Balzac's The Vendetta painted the islanders as stubborn and courageous mountain people of a constitution not dissimilar to the island's granite cliffs; and that stereotype still exists today The novel's title suggests something of the volatile machismo that occasionally erupts here; the mafia is an enduring presence - not that you'd know it But the benefit of such wariness - developers can find themselves tied up in red tape for years - is a paradise that looks barely touched by the 21st century: lush and wild industrial parks or any of the urban clog that despoils other Mediterranean isles The lounge bar at La Plage CasadelmarWhere to stay in Northern CorsicaVisitors traditionally stick to the south coast so the north remains an insider's secret - a charmed part and peaks give way to small fishing villages and perfect bays of powdery white sand lapped by opalescent waves a 30km peninsula at the very tip of the island every bend revealing a beach more beautiful than the last a lovely village of stone houses and terracotta roofs and the location of a smart hotel A 17th-century villa wedged into the hillside this grey-and-white temple to minimalism is the work of Nathalie Battesti a protégée of Andrée Putman and Christian Liaigre Although it resembles a Florentine palazzo modern sculpture in the lobby and not a hair out of place They resemble yacht crew or chic Nurse Ratcheds but of course far kinder and more solicitous serving my husband and me drinks as we loll on white sofas on the wooden deck beside the small restaurant - also white they bring tapenade with geometrically placed crispbreads including no-frills La Ferme de Campo di Monte in Murato and Michelin-starred Le Pirate north of Bastia delicious Corsican fare: freshly caught tuna The terrace at Pietra NovaCamille MoirencThe next morning, after croissants and coffee at the hotel, we head down to Saint-Florent, an elegant little town of cobbled streets, pink-plastered houses, cafés, boutiques and, at the marina's edge, Paris-wannabe cocktail bars and sushi restaurants Saint-Florent's attempt at urban cool is charming rather than off-putting I buy a foldable straw fedora from a modish lifestyle boutique called Orangerie and we jump on a taxi-boat to Saleccia beach in the Désert des Agriates national park rather a protected stretch of coastline comprised of secluded beaches and gently crumbling watchtowers backed by forests threaded with hiking paths and hidden rivers Saleccia is a dream: a long bar of Champagne-coloured sand and mirror-clear turquoise sea. I feel like we've landed in Zanzibar But the voices that drift towards us are distinctly French as is our picnic - jambon sandwiches bought from a Saint-Florent snack bar we swap flip-flops for trainers and hike the 40-minute trail to the adjacent Loto beach passing through woods of oak and pine (where the silence is total like a held breath) and ruined shepherds' huts This native brush is called the maquis; its distinctive fragrance is said to have haunted Napoleon's dreams while he was captive on Elba and the water inviting a last swim before we get back on the boat The sitting room at Pietra NovaCamille MoirencThe next day we drive along a twisting hill road (not to be endeavoured on a hangover) to a villa called Pietra Nova in the heart of the Balagne - a gorgeous area of beaches and mountains that stretches along the coast between Calvi and L'Ile-Rousse cubic block of concrete with retractable glass walls and spacious rooms full of antique curios The house is hidden in the valley beneath the hilltop village of Lumio; and from a wraparound terrace shaded with oak we can see the shadowed peaks and the curling sea bright gold as the afternoon sun spills across its surface a fortified citadel trimmed with an eight-kilometre beach It is reputedly the birthplace of Christopher Columbus though quite why he would want to leave such a spot is a mystery there's an outside shower set into a natural rock basin and at night Balinese lamps cast a glow over the low-slung seating a Relais & Châteaux hotel with seven acres of palm-fringed gardens and a private beach club.) a stylish restaurant serving swordfish-and-mango salad and elaborate desserts The restaurants lining the streets that run upwards from the busy marina offer interchangeable menus of sea bass where we spy revellers dancing on a terrace high up on the city walls a barefoot beach diner in the bay adjacent to Le Pain de Sucre distinguished for its location and the photographs of model and actress Laetitia Casta that line the walls at 9am the bay is