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Top 15 Facts About French Riviera You Should Know

Sucheta Pradhan
Oozing glamor and opulence, the fascinating French Riviera has been attracting the rich and the famous since a long time. What make this region special are its amazing Mediterranean weather, breathtaking sceneries, idyllic beaches, and numerous red-carpet events, which keep on taking place here.
Here are some fascinating facts you’d love to know!
1. The Mediterranean coastline of southeastern France forms the French Riviera. It occupies the area between Cassis, Toulon and Saint-Tropez in the west and Menton, near the France–Italy border, in the east. The Italian Riviera joins the French Riviera from Menton.
2. The French lawyer Stéphen Liégeard nicknamed the French Riviera as Côte d'Azur in his famous 1887 book, La Côte d'azur, literally meaning the Azure Coast. The book describes the region as a, “coast of light, of warm breezes, and mysteriously balmy forests”.
3. French Riviera was one of the first areas in Europe to be declared as a modern beach resort. It began as a winter resort in the late 18th century, and at that time, it was mostly frequented by elite British tourists.
4. French Riviera experiences almost 300 days of bright sunshine every year, making it the perfect destination for tourists seeking an idyllic holiday filled with sun and sand.
5. Monaco is a semi-enclave within the French Riviera, bordered on three sides by France and the Mediterranean Sea on the fourth. Monaco is also the 2nd-smallest country in the world, after Vatican City.
6. French Riviera is the 2nd most popular tourist destination in France, after Paris. Each year, tourists spend over $5 billion dollars on their vacation here.
7. French Riviera boasts about 75 miles of picturesque coastline and 25 miles of beautiful white sandy beaches.
8. The largest city on the French Riviera is Nice, which is also known the world over for its carnival that is held each year between February and early March. It is among the top five most celebrated carnivals in the world.
9. The city of Cannes on the French Riviera is well known for its annual film festival. The famous Cannes Film Festival held in may every year is one of the most prestigious, glamorous, and oldest film festivals in the world.
10. The town of Grasse on the French Riviera is the “perfume capital of the world”. It has a long-established perfume industry, a heritage that the town has been celebrating since the Renaissance era.
11. Owing to its picture-perfect setting, the French Riviera has attracted many film directors over the years. Many famous movies have been shot here, including An Affair to Remember, Ocean's Twelve, and To Catch a Thief, among others.
These include Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Edith Wharton, Aldous Huxley, and many others.
12. French Riviera has influenced numerous world-famous artists and writers over the years.
13. As strange as it may sound, no restaurant on the French Riviera serves food between 2 pm and 7 pm each day.
14. One of the world’s most expensive villas, Villa Leopolda is on the French Riviera. Valued at $750 million, this villa offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Apart from being a residential property, it was also used as a hospital during WWII and a movie set for “To Catch a Thief”.
15. For 11 years, the “Man in the Iron Mask” was imprisoned on the island of Île Sainte-Marguerite, located near Cannes. The cell he was locked up in is now one of the major tourist attractions.