Your Provencal getaway: how to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer and what to see and do in this beautiful city of the French Riviera?
A small town in the Alpes-Maritimes of 5,200 inhabitants, Villefranche-sur-Mer spreads around an amphitheatre of cliffs along the rade de Villefranche, one of the deepest natural mesh of the Mediterranean Sea. You will not fall under the yoke of boredom by visiting Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Sunset throughout the year – 2,696 hours of sun in 2014 -, high city in color and scents thanks to the vegetation that sprinkle the coast of the Côte d’Azur, city steeped in art – Aldous Huxley and Jean Cocteau went there regularly - tinted with turquoise blue and crystalline water, visiting Villefranche-sur-Mer is undoubtedly a visual and gustative delight. What about Villefranche-sur-Mer?
1. Old town
Photo credit: Flickr – John Bencina
The old-fashioned district is a maze of narrow alleys that snake from shore to the heights of the city. The houses are picturesque, old, colourful. Whip in the veins of the old town will bring you a refreshing walk, in the shade of the burning raids of the Provencal sun.
Advent yourself in this interlacing of staircases, arched streets and pedestrian passages so that you will be imbued with the authentic life of the village. In the passage, admire the church of Saint-Michel, the chapel of Saint-Pierre des Pécheurs, the Citadelle Saint-Elme, Rue Obscure (dating from 1260!).
2. La rade de Villefranche
Photo credit: Flickr – Artur Staszewski
The rade de Villefranche is one of the deepest in the Western Mediterranean. It is 2.5 km long and 1.5 km wide. Located between Cape Nice and Cape Ferrat, the rade reaches a depth of 50 meters in its middle, and the sea, in the south, reaches a depth of 1,000 meters. So much to say that the denial of this submarine canyon is abyssal.
A very mild microclimate is protected from the winds thanks to its enclaved situation: to enhance your rides all year round!
3. The port of the Darse
Photo credit: Wikimedia - Broenberr
Former military arsenal Duchy of Savoie , its buildings have been listed on historical monuments since 1991. The port of the Darse was built in the 18th century to combat the abuses of the corsaries and pirates. It is an immanquable for anyone who comes to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer, which includes:
- The old forge,
- String,
- The vaults of the old warehouses,
- The hospital for the scabies,
- The round path, which will offer you an absolutely stunning view of the rade.
Today, the Darse is the marina of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
4. A boat ride
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Arndale
Let’s stay on the marina, starting point of another must-see activity in Villefranche-sur-Mer: boat rides. Indeed, a passage on the Azurean coastline without taking the sea is not possible.
With one boat rental in Villefranche-sur-Mer , for example, you can discover the Cape of Antibes , Nice , the island of Sainte-Marguerite and even Monaco . To make your stay unforgettable!
How to get to Villefranche-sur-Mer?
Villefranche-sur-Mer is located right next to the city Nice . You can go by train to Villefranche-sur-Mer but also by plane via the Nice airport. To find cheap flights to Nice, you can search our partner's website Skyscanner .
Where to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer?
You can find a cheap hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer by doing a search on this Compare hotels .
Now you know how to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer!
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