already busy with little boys in masks and snorkels we stroll along to a remarkable spot where flat slabs of rock meet the sea and giant boulders smooth as pebbles gather like Anish Kapoor sculptures a sweet market town and busy port with dozens of biscuiteries artisanales tucked down cobbled alleys and a local's favourite hidden beside the miniature railway track that connects the coastal villages of the Balagne Mariko JesseLunch is steak-frites at a snack bar on the rocks at the head of the bay - delicious but possibly inadvisable because afterwards we drive up an extremely twisty road into the mountains The Route des Artisans leads to weather-beaten medieval villages strung together like pearls each home to a community of craftspeople: ceramicists At Pigna we buy pottery the colour of the ocean In Sant'Antonino we stop at a church that has a staggering view and a floor laid with the most stylish handmade tiles this side of Paris architect- designed winery and art gallery This place is evidence of the quiet changes afoot here in northern Corsica I feel like we have only scratched the surface There are hiking routes in the nearby Bonifatu forest where according to Nathalie Bourgogne 'you can walk for days and days' 'I went to school here as a child,' says Bourgogne That's what makes it magic.' In a world in which change is the only constant Northern Corsica is the off-radar place to be but two of the island's loveliest hotels are in the south Our review of Misíncu Corsica Misíncu: Corsica's chicest new hotelGallery19 SlidesBy Richard GodwinView SlideshowSmall hotels in the South of France The best hotels in the South of FranceGallery15 SlidesBy Sarah James and Lanie GoodmanView SlideshowThis feature first appeared in Condé Nast Traveller September 2014 Next: Central Corsica >> has a rustic feel and a terrace with views of the sea Pigna is known for its summer music and art festivals The small fortified villages like Pigna and Feliceto that dot the winding roads east of Calvi were the domain of some of France’s most proficient craftsmen until well into the 1950s the Strada di l’Artigiani (“Road of the Artisans”) has been revitalized in the last decade and is again producing the ceramics and wood carvings the island is famous for a wander in the stone towns that date from about a.d And world music lovers will enjoy the island’s unique polyphonic music—a kind of haunting yodeling—with several summer festivals and more intimate concerts in smaller twelfth-century churches and it’s easy to see why the Haute Balange has new cachet with culture hounds and history buffs including a restored monastery outside Calvi with a series of private gardens a pool that sits at the foot of a mountain and a vintage Renault for guests’ use (44-20-7788-7815) and internationally ranked DJs when things heat up in the summer (Rte de la Pinède; 33-4-95-65-23-16; entrées from $18) Founded in the 1930s by a former Russian military officer who obviously knew how to have fun off duty, 1 Chez Tao remains Calvi’s go-to nightclub (rue St-Antoine 1 Ostriconi is a great arc of white sand between Calvi and St-Florent on the N1197 rosés from the Corse) at the nearby Domaine d’Ostriconi farm stand The medieval citadel of Calvi overlooks the pleasures of Octopussy The Baroque Church of St-Nicols in Feliceto Tools of the trade in an artist’s atelier in Pigna Shaded tables and a view of the Mediterranean in Pigna for handcrafted music boxes (33-4-95-61-77-33) up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelThe Glamorous Italian Riviera Resort You Should Get To Know NowByCatherine Sabino Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Catherine Sabino is an editor and author who writes about travel.Follow AuthorJul 17 Perennial stars of the Italian summer season along the Riviera draw more visitors than they can often handle but that doesn’t seem to deter the warm-weather onslaught (selfie fines notwithstanding) But one of the Riviera’s most exquisite stops although it’s somewhat of a conundrum as to why since it offers many of the lures of better-known resorts—stunning Mediterranean scenery enviable micro-climate (residents boast of only three seasons—winter doesn’t quite happen here); a major yacht harbor (Portosole with 800 berths for boats up to 90 meters) grand villas and a vibrant restaurant scene in the Piazza Bresca Sanremo lies close to the Côte d'Azur which is both a blessing in terms of travel convenience While the drive from the Nice airport to Sanremo is about an hour (several carriers have nonstops out of NYC there are many