• Colourful Fishing Village
• Spectacular Scenery
• Charming Atmosphere
• Pretty Sandy Beach

Villefranche is truly a jewel. According to legend, Hercules opened his arms and thus created Villefranche Sur Mer. A deep horseshoe harbour surrounded by a pretty pink and yellow fishing village that dates back to medieval times. Above the little village can be seen spectacular villas dotted on the steep mountain behind. A number of these beautiful properties are available to rent from Sunlight Properties for your next holiday. Across the bay is the verdant peninsula of St. Jean Cap Ferrat; and within the village the striking citadel. The word breathtaking, we know is much over used, but genuinely applies to this stunning little spot – natural and man-made beauty harmonise perfectly together. It is only 7 minutes by train from Nice , so easy to visit from your holiday rental apartment in Nice with frequent train and bus services (10 minutes by Bus 100 or 81 will take you to Villefranche from the centre of Nice, visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com).

The waterfront quai Amiral Courbet is lined with cafes and restaurants as well as fishermen with gnarly hands repairing their nets. There is a small square behind the yacht club that has various markets throughout the week. Rue Obscure is a rare medieval covered street, used as recently as WWII to provide shelter to the village’s inhabitants. The town is fortunate to have a sandy beach (relatively rare on the Côte d’Azur) that locals and tourists flock to. We have some exquisite holiday villas to rent in Villefranche, from which you can enjoy this port of call where there is always a vibrant mix of people and a great atmosphere. Jean Cocteau stayed here for a period of time and painted beautiful frescos inside the quaint, seaside chapel of St. Pierre. The citadel contains a series of little museums, which are well worth a visit to see the exhibits as well as the beautiful harbour views. Many of the holiday villas to let in the Sunlight Properties portfolio enjoy these same magnificent views.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays the square above the Old Town known as Jardin Francois Binon (by the Basse Corniche) has a market selling all sorts of fruit, vegetables and delicacies. Grab your basket or ‘pannier’ and take some fresh produce home to your holiday villa in Villefranche. If you are feeling energetic there is a coastal walk that follows the direction of Nice – it’s quite steep in places and a bit rough – so only suitable for those with a good level of fitness and comfortable walking shoes. The path takes you past some lovely rocky coastline and through native brush sprinkled with wild flowers, all accompanied by the scent of Mimosa. It eventually takes you up to the ‘Basse Corniche’ road from which you can return to Villefranche admiring the views over the bay, St. Jean Cap Ferrat andBeaulieu .

• Sedate & Elegant Town
• Belle Êpoque Architecture
• Unique Microclimate

Beaulieu is an attractive and elegant little town by the sea, only 10 minutes by train from Nice (or 15 minutes by Bus 100 or 81 from the centre of Nice), visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com), with belle époque architecture, some excellent restaurants and cafes, palm trees, and even a casino. A stroll along the seafront promenade will allow you to see some of these belle époque treasures including Villa Leonine the former home of the Marquess of Salisbury. Sunlight Properties has some beautiful holiday rental villas available here, to see our portfolio of holiday lettings in Beaulieu click here: Property Search.

One of the many elegant hotels in Beaulieu is La Reserve, which also has a Michelin star restaurant. The hotel was built by the former owner of the New York Herald, Gordon Bennett. The same gentlemen who as a publicity stunt sent a certain Mr. Stanley out to Africa to ‘rescue’ the Scottish explorer Dr. Livingstone, and who apparently utter those famous lines: “Dr. Livingstone I Presume?”.

Beaulieu has one of the warmest climates on the Côte d’Azur as it’s protected to the North by a spectacular rocky cliff face. It is also home to the Villa Kerylos, built in an exquisite spot beside the sea by the eccentric archaeologist Theodore Reinach. The building was designed to resemble an ancient Greek villa. Authentic techniques and precious materials were used throughout to create lavish inlaid furniture, mosaics, and frescoes. The villa contains original Greek ornaments and a sculpture gallery. Apparently Theodore was such a stickler for authenticity that he would even hold Greek ‘symposiums’ where the women were banished and the men would recline on low loungers, attended to by servants whilst they held their discourse. Beaulieu makes for a great spot from which to rent a holiday villa due to its centrality, waterside location, and tranquillity. We have holiday villas to rent close to this lovely spot.

