What would you like to know about the glamorous History of the French Riviera?
Golden beaches, luxury yachts, and movie stars—today, the French Riviera is the ultimate symbol of glamour. But it wasn’t always this way. Once a quiet coastline dotted with fishing villages, the Riviera transformed into a playground for aristocrats, artists, and Hollywood legends. How did it happen? Let’s take a journey through time and discover the moments that made the Côte d’Azur the most stylish destination on Earth.
From Fishing Villages to Royal Retreats: The 19th Century Boom
Before the glitz and glamour, the French Riviera was a simple, sun-soaked paradise known mostly to fishermen and merchants. But in the early 1800s, European aristocrats discovered its charm, and everything changed.
How It All Started: The British Invasion
In 1834, British aristocrat Lord Brougham was traveling to Italy when a cholera outbreak forced him to stop in Cannes. He fell in love with the town and decided to build a villa, quickly convincing his wealthy British friends to do the same.
Soon, Cannes, Nice, and Monaco were filled with grand estates, hosting dukes, duchesses, and European nobility. Queen Victoria became a regular visitor, spending her winters in Nice’s Cimiez district, where she stayed at the Excelsior Régina Palace.
👑 Where to experience this today:
- Promenade des Anglais, Nice – This famous waterfront boulevard was built for British visitors to take seaside strolls.
- Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Cap Ferrat – A pink Belle Époque palace once owned by a Rothschild heiress. Stunning gardens, fountains, and sea views!
- Palais Lascaris, Nice – A hidden gem in the Old Town, this 17th-century palace is a peek into aristocratic life.
The Belle Époque: The Riviera Becomes a Playground for the Elite
By the late 19th century, the French Riviera wasn’t just for royalty—it was a global hotspot for the rich and famous. The Belle Époque era (1870–1914) brought lavish hotels, casinos, and mansions, turning the coastline into a luxurious escape.
🏨 Iconic hotels from this era:
- Hôtel Negresco (Nice) – A Belle Époque masterpiece with a pink dome and extravagant interiors.
- Hôtel de Paris (Monte Carlo) – The ultimate place for high society, next to the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo.
- Carlton Cannes (Cannes) – A favorite of royalty, celebrities, and film stars, still one of the Riviera’s most glamorous hotels.
🎨 Artists Who Fell in Love with the Riviera:
- Henri Matisse moved to Nice and captured the city’s colors in his famous paintings (you can visit the Musée Matisse in Cimiez).
- Pablo Picasso lived in Antibes, painting some of his most famous works in Château Grimaldi (now the Picasso Museum).
- Auguste Renoir settled in Cagnes-sur-Mer, where you can visit his home and see where he painted his sun-drenched masterpieces.
Cannes: Not Quite the Hollywood Glamour I Expected
I’ll be honest—before visiting Cannes, I had this picture-perfect image in my mind. I imagined glittering movie stars, an iconic red carpet, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame-style tribute to cinema’s greatest legends. But reality? Well… let’s just say it was a little different.
First, there’s the Palais des Festivals, the heart of the Cannes Film Festival. I expected something spectacular—maybe a historic building with old-Hollywood charm? Instead, what I found was a big, boxy, concrete structure that looks more like a convention center than a temple of cinema. Worse? It completely blocks the view of the sea! Imagine standing on the Croisette, expecting a stunning coastal panorama, only to have your view dominated by… this.
Then there’s the famous stairs—the ones where stars pose in designer gowns every May. When there’s no festival happening, they look surprisingly plain. No velvet ropes, no dazzling lights—just a set of stairs leading to a pretty ordinary-looking entrance. I had to laugh.
And then, there’s the Walk of Hands, Cannes’ version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Scattered around the pavement near the festival building, these bronze handprints belong to famous actors and directors. But here’s the thing:
- Some are so faded, you can barely read the names.
- Some belong to people I didn’t even recognize anymore.
- And the one that stood out the most? Sylvester Stallone. His imprint was one of the clearest, and I couldn’t help but notice—his hands are strong, but… surprisingly small! 😂
Was Cannes still worth the visit? Absolutely! The beachfront promenade, the old town (Le Suquet), and the luxury hotels oozing history are fantastic. But if you’re expecting Hollywood magic at the festival site year-round, you might want to adjust your expectations.
Stumbling Upon Napoleon’s Past in the Heart of Nice
The best travel moments are the ones you don’t plan. One minute, you’re wandering through the streets of Nice, looking for a café or maybe just enjoying the sunshine. The next, you’re standing in front of a piece of history you had no idea existed.
