The Cote d'azur also known as the French Riviera stretches along the Mediterranean coast from Toulon to the Italian border. Many towns along the coast- Nice, Monaco, Antibes, Cannes, and St Tropez are well known as the playgrounds of the rich, famous and tanned, and publicised in films and glossy magazines.

The capital of the Cote d'Azur is Nice, whose excellent transport links make it a good base for exploring the region. As you follow the coast westwards you come to the attractive town of Antibes, and the wealthy resort of Cannes. To the east lies the tiny principality of Monaco with its centre luxurious Monte Carlo. Just beyond Monaco lies the town of Menton and the Italian border.

Few first time tourists realise that Nice, the fifth largest city in France, was founded by the greeks in the fourth century and remained part of Italy until 1860. When travellers explore this multi-cultural seaport city they immediately see old world culture combined with new world energy. Nice's richly preserved past mixed with contemporary cultural amenities have turned the town into a "must see" destination of Europe.

	For further information on Nice and the surrounding regions we recommend the Lonely planet website for an impartial view on Nice and other locations (click on the link to the left to open this site in a new window)
	The link to the left is to the Nice tourism website which has details of all festivals, shows, and activities available throughout the year.