playgrounds on the French Riviera to snare travelers along the way Europeans like Sanremo—many come for the competitive pricing—and who on a second or third trip to Italy are looking for new places to explore Sanremo becomes a media hot spot during the annual music festival the resort is about much more than an annual entertainment extravaganza and no surprise that the food is terrific; this is Italy and the Ligurian cooking served up in Sanremo balances refined and rustic with enough local twists to move beyond pesto Among the must-trys—the superb local red prawns coveted by chefs; sardenaira made with tomato sauce and anchovies; and dishes with Taggiasca olive oil The Sanremo region has its own bounty of vegetables—cuore di bue (beefsteak) tomatoes trombetti (trumpet-shape) zucchini and a variety of small artichoke to further localize the menu offerings you can enjoy the pleasures of strolling through a pristine Even the refuse can be lovely—if there’s debris in the streets it tends to be windswept petals tumbling about from the array of blooming plants and bushes found everywhere A vintage travel poster by Vincenzo Alicandri of San Remo The most glamorous destination on the part of the western Italian Riviera called the Riviera dei Fiori (Flower Riviera) for its abundant flora San Remo was one of Italy’s earliest resorts blossoming (literally) to life in the mid-to-late 19th century with the advent of a railway line making travel an option for more than the small cohort of aristocrats and intellectuals who journeyed over the Alps to study the wonders of ancient Rome as part of their Grand Tour Sanremo’s initial appeal was as a winter destination The Russian connection to Sanremo would flourish in the late 1800s—the court drew other well-heeled and aristocratic visitors to the city for the balmy weather and health benefits Sanremo even named a major promenade after the Tsarina (Passeggiata Imperatrice) and one of its most beautiful landmarks is still the Russian Orthodox Church settling into or building impressive villas their prominent presence on one scenic street leading it to be called the Corso degli Inglesi (Photo by: Hermes Images/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) While Sanremo has the traditional markings of a Ligurian city—an old town called La Pigna modest eateries and centuries-spanning landmarks—you’ll find instead of the Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles that define so many of the country’s sites structures that reflect the design taste of the Belle Epoque when Sanremo enjoyed its first heyday as a resort The Casino is a good example of Liberty design as are some of the villas along the Corso degli Inglesi A view of the Royal Hotel Sanremo with the historic pool designed by Giò Ponti Considering all the monarchs and nobles who have stayed here—from King Farouk of Egypt and Princess Grace of Monaco to Queen Rania of Jordan but the extensive guest list has also included such international names as Mikhail Gorbachev business leaders from the Agnelli family; musical aristocracy like Pavarotti Il Giardino Restaurant overlooking the sea The Royal Hotel offers fit-for-a-king-or-queen grandeur So you get a sense of how Sanremo was in its Belle Epoque prime although with good WiFi and modern amenities You can linger over a Negroni while checking Google News on your iPhone in one of the chandelier-bedecked reception rooms or catch up on the latest happenings with print editions of German English or Italian newspapers dangling from a vintage magazine rack Even swimming here is a memorable experience but you don’t expect the hotel pool to come up with an intriguing back story created the heated saltwater pool in 1948 to resemble a natural oasis—Ponti once wrote how he hated rectangular swimming pools asking if lakes or rivers were rectangular You can swim away the afternoon in Ponti’s creation surrounded by a park with sub-tropical plants indulge in a menu of spa treatments in the sleek wellness spa The Royal Hotel has 127 rooms with 14 suites (88 have sea views) with ample terraces equipped with comfortable loungers and facing the sea are especially luminous—you feel as if you’re floating in mid-air far from even the gentle bustle of San Remo’s flower-strewn streets below are updated and restored during the hotel’s annual closing between November and January) there’s an air of tranquility wherever you are in the hotel The hotel’s restaurants offer luxe Ligurian cooking an airy space with a smart white decor decked with flowery Murano chandeliers the hotel offers