Move Over St-Tropez! 3 Secret French Riviera Towns With Less Crowds & Ancient Culture
4 min readWe all know St. Tropez for the pastel-colored alleyways that always seem to lead to either a picture-perfect bell tower or charming piazzas flanked by cafe terraces, the scenic beachfront, and, of course, the round-the-clock partying. Exciting as all of that might seem, we're not sure about you. We're not exactly fans of St-Tropez's crazy crowds, …
The post Move Over St-Tropez! 3 Secret French Riviera Towns With Less Crowds & Ancient Culture appeared first on Travel Off Path.
We all know St. Tropez for the pastel-colored alleyways that always seem to lead to either a picture-perfect bell tower or charming piazzas flanked by cafe terraces, the scenic beachfront, and, of course, the round-the-clock partying.
Exciting as all of that might seem, we’re not sure about you. We’re not exactly fans of St-Tropez’s crazy crowds, which only seem to get worse each passing year. Once again, this is too small of a town to be hosting millions of people every year—and don’t get us started on prices.
We’re talking $30–$45 per person for a casual meal in a ‘mid’ restaurant, and a whopping $253-a-night for hotels.
But hey, it’s not like St-Tropez is the French Riviera‘s only tourist offer, and for that matter, we know about these 3 (sort of) secret alternatives with both less crowds, and all that Old World charm you’re craving:
Antibes
Let’s get the ball rolling with Antibes, a laid-back town on the shores of the Mediterranean dating back thousands of years, with the same St-Tropez pale-colored palette, cobbled streets, and coastal atmosphere, minus the hordes of tourism.
It’s not like Antibes is a secret destination, either, but it sure lacks the latter’s ‘done-and-dusted’ feel, and that raucous nightlife:
The Old Town is characterized by its Provençal morning markets, where everything from fresh fruit to lavender products are sold, artsy museums, including Musée Picasso, housed in the same waterfront château he used to live, and the peaceful, sandy Plage de la Gravette rarely feels packed.
Moreover, nights here are all about no-frills dinners in family-owned bistros down Rue Sade, in the heart of the Old Town, and romantic strolls along the lamp-lit promenade: it doesn’t get any more quintessentially Côte d’Azur than this.
La Turbie
This one’s for our fellow culture buffs:
Southern France is well-known for its association with the bygone Roman Empire, but while much of the attention is centered around cities like Arles and Nîmes, La Turbie is a much smaller, criminally overlooked village with an equally fascinating ancient history.
It is the proud home of the Trophy of Augustus, a landmark, temple-like structure that dominates the townscape, built in the year 6 BC—and if you climb to the very top, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the riviera in the distance.
La Turbie itself has Provence’s typical stone-paved streets, tiny squares revolving around old fairytale wells, and local eateries serving seasonal dishes: Café de la Fontaine and its meat ravioli with spring vegetables are a clear highlight.
As far as beaching goes, La Turbie is situated further up on a hill, so there are no bodies of water in the immediate vicinity, however, Plage des Marinières in trendy Villefrance-sur-Mer is still a short 15-minute drive away.
Biot
Keen on something even more offbeat, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and an unmatched medieval atmosphere? Leave the jam-packed coast and drive the narrow uphill streets to Biot:
If you’re at all familiar with Southern France at this point, you know how it goes: cobblestones and humble dwellings that have been passed down through generations, a leafy main street lined with cozy restaurants and artisan shops, and every imaginable hue of pastel.
St-Tropez may have the Hollywood Golden Age glamour, but Biot is the unsung cultural hub of the French Riviera. It is home to the landmark Fernand Léger National Museum, dedicated to the world-renowned French painter, and numerous art galleries displaying local glasswork.
When strolling around the Old Town, must-see spots are Place des Arcades, a bustling main square ringed by arcaded buildings, the 16th-century gateway to the village, and the Clock Tower, tucked away in a hidden courtyard amidst the maze of winding streets.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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