia Mountain Park is a popular destination for its indoor climbing wall, gym, and Olympic-size pool.)"

"Côte d'Azur Observatory On a pine-covered summit overlooking the sprawling city of Nice, Mont Gros, a 19th-century observatory, is a local icon. Built by Charles Garnier (famous for his Paris Opéra design) in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel), the monument has inspired film location scouts and is popular with local couples who come to take in the stunning view of the city together. The observatory is still an active science laboratory focusing on astronomy, astrophysics, and geoscience. The original 18-meter-long lens is responsible for finding 2,000 previously unrecorded double stars. There are two-hour guided tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round, with a more frequent schedule during school holidays."

"If the horse races at Cagnes sur Mer aren’t hands-on enough for you, get up on that horse yourself. Les 3 Fers, an equestrian club in St. Raphaël, offers a trip that takes riders of all levels along the sea cliffs, as well as one on the beach. For more advanced riders, Les Ferrières follows a trail to an archaeological ruin through a forest, and longer trips lead riders through the Vars region of the Alps."

"Bike the Promenade des Anglais With the opening of the Café du Cycliste on Nice’s Quai des Docks,biking has become the thing to do along the iconic Promenade des Anglais. Rent bikes at the Roller Station, then join crowds pedaling along the “Prom,” with the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Alps rising on the other. If you’d prefer totake part in the local bike-share program, look for the Vélo Bleu docking stations found across the city. Sign up by mobile phonefor a one-day, 1-euro membershipthat gets you the first 30 minutes free, then costs 1 euro for every 30 minutes thereafter until the bike is returned to any docking station. Once returned, the time counter is reset to zero."

"Henri Matisse was already a successful artist in 1917 when he left Paris behind tosettleinthe suburbs of Nice. It was here that in 1941—too infirm to hold a brush steady—Matisse developed his cut-paper artworks. The Matisse Museum, set in an expansive and sunny park of palm trees, has a collection of works spanning every period of his career and includes more than 180 items that belonged to him, including his palette. The perfect end toa day spent atthe museum is an outing to Vence. The Rosary Chapel, designed by the artist,featuresvivid and modern stained-glass windows, tile murals,and a distinctive blue-and-white roof."

"Cooking with Flowers In Antibes, much of the local economy depends on flowers. From the pervasive mimosas that perfume the air every January to the delicate violets growing wild on the forest floor, a variety of blooms are harvested throughout the year for both their aroma and taste. Chef Yves Terrillon first discovered the potential of flowers in cuisine when he moved to the region in 2002 and now offers floral cooking classes to the public at his atelier in Antibes. A favorite of companies like Dior and G.H. Mumm Champagne,the variously themed sessions go beyond fragrance to capture flavor and are even available in English."

"Within 90 minutes of Nice’s Promenade des Anglais are 15 ski resorts, making it easy to start the day at the beach then head to the hills for an afternoon in the snow. Isola 2000 and Valberg offermiles of slopes for fans of downhill skiing (what the French call la glisse ), while the lower altitudes are ideal for cross-country skiers. Not exotic enough? How about ski parasailing, dogsledding, and snowshoeing, all of which are also offered. The southern Alps are truly where ski season meets the blue sea."

"Just a 15-minute ferry ride from the glitz and glamour of Cannes, the Lérins Islands look like lipstick marks left by a star’s kiss. Ste-Marguerite is home to just 20 residents, who share their 15 beaches with day-trippers looking for a peaceful escape from the Riviera scene. Also on the island is a Vauban-designed fortress, which was once the home of the Man in the Iron Mask and today houses the Maritime Museum. Just a stone’s throw away, St-Honorat features a 5th-century abbey where monks make a nationally acclaimed wine that can be enjoyed on the abbey’s restaurant terrace overlooking the sea."

"Born in Russia, Marc Chagall lived in Paris and the U.S. before moving to Vence in 1950, where he remained until his death in 1985. Today, his namesake museum in Nice, built to display the biblical series he donated to France in 1977, stands as an architectural ode to color and light. Inside, masterpieces in primary colors hang on floating walls that are angled to play with the sunlight. The museum’s collection now encompasses more than 260 works, including a monumental mosaic that crowns the Eden-like garden. Chagall approved of the garden, filled with olive, cypress, and green oak trees, because it echoes the biblical themes in his life’s work."

"Parc National de Port-Cros Located where the mountains meet the sea, Port-Cros National Park is only partially visible from the shore, as nearly half of its land is underwater. While this island park offers plenty of hiking, cycling, and beach activities for landlubbers, the park’s main draw is its unique set of seven underwater hikes for snorkelers. Well-marked paths lead swimmers of all ages to Roman ruins, a reconstructed shipwreck, and protected marine gardens, while signage and buoys explain the region’s flora and fauna, which include starfish, octopuses, and sea anemones. Visitors can arrange for both guided tours and snorkeling equipment rentals upon arrival."