innovative tasting menus; a recent one was devoted to sampling the subtle flavors of olive oil made from the local Taggiasca olive like the appetizer (beef carpaccio) and main course (seabass with courgette cream) and places like the Madonna della Costa Sanctuary and Queen Elena’s Gardens to see I was fortunate to visit La Pigna, and various villas in San Remo with Roberta Giovannina, a superb guide and local expert who runs San Remo Experience a firm that offers many good options for getting to know the area better and to experience it in authentic ways The city’s location allows for easy day trips both to the hinterlands and to other coastal cities (Photo by: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Giovannina says her most popular requests are for food and wine tasting tours of La Pigna; visits to the nearby towns of Dolceaqua and Bordighera where Monet famously painted; an excursion called the “Parasio Experience,” to the scenic under-the-radar hamlet in Imperia called Porto Maurizio; culinary bike tours and sybarititic boat trips with destinations ranging from the clear waters off the famous La Spiaggetta dei Balzi Rossi beach on the French/Italian border Cap d’Antibes or the Lérins Islands close to Cannes also organizes custom tours and culinary lessons You’ll find many independent shops in Sanremo with a range of price points carrying either established luxury or contemporary labels Among the memorable ways to shop locally are: DAPHNÉ Sanremo one of the Riviera’s few homegrown couture houses was founded in the 1960s by Daphné Carlo and Renzo Borsotto Over the years clients have included Côte d’Azur jet setters and international names like Grace Kelly and Maria Callas who came to shop collections noted for their exquisite fabrics whose patterns pay homage to the area’s extraordinary bounty of flowers and ever-sparkling sea including seductive silk dresses and caftans and a range of collectible handmade scarves with both modern and retro (e.g.,Bordighera tennis) themes There are also capsule collections developed with local artists and for various ethical and environmental causes Daphné produces a line of fragrances and beauty products made with Riviera flowers Unique to Sanremo is the atelier’s fashion and fragrance museum located in a 13th-century building adjacent to the Daphné boutique (visits by appointment) with clothing dating from the Belle Epoque when Sanremo first became an elite vacation getaway Items include pieces owned by Queen Margherita of Italy Historic clothing at the Daphné fashion and fragrance museum Olio Ansaldi on the Via Palazzo is known for its fine virgin olive oils made from the Taggiasca olive typically found on the Western Italian Riviera and along the nearby Côte d’Azur near Nice. known for their intense color and fruity flavor and various household items crafted from wood from the olive-tree Baci di Sanremo at the Pasticceria San Romolo Pasticceria San Romolo is Sanremo’s oldest pastry shop Known for their tempting Ligurian pastries macaron-like cookies filled with chocolate and hazelnut ganache the store recently added artisanal ice creams (they are known for the baci di Sanremo flavor) to their delicious repertoire A seascape with bougainvillea along the Riviera dei Fiori its success fueled by the opening of the Genoa to Ventimiglia train route Dubbed the City of Flowers for its production of roses Sanremo more than lives up to its name—during a recent visit in early summer bougainvillea were everywhere and the sweet scent of honeysuckle filled the air I’m told the mimosa trees sometimes blossom for the Christmas holidays Long-time families in Sanremo often have connections to the flower trade Sanremo’s flower farms lie in the nearby hills but there are important gardens to visit close to the center with exotic plants and various thematic sections devoted to palm and olive trees (the grounds are also home to the Floriseum and the Villa Nobel with historic plants and trees (Villa Bel Respiro can be visited by appointment flowers are often used in food preparation; at the Fiori di Murano restaurant Flowers for dishes at the Fiori di Murano restaurant 04-27-2021DESIGN A new book highlights gorgeous homes around the world that work with nature instead of against it by SPINN Arkitekter and Format Engineers [Photo: Tor Even Mathisen/courtesy Phaidon] BY Nate Berg A house is much more than what lies within its walls A new book out this week from Phaidon shows that a house’s setting can be as important as what’s inside it [Image: Phaidon]The book, Living in Nature: