The French Riviera has many celebrated destinations such as Cannes and St Tropez, but for those looking to escape some of the hustle and bustle of these iconic landmarks, the relatively calm stretch of coast from Nice to Monaco and on to Menton offers stunning beauty, ancient villages, fascinating history and that special touch of glamour. Leaving Nice on the lower road - heading out through the Port, up to the beautiful Mont Boron with its palatial Belle Epoque villas -  is one of Europe’s most stunning drives. The journey to Monaco along the famous littoral passes through the communities of Villefranche sur Mer, Beaulieu, Eze and Cap d’Ail, with the foothills of the Alpes Maritimes to the North and the sparkling Mediterranean stretching out towards Corsica and on to the shores of Africa to the South. Many famous names have chosen this part of the Cote d’Azur for its peace, unspoilt countryside and easy way of life, from Winston Churchill, The Aga Khan and Andrew Lloyd Webber to The Rolling Stones, the band members of U2 and Microsoft founder Paul Allen.

The glorious city of Nice offers a down to earth, real atmosphere, with its pretty Provençal style architecturem parks and smart shops, and superb selection of great restaurants. Nice has been popular with the British since the Victorian era, the royal family and their cohorts giving the name to the famous Promenade des Anglais seafront over a century ago - a beautiful pedestrian walk alongside the azur waters of the Bai des Anges, as it sweeps round from the Port de Nice to the East, off towards Antibes and Cannes to the west.

Eastwards, beyond Nice, luxury villas nestle discreetly on the hills overlooking the clear waters, high up on the Moyenne and Grand Corniche roads, while down at the waters edge apartments can be found in the medieval old towns of Villefranche or Eze, or in the elegant mansion blocks of Beaulieu-sur-Mer or the port of St Jean with their classic Belle Epoche styling. Prices tend to be towards the upper end compared to the areas west of Nice, but there is always a strong demand for property from an international clientele – people are drawn to this corner of France from around the world for the ease of access – Nice airport offers flights year-round from most parts of the globe – and its closeness to Italy and the lower Alpine ski resorts. This demand attracts both private buyers and professional property developers – properties requiring renovation are often snapped up before they appear on the open market. The local team at Mission Riviera specialises in helping those based away from the area find their perfect property – weather it be a seafront apartment in Nice, or Beaulieu, or a discreet villa on the exclusive Cap Ferrat peninsular, with its beautiful coastal pathways and famous lighthouse. Our long established network of real estate partners always guarantees us a large and varied portfolio to suit all budgets and tastes, and buyers can expect an end to end, high level of service, from our specialised agents.

As you approach Monaco on the Basse Corniche, you’ll pass through the busy town of Cap d’Ail, with its shops and cafes lining the high street, with streets running down to the waterfront boasting some of the most elegant villas, mostly in traditional Belle Epoque style. Cap d’Ail has the famous Mala beach, and a coastal walk that takes you all the way into Monaco.

For those that are attracted to the glamourous side of the Riviera, Monaco offers some fabulous distractions, from the Formula 1 Grand Prix – a hair raising street race steeped in history – to the casinos and high end restaurants, and even a touch of royalty – the apartments of the Monaco royal family are open to the public. The town of Beausoleil, the adjoining French community where the streets blend seamlessly into Monaco, is a chance to be right where the action is, at a fraction of the cost of Monaco. On the hill directly above Monaco is the town of La Turbie, a commune dating back to Roman times, where many Monegasque residents have their second homes. With its cafes and restaurants, bustling main street and stunning Tropaeum Alpium monument dating back to the year 6bc, La Turbie has a vibrant atmosphere and is an important crossing point for local travellers. You can also visit the famous tête de Chien rock that overlooks the principality, with fabulous views of the coast and out to sea.

On the other side of Monaco is the quieter peninsular of Roquebrune-Cap Martin, with its old town perched high on the hill, and its pretty coastal walk amongst the pine trees and rugged rocks, another favourite with Monaco residents looking for somewhere more peaceful to spend the weekends. Roquebrune has plenty of high-end, discreet villas nestling amongst the Umbrella pines, an abundance of smart residential apartment blocks, and is less than 10 minutes from the centre of Monte Carlo.

The French Riviera ends in the east in the border town of Menton, with its pastel coloured buildings in the old town and elegant residences on the water’s edge. Menton is famous for its yearly lemon festival, with visitors coming from across the region to celebrate one of the areas oldest exports, and the whole town is decorated with citrus fruits and seasonal flowering Mimosa.

In the countryside just behind this coastal stretch are a multitude of ancient perched villages, where the hustle and bustle of the sea front is replaced by the sound of cicadas and bird song, with olive groves and Holme oak woods replacing the palm trees and sandy beaches. Principle amongst these is the stunning village of Peillon, approached by a sinuous road leading to this paradise in the sky, just twenty minutes from Nice city centre, where the peace and tranquillity of the surrounding countryside is intoxicating.

Across this region, there are country walks around the coastline, and high up on the cliff tops where there are several national parks, away from the restaurants and cafes down at the water’s edge. Whether you are in search of peace and quiet, or exclusive designer boutiques, water sports, high end eateries or classic drives along the corniche, this beautiful stretch of coast has it all. Of course at Mission Riviera we have beautiful properties available along the whole Cote d’Azur - as far as St Tropez and beyond - but why would you want to be anywhere else?