7 Beautiful Less-Visited Towns in the South of France
Along the glittering French Riviera and at the end of well-worn paths of Provence are lesser-visited places in the South of France, that, instead of shouting, call you in gently, so that you may never want to leave.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Perched on a Provençal hilltop, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a village suspended in time, where the honey-hued stone walls of the narrow, winding lanes lead to hidden courtyards and doorsteps draped in ivy. A place of artists, its history is intertwined with the presence of Chagall, Matisse, and Picasso, who were once inspired by the soft light of these very streets. Unlike the bustling Riviera below, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a quiet symphony of trickling fountains, cicada song, and the rustle of olive trees in the afternoon breeze. Along the ramparts, the view opens out unexpectedly into a landscape of rolling vineyards and silvery olive groves on one side, with the distant shimmer of the Côte d’Azur on the other. Away from the crowds, especially early in the morning, Saint-Paul-de-Vence feels a world away from the Promenade des Anglais.
Image by Rose Winter
Èze
Connected to the shoreside Èze Bore-de-Mer by the Chemin de Nietzsche, a 4.2km pathway said to be climbed daily by Nietzsche in the 19th century, Èze rises like a forgotten citadel. Its stone alleyways wind ever upwards, at each turn revealing glimpses of the sea sprawled infinitely below. At its peak, the Exotic Garden unveils a breathtaking panorama of the Mediterranean stretching endlessly, its matte surface shimmering like molten sapphire from so high up. At the heart of Èze’s quiet grandeur sits the Château de la Chèvre d’Or, an opulent retreat of myth and aerial wonder, its terraces like a seat at the edge of the world.
Image by Rose Winter
Menton
The pastel town of Menton sits on the precipice of the France-Italy border — the last and most colourful town of the French Riviera. From the higher terraces of the old town, the view is spellbinding, with terracotta rooftops tumbling down toward the Ligurian waters, framed by mountains that cradle the coastline. From the port, the view is a dream in watercolour — the mountains stand like silent sentinels behind Menton’s predominantly sunshine yellow facades, cradling the town in their shadow.
Known as the citrus capital of France, Mention is forever kissed by the scent of lemons, celebrating each February with its Fête du Citron, a spectacle of towering lemon and orange sculptures in perfumed gardens. From the exotic beauty of Val Rahmeh to the hidden serenity of Serre de la Madone, its gardens feel like hidden edens.
Image by Rose Winter
L’Isle sur la Sorgue
Near to Avignon, drifted through by the emerald waters of the Sorgue River, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a town half-floating, its canals weaving between moss-cloaked waterwheels and bridges covered in ivy, Often called the “Venice of Provence,” its a less crowded alternative to Annecy. Once a humble fishing village, it has transformed into the antique capital of France, where centuries-old shops brim with gilded mirrors and Provençal ceramics, and Sunday flea markets sell treasures passed through generations. Visit on the first Sunday of August to see boats laden with fresh produce at the annual floating market.
Image by Rose Winter
Villefranche-sur-Mer
Tucked between the cliffs and the sea, Villefranche-sur-Mer is a forgotten riviera town, nothing more than a stop on the track from Cannes to Nice to many holidaymakers. For those that do disembark here, they find a harbour, one of the deepest in the Mediterranean, reflecting the pastel ochre and terracotta hues of shuttered townhouses that glow above it in the abundant sunshine. Villefranche-sur-Mer is the French Riviera’s most picturesque seaside town.
Unlike that of its noisy neighbors, it’s pebble beach is reasonably uncrowded, The Rue Obscure, a medieval passageway hidden beneath the village, tell stories of centuries past, while from the heights of Cap Ferrat, the crescent of Villefranche-sur-Mer unfurls, the sea an impossible shade of cobalt and turquoise.
Image by Navid Borna
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Cagnes-sur-Mer is a town of two souls — its pebble-lined shores humming with life, while above, the medieval heart of Haut-de-Cagnes is a maze of vine-laced façades lining lanes that wind their way towards the Château Grimaldi, where open terraces reveal the Côte d’Azur below.
Once home to Renoir, Cagnes-sur-Mer retains the spirit of an artist’s retreat, its beauty rustic, less polished, and markedly French. At the waterfront, fishermen haul in their daily catch while vendors at the Marché Provençal lure you in with the scent of olives, figs, and freshly baked fougasse.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Just past Cap Ferrat is the silently glamorous seaside town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, its elegance understated yet undeniable. A palm-lined promenade traces the curve of the deep blue bay, decorated by blue parasols and Belle Époque villas sitting hidden behind groves of olive trees. Unlike the glitz of nearby Monaco, Beaulieu is peaceful, with its beaches uncrowded even in summer. Villa Kérylos, a recreation of an ancient Greek residence of art and antiquity, overlooks the coastline. For seaside luxury, look no further than Baia Bella, a secluded beach club for those in-the-know — its elegant loungers set against a backdrop of rugged cliffs.