Nestled in the south-east corner of France lies the picturesque and luxurious French Riviera, which also includes the municipality of Monaco.

Also known as the Cote Azur, the French Riviera has no official boundary but is usually considered to stretch from Saint Tropez in the west all the way up to Menton in the east just before the Italian border (the Italian Riviera).

The area roughly covers a 115km stretch of turquoise beaches, sea cliffs, mountainous terrain, green valleys and lavender fields all of which are dotted with charming French coastal towns along the way.

The railway which runs adjacent to the coast makes it possible to travel and explore the whole Riviera well within a day for prices which are a steal. Alternatively, you can take your time and soak up the sun.

With a population of 343,629, the largest town of Cote Azur is Nice. The city’s nickname is ‘Nice la Belle’ meaning ‘Nice the beautiful’ in English and for good reason. Nestled in between the Alps to the north and the crystal clear blue waters of the Mediterranean to the south, Nice is picturesque and large town characterised by orange rooftops, beautiful beaches and historic buildings.

When exploring the Riviera, most people start and end their journey in Nice. The town has three train stations: Nice-Ville, Nice St Augustin near the airport, and Nice Riquier near the Port. The micro state of Monaco, with its luxurious casinos and superyachts, is only a 25-minute train ride from Nice and requires no passport.

Despite being situated in one of the most northerly parts of the Mediterranean, close to the Alps, the Cote Azur still manages to enjoy clear blue skies for much of the year. The area experiences a relatively typical Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters. During its winter months, the area actually experiences more rainfall than Paris. However, rainfall in the region is a lot more concentrated with an average of 61 days of precipitation whereas rainfall in Paris is a lot more spread out throughout the year with an average of 111 days.

Although known for its sunny weather, a little further inland towards the mountains and one will find skiing resorts. In fact, the French Riviera includes 14 ski resorts. One of the most well known ski resorts includes the Auron Saint Etienne-de-Tinee in Auron.

The French Riviera as a whole is a major yachting and cruising destination and has several marinas along the coast with some of the most famous being in Cannes, Nice and of course, Monaco. According to statistics from the Côte d'Azur Economic Development Agency, each year the region hosts an average of 50% of the world’s superyacht fleet.

Although, the Riviera is not just for the super-rich and there are many affordable shops and cafes along the way. Its railway system means that travelling to all these sites is relatively easy but may also require some walking, which gives you all the more time to explore the towns as you make your way to your next train station.

If you do plan to travel and explore the area, downloading the SNCF Direct smartphone app will make life a lot easier for you. With the touch of a button, the app replicates the big board at the train station directly to your phone, giving you the schedule and updates on incoming trains and ones that are leaving.

If you plan on moving to the French Riviera or anywhere within the French Republic, then contact deVere France today for expert financial advice!