From the town there is an excellent walking trail that starts in Beaulieu-Sur-Mer and follows the water’s edge to the port of St. Jean past the pretty pink villa that once belonged to David Niven and the site of some legendary parties!

• Home to the Rich & Famous
• Magnificent Villas
• Spectacular Scenery
• Luxuriant Gardens

The site of some of the most expensive real estate in the world, a long, lush peninsula with a beautiful rocky coastline and villas to die for - owned by Russian oligarchs, aristocrats and celebrities. The trend to build your villa on this spectacular peninsula was started by the Belgian King Leopold II when he built ‘Les Cedres’ on the Western side of Cap Ferrat. Today the park that once belonged to the estate is home to the Parc Zoologique. In 1906 King Leopold built the magnificent Villa Mauresque for his priest, which was subsequently purchased by the English writer Somerset Maugham. Sunlight Properties can offer you to let for your next holiday some of these incredible villas, where you too can enjoy the elegance and tranquillity of St. Jean Cap Ferrat. To see some of these magnificent properties you can call home whilst on holiday click here: Property Search.

The walk around the peninsula enables you a glimpse of some of these palatial homes, and will also take you past some lovely beaches including Paloma that has a wonderful little restaurant right on the beach. St. Jean Cap Ferrat is the address for one of the most beautiful villas anywhere; built in the early part of the 20th century by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild; this is a real highlight of the French Riviera and a must see, not only for the architecture but the magnificent gardens. Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild was an extraordinary woman with a passion for art and travel and the financial means to achieve her desires, one of which was the creation of her ‘dream villa’ on the Riviera. Combining Moorish and Italian architectural elements, the villa boasts Savonnerie carpets, Beauvais tapestries, Meissen porcelain, and Fragonard sketches. The French garden is designed to resemble the prow of a ship and at parties the staff wore sailor suits to enhance the illusion. There are various themed gardens as well: Florentine, Japanese, English, etc. Completed in 1912 Beatrice spent only 4 years there. Following the death in 1916 of her beloved husband she never lived there again. To get here from Nice you can take the train to Beaulieu Sur Mer and walk 20 minutes along the Eastern side of the peninsula towards the town of St. Jean or go directly by bus in 35 minutes (Bus 81 from the centre of Nice will take you to the heart of St. Jean Cap Ferrat, visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com).

• Medieval Village
• Incredible Views
• Historical Sites
• Pretty Sandy Beach

Eze is a perfectly preserved medieval village that sits majestically on top of a craggy clifftop some 427 metres above the sea. The views are truly spectacular. On a clear day you can see all the way to Corsica. The maze of tiny streets are home to a few inhabitants, the odd café, restaurant and craft boutique. Eze is quite magical – organically built and yet so perfect with bougainvillea and jasmine vines intertwined with stonewalls and houses. At the top are the ruins of a 14th century castle destroyed in the 18th century. To get to this point you enter through the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden), which has little meandering paths and is filled with cacti and sculptures. The 18th century church has a bust of Christ made from olive wood that miraculously survived terrible fires in 1986. Another attraction of this village is the Chèvre d'Or (Golden Goat) - a hotel, restaurant and bar which is composed of a series of village houses. Well worth a visit to admire the views and beautiful terraced garden filled with sculptures. Bus 112 will get you to Eze from Nice in 30 minutes (visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com). By car you can take the Moyenne Corniche. Or alternatively we have villas in the area of Eze and La Turbie for you to let for your next holiday, to view these properties click here.