Contemporary Houses in the Natural World highlights 50 homes from around the world that were designed to bring in and celebrate their natural surroundings Built from materials that relate to the environment and with boundaries that blur indoors and outdoors they sit in harmony with their surroundings and water—the book offers tantalizing looks inside homes that were designed to connect with the outdoors and also to minimize their impact on the natural world Here are a few that show how homes can reflect and embody the elements of nature Pigna, in Malborghetto Valbruna, Italy. Designed by Claudio Beltrame these small treehouses were designed to hover in Italy’s oldest forest the two-level ovoid spaces are snug nests with a bedroom at the apex of the cone they’re held up off the ground on columns amid the canopy of the trees by Roberto Dini and Stefano Girodo [Photo: Adele Muscolino/courtesy Phaidon]Bivouac Luca Pasqualetti Designed by Roberto Dini and Stefano Girodo Almost impossibly clinging to a mountain ledge this compact cabin can withstand winds of more than 120 miles per hour the cabin had to be airlifted to the remote climbing site this mountain climber’s refuge seems to float in the clouds Boar Shoat, by Imbue Design [Photo: Imbue Design/courtesy Phaidon]Boar Shoat, in Bear Lake, Idaho. Designed by Imbue Design This completely off-grid family getaway sits on a ridge in the rolling mountains of Idaho the home’s flat roof and low-slung design keep it from standing too far out while also putting the gentle topography within reach An entire wall opens the home to a partly covered entry patio that leads out into the boulder-studded foothills Varden, by SPINN Arkitekter and Format Engineers [Photo: Tor Even Mathisen/courtesy Phaidon]Varden, on Storfjellet Mountain, Norway. Designed by SPINN Arkitekter and Format Engineers The jagged and rocky terrain of this home’s Nordic mountain setting has been directly translated into its geologic form Appearing to be an organic and imperfect dome the wooden cabin’s 77 interlocking panels were designed to ensure wind and snow resistance The result is a unique space that seems like the inside of a soccer ball it provides a mountaintop portal for viewing the northern lights Folly Cabin, by Cohesion [Photo: Sam Frost/courtesy Phaidon]Folly Cabin, in Joshua Tree, California. Designed by Cohesion Designed specifically to accommodate the extreme heat of the desert this small experimental home is split into two parts that each vent hot air out through solar-powered skylights in their tall pitched roofs One of the structures features a terrace with a partly removed roof Atelier Villa, by Formafatal [Photo: BoysPlayNice/courtesy Phaidon]Atelier Villa, in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Designed by Formafatal this home embodies the volcanic geology of its surroundings It’s been weatherproofed against the moist air through a Japanese technique that involves charring the wood of its back wall The rectangular home is also bordered by rusted aluminum screening that recalls the lava and volcanic rocks of the region while a cut-through patio and indoor-outdoor pool bring in the humidity and also a space of cooling relief Boreraig, by Dualchas Architects [Photo: Andrew Lee/courtesy Phaidon]Boreraig, in Isle of Skye, Scotland. Designed by Dualchas Architects Based on the form of a traditional turf-roofed stone cottage this modern home replaces that crude materiality with smooth wood walls and a metal roof that resists the region’s heavy moisture Oriented to look out on a nearby lake and the sea beyond it the home’s large viewing windows frame the vast expanse oak walls and ceilings create a uniform warmth to counter the tumultuous climate Straw House, by 1+1>2 Architects [Photo: Hiroyuki Oki/1+1>2 Architects/courtesy Phaidon]Straw House, in Son Tay, Vietnam. Designed by 1+1>2 Architects The thatched roof and adobe brick of this lakefront house respond directly to the humidity and rainfall in northern Vietnam The building also resists the potentially damaging force and dampness of the water that defines the site by perching up off the ground allowing rainfall to run down its sloped site directly beneath the building The final deadline for Fast Company’s Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. Fast Company & Inc © 2025 Mansueto Ventures Fastcompany.com adheres to NewsGuard’s nine standards of credibility and transparency. Learn More the association of ideas with the two reasons for which it is famous namely the Italian Song Festival and the Casino But San Remo