The French Riviera: Nice, Èze and Monte-Carlo

Discover for yourself the many faces of Monte-Carlo and the surrounding French Riviera.

On the way to break the bank in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, lovers of modern art will want to spend time in nearby Nice taking in priceless works of art at the Musee Matisse and Musee Chagall. The rich, colorful palettes and organic forms of the masters’ paintings will do the soul of a weary traveler good.

Between Nice and Monaco, along the coastal route of the French Riviera, lies the rocky 9th-century medieval village of Èze. Cars are not permitted, so the village’s narrow cobblestone lanes are perfect for browsing its famous boutiques, brimming over with fine silk and linens, olive wood carvings, paintings of Provence and ceramic pots.

One of the highlights of Èze is the guided tour of the Fragonard Perfume Factory, where you can see how perfume, soap and other cosmetics are made. Your sense of smell will never be the same!

Continue along the coast to Monte-Carlo, where over 300 days of sunshine and mild temperatures year round await you. In the midst of all the opulence, on the Boulevard du Jardin-Exotique lie two stunning surprises, the Exotic Garden and the Observatory Caves.

A magical garden of year-round blooming plants cascades over the rock face and along the cliffs, revealing views of Monaco and the Italian Riviera. Follow the path over the many footbridges and descend 200 feet beneath the gardens to view the illuminated stalactites and stalagmites of the Observatory Caves.