Below the medieval village of Eze can be found Eze Sur Mer, which is where the trains stop. The beach here is a long stretch of sand and a great spot for bathing. The nearby town of La Turbie is dominated by the spectacular vision of the Trophée d’Auguste, a huge Roman monument built from local white stone. It marked the boundary between Italy and Gaul. Its construction was ordered by the Roman Senate in the 6th century to honour the conquering of 44 Ligurian tribes by Augustus in the year 13 B.C. In the 4th century St. Honorat chipped away at it because it had become the object of pagan worship. It was then partly destroyed in 1707 on the orders of Louis XIV through fear of it falling into enemy hands during the invasion of Provence. Restoration began in 1905 by an American, Edward Tuck. Access to La Turbie is via the wonderfully named road the ‘Grande Corniche’.

• Glamour Galore
• Gambling & Haute Couture
• Michelin Star Restaurants Abound

Few places are so famous or conjure up such images of glamour and sophistication, wealth and Lamborghinis as the words: Monaco or Monte Carlo. Sit in Café de Paris for the afternoon (adjacent to the Monte Carlo Casino and opposite the famous Hotel de Paris), and watch the people and cars that slowly circuit around the perfectly manicured roundabout - millions of euros of cars, jewels, and clothes go by – its fantastic entertainment. The Monte Carlo Casino has been the site of many a drama over the years. This is where Mata Hari shot a Russian Colonel with a jewel encrusted revolver after he tried to slip his hand down her cleavage! King Farouk was referred to as ‘the Swine’ due to the enormous amounts of food he would devour – eight roasted Guinea hens and 50 oysters before he would proceed to the tables and lose thousands. And this is where Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor the enormous Kohinoor diamond. You can add your own drama, by renting one of our holiday villas in nearby Cap d’Ail. To view our properties in this area click here.

But besides the glitz there is lots to see in Monaco including the Grimaldi Royal Palace, perched on top of a rocky promontory known by the locals as ‘le Rocher’. First built in the 13th century, it has been enlarged and altered over the centuries. There are beautiful frescos from the 16th and 17th centuries, gilt furniture, paintings and tapestries on the scale befitting the monarchy of Monaco. Concerts take place in the Cour d’Honneur. Le Rocher is also the site of the lovely Old Town of Monaco known as ‘Monaco Ville’; the cathedral where Grace Kelly is entombed, some delightful clifftop gardens, and the famous Oceanographic Museum where Jacques Cousteau was based for much of his professional life. The building itself rises dramatically out of the clifftop and makes quite a sight from the sea.

For botanical lovers the Jardin Exotique that opened in 1933, is an extraordinary garden mixing sculpture and plants, with an impressive collection of succulents planted into the rocky mountainside. At the base of the garden is a prehistoric cave, 60 metres below ground, with spectacular stalagmites and stalactites formed over the millennia. The location means you enjoy beautiful views over the entire principality of Monaco. Further East and closer to the seafront is a delightful Japanese garden with all things designed to replicate a full size landscape of mountains, hills, waterfalls, beaches, and streams, all in miniature, within 7,000 Mô.

From your holiday apartment in Nice to the glamour of Monte Carlo it’s only 25 minutes by train. Or you can take Bus 100 from the centre of Nice to Monaco in 45 minutes, visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com. You can take Bus 112 from Nice to Cap d’Ail in 45 minutes. Alternatively you can let a holiday villa just outside of Monaco to participate in the nearby highlife, click here to view our villas to let in Cap d’Ail.

Cap d’Ail is a charming and elegant haven beside the sea. The smell of pine fills the air due to the profusion of these trees here. The rocky coastline is stunning; however there is also a beautiful white sandy beach, perfectly sheltered as it’s wrapped by rocky headlands. Cap d’Ail feels off the beaten track due to its tranquillity yet being just around the corner from Monaco, it is the perfect place from which to explore the Ranier principality.