is not only the San Remo Festival and it is not even only linked to the good life of the late nineteenth century when the Riviera town was already a destination for international tourism especially from northern Europe (so much so that there is even a “Corso degli Inglesi” in San Remo which therefore also in the odonomastics reminds us of how strong the international presence in the area was) San Remo in fact has ancient origins: the first settlement are moreover also known as “matuziani”) The name of the town itself derives from the dialectal name of the bishop of Genoa who evangelized the local population between the 4th and 5th centuries and who curiously enough was called Saint Romulus (San Römu in Ligurian): a village already existed at that time although the first certain attestations date back to the end of the 10th century (a document from 979 speaks of a castrum Sancti Romuli).Consequently which today is sharply divided into two parts (the ancient village nineteenth-century city that stretches along the marina) there are also several ancient testimonies that art enthusiasts can find in the city As is typical of our “five places in two days” travel format for San Remo we offer here a list of five sites to visit in a weekend or short stay in the city also called “Old San Remo” by some: the picturesque neighborhood opens up to the right of Via Palazzo and is a labyrinth of alleyways that lead up to the top of the rise from which it overlooks the modern city and the Riviera as far as the neighboring municipalities The name Pigna refers to the conformation of the built-up area: narrow alleys that run between tall houses often with sections in the dark inside real tunnels arranged in concentric rings around the steep hill (a “sugar loaf” Charles de Brosses had called it in the eighteenth century precisely because of its shape) since in the Middle Ages the Ligurian coast was subject to raids by Saracen pirates Sites to visit include the oratory of San Sebastiano which was built in 1502 as a vow for the town’s deliverance from a plague the 17th-century church of San Giuseppe (Pigna’s largest house of worship some curious stucco rosettes frescoed on the vaults which is said to have hosted Pope Paul III during one of his trips to Nice It is located on a knoll overlooking the La Pigna neighborhood (you can get there on foot through the medieval quarter or via the road that runs alongside): dating from between the 14th and 15th centuries today the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa is presented in its 17th-century appearance (it was in fact rebuilt in 1630 thanks to the work of a sailor who attributing the miracle precisely to the table of the “Madonna della Costa” preserved here) Tradition has it that the church was built after 1361 the year in which the castle of San Remo was ceded by the Dorias to the Republic of Genoa a fact that gave rise to the “festa delle catene,” an event held annually until 1824 to celebrate the city’s liberation from the yoke of the Dorias the shrine is not mentioned for the first time until 1474 The “Madonna of the Coast” is a late Gothic panel painting attributed to Nicolò da Voltri and several other important works adorn the shrine: four wooden statues by Anton Maria Maragliano a Vision of Saint Hyacinth by Domenico Fiasella a Beheading of the Baptist by Giulio Cesare Procaccini San Remo Cathedral has very ancient origins: in fact the current structure dates back to the 12th century when the first Romanesque-Gothic cathedral was built the building was heavily remodeled between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: in 1745 the cathedral was in fact bombed resulting in the collapse of the façade and part of the roof after San Remo’s revolt against the Republic of Genoa and until 1901 it could still be admired in its seventeenth-century appearance: that year massive works were begun that dismantled the Baroque alterations to restore the church to an appearance similar to what it must have had originally the ancient parts that were not destroyed or modified over the centuries can still be seen it was decided instead to keep the 18th-century one The interior also houses two important works by Maragliano: a crucifix and a Madonna del Rosario Formerly housed in Palazzo Borea d’Olmo, the Civic Museum(website here) 2016 has instead been welcoming the public to Palazzo Nota a splendid 18th-century building in downtown San Remo It is the place to discover the history of the oldest San Remo: in fact this is where the rich archaeological section is located