How to take a tour of French Riviera, following in the footsteps of F Scott Fitzgerald. The great writer lived in the south of France in a rented house with his wife Zelda. And it’s here that he was inspired to write some of his most beloved books…
French Riviera Tour in the footsteps of F Scott Fitzgerald
Indulge at world famous restaurants.Eat food prepared by Michelin Starred chefs. Soak up the ambiance at authentic little bistros in eye-poppingly pretty perched towns in Provence. Dine at Colombe d’Or in St Paul de Vence where Picasso, Matisse and Chagall loved to eat. And sip cocktails in the legendary bar of the Hotel Belle Rives in Antibes, once the villa which Fitzgerald lived in. With its mirrored tables and effortlessly art deco furnishings, you can’t help but think of Fitzgerald, whose playground this area was, peering out of over the sun-kissed bay, inspired to write several of his masterpieces. He lived in Antibes full time for two years and would later call them the happiest of his life.
Magical moments galore
Visit the ravishing home and 9 themed gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Explore enchanting Eze, like a medieval eagle’s nest perched between Nice and Monaco. From the exotic garden at the top you’ll have a breath-taking view of the Mediterranean as far as the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. It’s one of the most beautiful panoramas in the whole of the French Riviera.
Wander the cobbled streets of St Paul de Vence, with its pretty as a picture arts and crafts shops and the Chapel of Vence, Matisse’s final absolute masterpiece, so beautiful it takes your breath away. And visit the perfumed oasis of Fragonard in Grasse. Stroll in the footsteps of artists and writers in Nice. And taste olive oil at its source at an olive orchard.
Truly special
Ever wondered what all the fuss is about absinthe? Well sip the famed drink at the Absinthe Bar with the locals in Antibes! Beloved by artists from Picasso to Van Gogh, it’s nicknamed the green fairy. According to Ernest Hemingway “After the first glass of absinthe you see things as you wish they were.”
In Cassis take a tour of the Calanques, the extraordinary bays and cliffs near Marseille. And in this wonderfully exotic city you’ll discover one of the finest museums in the world. You must take a pastis tasting and visit a soap factory while you’re there – the city is famous for it. The perfect end to the day is watching the sun set over the twinkling city and the Mediterranean Sea from the hilltop Basilica of Notre Dame.