• Medieval Village
• Beautiful Sea Views
• Quiet & Elegant

Along the wonderfully named ‘Grande Corniche’ is found Roquebrune. This village is accessible by train (30 minutes from Nice), however be warned that a seriously arduous march straight up the mountain awaits you. But the charm of the village of Roquebrune with its vaulted streets make it well worth the trip – and besides think about those ‘buns of steel’ you will have by the time you reach the top! Roquebrune is reputed to have the earliest feudal château in France - the sole remaining example of Carolingian architecture. Built in the 10th century by Conrad I, Count of Ventimiglia to thwart Saracen invasions, it was later remodelled by the Grimaldi family. In 1911, a wealthy, eccentric Englishman, Sir William Ingram bought the château and added a mock medieval tower.

At the bottom of the hill (and therefore far more accessible) is Cap Martin situated on a forested peninsula. At the beginning of the 20th century Cap Martin was ‘the’ place to be seen on the Côte d’Azur. Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III and Queen Victoria would spend their winters here. Later visitors included Coco Chanel, W.B. Yeats, and Winston Churchill. To add your name to the illustrious individuals who have stopped here you can rent one of our holiday villas in Roquebrune & Cap Martin, click here to view our properties. The well known architect Le Corbusier drowned off Cap Martin in 1965. Consequently there is a gorgeous coastal path named after the French architect. You can take Bus 100 from the centre of Nice to Roquebrune & Cap Martin in 60 minutes, visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com.

• Pretty Historical Town
• Unique Microclimate
• World Famous Gardens

More Italian than French, sitting as it does right on the border, but only 35 minutes by train from your Nice holiday apartment. Menton is celebrated for its gardens and warm, mild microclimate and was consequently the destination of choice for many famous people over the years who came here for their health. The town is very attractive especially when viewed from the end of the pier – this always makes for a magical photo. There are a number of attractions in Menton with museums dedicated to: Fine Art, Jean Cocteau, and Prehistory; as well as an interesting cemetery where a number of famous and infamous people are buried - each terrace is dedicated to a different religious faith.

The Palais de l’Europe is a fine Belle Êpoque building, which is now a cultural centre and sits beside the Jardin Bioves. The twin towers of the 16th century Baroque Basilica St. Michel are the centrepiece to the skyline of the Old Town. Above the marina is the area known as Garavan and is where you can find an adorable little villa called ‘Isola Bella’, which is where the New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield lived in the 1920s whilst suffering from tuberculosis.

There are some lovely old hotels that line the waterfront and are very pleasant for an afternoon drink. Lovers of gardens must seek out this attractive town: visit the Jardin Botanique Exotique, Serre de la Madone and Val Rahmeh. Should you also be a lover of all things botanical, we have some gorgeous villas available for you to rent for your next holiday in Menton, click here to view. In the 1930s and 40s, an American, Major Lawrence Johnston, a gentleman gardener bought a choice estate in the village of Gorbio, 10 km Northwest of Menton, and spent two decades creating the Serre de la Madone - one of the horticultural masterpieces of the coast. He brought back exotic plants from his many trips to South Africa, Mexico, and China, and planted them in a series of terraces, with little pools and stone steps, and exquisite views.

Val Rahmeh is an exceptional property of 11,000 Mô, first created at the end of the 19th century by Menton aristocrats. It was owned by a number of notable individuals including Lord Radcliffe the former governor of Malta. In 1957, the aptly named Miss Maybud Campbell began work on the construction of this botanical masterpiece. The garden is only a 5 minute walk from the sea, and is highly regarded by botanical connoisseurs due to its rare ornamentals and subtropical plants.

Jardin des Colombieres is a private garden open to visits by appointment only through the Menton tourist office. It was designed by the writer and artist Ferdinand Bac, and is reputed to have the oldest Carob tree in France. The garden is filled with little features: rotundas, bridges, atriums, obelisks, etc. strategically placed to exploit the magnificent water views. We have luxurious villas with their own immaculate gardens for you to rent for your next holiday in the South of France, click here to view.

Jean Cocteau was also a fan of Menton and you can visit the Jean Cocteau Museum dedicated to this multi-talented artist. And if you are in town in February be sure to participate in the Fête du Citron. You can also take Bus 100 from the centre of Nice to Menton in 60 – 90 minutes (depending on if it is an express bus), visit the bus network site for further details: www.lignesdazur.com.