That’s exactly what happened to me.
I was strolling through the city, not far from the Cours Saleya, when I noticed a quiet, unassuming building with a small plaque on the wall. Curious, I stepped closer to read it—and nearly did a double take.
“Napoleon Bonaparte stayed here in 1794.”
Wait—Napoleon? Here?
I found out that the young general, just 25 years old, walking these very streets, maybe stopping for a glass of wine in a nearby tavern, maybe even looking out at the Mediterranean, plotting his next move. What was he doing in Nice? As it turns out, he was stationed here during the French Revolution, helping to secure the region for the Republic. Back then, Nice had only recently become part of France (it was previously under the rule of the Kingdom of Sardinia). Napoleon, still unknown to the world, was just beginning his rise to power.
Standing in front of that building, I felt like I had stumbled into a forgotten chapter of history—one that wasn’t in the guidebooks, one that most tourists probably walked right past.
💡 Travel Tip: If you love history, Nice is full of surprises! Keep an eye out for hidden plaques and historic houses—you never know whose footsteps you might be walking in.
The Roaring Twenties: Jazz, Yachts & Champagne-Filled Summers
Until the 1920s, the Riviera was mostly a winter retreat for the rich. But one man changed that: F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The Great Gatsby author and his wife Zelda Fitzgerald arrived in Juan-les-Pins, bringing with them a crowd of wealthy Americans. Suddenly, the Riviera became a summer destination, filled with champagne-soaked beach parties, yachts, and jazz music.
📚 What to see today:
- Hôtel Belles Rives (Juan-les-Pins) – The actual hotel where Fitzgerald wrote Tender Is the Night.
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence – A charming hilltop village where artists, writers, and movie stars (like Picasso and Chagall) spent time.
- 🏰 Villa Masséna (Musée Masséna), Nice – A Belle Époque mansion filled with Riviera history, from Napoleon’s legacy to the golden age of tourism, all set in stunning gardens.
🧐 Fun Fact: The French Riviera also became famous for perfume-making, especially in Grasse—today, you can create your own scent at Fragonard or Galimard perfumeries.
Hollywood & The Golden Age: When the Stars Arrived
By the 1950s, the Cannes Film Festival had put the Riviera on the map as the ultimate celebrity hotspot. This was the era of Grace Kelly, Brigitte Bardot, and Cary Grant, when the Riviera became synonymous with glamour.
🌟 Key moments that defined the era:
- Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III in Monaco (1955) and became Princess of Monaco a year later. This fairy-tale wedding turned Monaco into the jet-set capital of the world.
- Brigitte Bardot filmed And God Created Woman (1956) in Saint-Tropez, transforming the sleepy fishing village into a bohemian-chic hotspot.
- The Monaco Grand Prix (first held in 1929) became the world’s most famous car race, attracting celebrities, royalty, and Formula 1 legends.
🎬 Where to experience this today:
- Monte Carlo Casino (Monaco) – Featured in James Bond: Casino Royale and GoldenEye. Dress up and try your luck!
- Club 55 (Saint-Tropez) – The legendary beach club where Brigitte Bardot and movie stars partied in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
- Monaco Grand Prix Circuit – Walk or drive the same streets where F1 champions have raced for decades.
🧐 Fun Fact: Did you know that the Cannes Film Festival was almost held in Biarritz instead of Cannes? When France decided to create a rival to the Venice Film Festival in the late 1930s, they considered the Atlantic coast town of Biarritz. But Cannes, with its sun-soaked beaches and glitzy hotels, won the bid—and the rest is history! Today, the festival is the most prestigious in the world, attracting the biggest stars every May.
The French Riviera Today: A Legacy of Luxury & Culture
The Riviera has evolved, but its spirit of glamour remains. You can still:
✨ Sip champagne at a historic hotel in Monte Carlo.
🎭 Watch the world’s biggest stars arrive at the Cannes Film Festival.
🛥 Take a yacht from Saint-Tropez to hidden coves along the coast.
🏎 Feel the thrill of the Monaco Grand Prix.
🎨 Follow in the footsteps of artists in Antibes, Nice, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
The Riviera isn’t just a destination—it’s a way of life. A place where art, luxury, and history blend into something timeless. So whether you’re visiting for the beaches, the culture, or just to soak in the atmosphere, you’re stepping into a world shaped by centuries of glamour and legend.
Because on the Côte d’Azur, history isn’t just in the past—it’s everywhere you look.