"With its stunning architecture and vast private collection of modern art, the Maeght Foundation is no ordinary museum. The entire estate is dedicated to art, with pieces by Marc Chagall, Eduardo Chillida, Pierre Tal-Coat, and Pierre Bonnard mixing with more contemporary works by Gérard Fromanger and Marco Del Re in the innovatively designed buildings. Outside, cicada song sets the tone and the scent of pine fills the air in the sweeping space filled with sculptures by Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, and Georges Braque. It’s hard to imagine a more enchanting place to appreciate art, as perfect for connoisseurs as for those just learning about 20th-century artists. The gift shop sells souvenirs as well as valuable lithographs."

"With Monaco facing the Mediterranean, it is no wonder Prince Albert I was passionate about marine biology and conservation. Looking to promote marine sciences and educate others, the prince opened the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco in 1910. There are now more than 6,000 fish, as well as a shark lagoon and an important collection of live coral. Still dedicated to ocean conservation, the museum works closely with scientists and artists to inspire public interest."

"Villas Ephrussi de Rothschild and Kerylos The exclusive town of St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is home to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a Renaissance-style palace with sumptuous furnishings and one of the most famous gardens in France. Beginning with a traditional French garden, the land is by turns tamed into a Japanese garden, a stone garden, and six other distinctive environments. Directly across the bay, the Villa Kerylos was built in the 20th century as a replica of an ancient Greek palace."

"Dedicated to saving threatened marine wildlife, particularly the marine mammals of the Mediterranean, SOS Grand Bleu invites visitors to St. Jean Cap Ferrat to set sail for an afternoon on the historic Santo Sospir sailboat. Catch up with endangered dolphins and whales and follow their pods as guides educate guests on the various species that populate the local ecosystem and the importance of marine conservation across the globe."

"Completed in 1888 and restored in 2009, the Musée d’Art is housed in an Italian Renaissance-style building that provides a grand setting for a diverse collection that includes Rococo paintings, Baroque sculpture, contemporary art, modern photography and a collection of regional paintings across the centuries. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is free."

"A maze of narrow medieval streets wind up and down this village perched along the Grande Corniche. The ruins of a château are now an exotic garden, and the 18th-century neoclassical Notre Dame of the Assumption church is a national monument. Spectacular views inspire artists and artisans, and their galleries fill the village. Exceptional restaurants like the Château Eza are happy to welcome guests for a drink or a Michelin-starred meal as they relax and savor the scenery."

"Picasso Museum In 1946, Picasso worked from a studio in the Château Grimaldi of Antibes, creating 23 paintings and 44 illustrations that he gifted to the town. Later, 78 pieces that he designed for the Madoura pottery studios in Vallauris were added to the collection and the château became the world’s first Picasso museum. The nearby Archaeology Museum is housed in a historic fort and explores Antibes’s origin as the ancient Greek town Antipolis."

"Musée Jean Cocteau In the 1950s, the town of Menton invited prodigious artist, poet, author, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau to design a museum for his work. In a town known for its extraordinary gardens, the museum is an ode to the creative genius, beginning with the monumental lizard mosaic (designed by Cocteau) that guides guests to the entrance. Redesigned in 2008, the museum is now one of the Riviera’s most important destinations for contemporary art and architecture."

"While filming And God Created Woman herein 1956, French superstar Brigitte Bardot made Ramatuelle’s Pampelonne Beach a summer icon. Today, the beach and neighboring St. Tropez continue to draw celebrity jet-setters like Elton John and Kate Moss, who arrive in luxury cars and yachts to see and be seen on 100-euros-per-day loungers at Le Club 55. More adventurous visitors can tour the coast with a pair of wheels from Vélorama, or a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from Pep’s Spirit (which may be the smarter choice given the endless traffic along the local roads)."

"Regular tours of the Fragonard distillery explain the 400-year history of the French perfume industry and give a unique peek into how luxury fragrances are created today. A small museum also details the longer history of perfume in the world and displays a lovely collection of bottles and equipment. Similarly, the gift shop is a collection of temptations, with linens and home items in addition to many varieties of scents, cosmetics, and soaps for sale."

"Completed in October 1862, the Opéra de Toulon is the second-largest opera house in France—one of many constructed in the middle of the 19th century, like the Palais Garnier in Paris . Designed by Léon Feuchère, it is an early Beaux-Arts building with projecting temple-fronts crowned with sculptural figures over its arcaded entrance. The lavish interior includes a massive ceiling painting by Louis Duveau, whose works also decorate the interior of the Louvre."