Are you familiar with the most iconic French Riviera towns but unsure where to find them on the map? The French Riviera map in this article is what you need to visualize this stunning Southern French region!
Does it entail the entire French Mediterranean coast? And is it part of the Provence or a separate region?
Discover where to find the French Riviera, its famous cities such as Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco, and its smaller towns such as Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Èze.
Plus, get insight into what makes the French Riviera so alluring and when it was put on the map as a luxury travel destination.
So, are you ready to discover the French Riviera? Then let’s dive in!
This guide features a beautiful French Riviera map and points out the most popular French Riviera destinations and airports. It also offers a quick glance of the region’s history.
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Map of the French Riviera
Here’s a map of the French Riviera or Côte d’Azur to help you visualize the region.
Detailed city maps of Nice, Cannes, and other French Riviera cities and towns can be found in the dedicated travel guides.
There are two main international gateways to the French Riviera – Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and Marseille Provence Airport – and a smaller one in Toulon Hyères. From there, you can take a train to the town of your choice or rent a car for maximum flexibility.
There are also two smaller airports – one in La Môle near Saint-Tropez and one in Mandelieu-la-Napoule near Cannes – that accommodate private flights.
If your French Riviera itinerary is part of a larger trip to France, then you could just as well arrive by train. You can get from Paris to Nice by train in less than six hours. The region is very well connected by railway.
Read about the various transportation options in my article on getting around the French Riviera.
Where is the French Riviera?
The French Riviera or Côte d’Azur is the stretch of Mediterranean coastline in the southeast corner of France and the easternmost section of the Provençal coast. It marks the shoreline of the Var and Alpes-Maritimes departments that are part of the wider Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
The city of Menton near the Italian border marks the easternmost border but there’s no consensus as to the westernmost border of the Côte d’Azur or French Riviera.
Originally, it used to be Cannes, world-famous for the Cannes Film Festival, but when Saint-Tropez gained fame, and other towns west of Saint-Tropez saw their chance to shine, the border was moved along. The term Côte d’Azur is a marketing concept, after all.
So, each has his own idea of the modern westernmost border. Some consider it to be Marseille, some Cassis, some Toulon, some Hyères, and some Saint-Tropez. I, myself, am torn between Cassis and Hyères simply because I have a soft spot for Cassis. My French Riviera map as well as the articles in this blog reflect that.
Fun fact: Even though it’s known as the French Riviera, the Côte d’Azur actually includes a second country: the Principality of Monaco with the renowned Casino of Monte Carlo.
Did you know that the French Riviera is part of a wider Mediterranean Riviera? The easternmost border of the French Riviera connects to the Italian Riviera, which includes two sections: the Ponente Riviera (west of Genoa) and the Levante Riviera (east of Genoa). It coincides with the Ligurian coastline and includes tourist magnets Cinque Terre and Portofino. The word “riviera” is Italian for “coastline”.
French Riviera on the map
Even though the history of the French Riviera traces back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, most of today’s historic landmarks date from the Middle Ages.
It wasn’t until the late 18th century, when British novelist Tobias Smollet published his travel narrative “Travels through France and Italy” after his Grand Tour, that the French Riviera was put on the map as a tourist destination.
By the second half of the 19th century, the French Riviera had become a popular winter retreat for the British upper class. Around that same time, the railway was introduced, making the French Riviera much more easily accessible.
Soon, the European aristocracy flocked to this iconic coastline. They spent their days enjoying the warming winter sun, in the exotic gardens with imported tropical plants from far-flung destinations, and in the casinos which were called “health spas” to misguide the Church.
By the time French politician and poet Stephen Liégeard came up with the name “Côte d’Azur”, the French Riviera had become even more popular in the wealthiest European circles.
During the Belle Époque period, grand hotels and opulent villas arose along the scenic coastline. Many of those palaces still adorn the grand coastal avenues such as the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and the Croisette in Cannes and are now luxurious French Riviera hotels.
But it wasn’t just the upper class who was attracted by the beauty of this stretch of Mediterranean coast, artists were too. Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso… all were inspired by its magnetic beauty.
By the interbellum, the French Riviera had become an established European playground for the elite.
French Riviera FAQ
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