where the oldest evidence of the area is kept The second floor of the museum also houses a rich picture gallery with works that focus mainly between the 18th and 19th centuries (there are also two works by Giacomo Grosso) An entire room is dedicated to the cartoonist Antonio Rubino who lived between 1880 and 1964: he was one of the first Italian cartoonists and the room devoted to him traces his career with paintings and this summer sees a mouthwatering collection of beautiful houses for sale all along the coastline from Cap Martin to The Var It's testament to southern France's position as one of the world's most recession-proof luxury-property locations that it managed to emerge relatively unscathed from some testing times A combination of the global financial meltdown the Eurozone crisis and the new tax laws introduced by François Hollande (see COUNTRY LIFE International Spring 2013) would have knocked almost any other market off its feet but country houses in the South of France seem to have successfully weathered the storm but the region is already heating up for summer kicked off by a strong Scandinavian contingent ‘Perhaps people had been holding off but we've certainly seen improved sentiment leading to more enquiries in particular between €2 million and €5 million this year,' he says ‘France is an established location: it's user-friendly has fantastic facilities and the culture is something that British buyers in particular understand and enjoy.' ‘Irrespective of the financial or tax landscape there are still extraordinarily wealthy people out there who continue to be drawn to the South of France because of the legacy it's created through the people the history and the glamour associated with these addresses The buyers who can afford the best houses in the world all want to be here.' Mr Moore deals with budgets ranging from €10 million to €300 million and his buyers are looking in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin the closer you also are to the train tracks-except on the Caps Cap d'Antibes is sought-after because of its central position and all-year-round lifestyle Home Hunts is selling one very fine Belle Epoque villa located on the west side which enjoys great sea views and spectacular sunsets The house has been renovated throughout and offers 350sq m of living space and a guest apartment all for €12.6 million (00 33 970 44 66 43; www.home-hunts.com) lovers of Art Deco architecture will be drawn to Tanah Merah an extraordinary reimagining of a property that stays true to its roots but also reaches confidently into the 21st century but they blend seamlessly with modern creature comforts such as the home theatre infinity pool and intelligent-house system and the roof terrace is crying out for a party (through Knight Frank For those who'd rather be in town, Sothebys International Realty are selling a Belle Epoque villa that's rumoured to have been home to F Scott Fitzgerald while he wrote Tender is the Night the interiors of this house are cosy in winter and cool in summertime With five bedrooms and elegant reception rooms opening onto shady terraces the house also comes with direct access to the beach and a private jetty all at a price of €27.5 million (00 33 493 38 50 33; www.cotedazur-sothebysrealty.com) €27.5 million (00 33 493 38 50 33; www.cotedazur-sothebysrealty.com) some Caps are more sought-after than others and there is one where buyers with an unlimited budget immediately flock ‘Cap Ferrat is still the ultimate place to own a property,' says Mr Moore ‘Since the world's super wealthy began buying there it created a legend that made it one of the most aspirational places to buy in the world.' A brand-new villa near the sea in Saint-Jean- Cap-Ferrat has 250sq m of living space and four bedrooms as well as a pool pavilion with guest suite It's on the market for €8.5 million (through Savills ‘Cap Martin is a more discreetly famous location and its private domaine has some of the most beautiful properties in the world Not far from there is the extraordinary Coco Chanel house located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin where Winston Churchill spent his time painting,' notes Mr Moore The villa is for sale through Sotheby's International Realty with a price on application there are some spectacular properties built into the hills which come with impressive views of both the Bay of Villefranche and Cap Ferrat The entrance alone is unforgettable-you enter through a cavern dug into the rock This is another party-perfect house with accommodation and entertaining spaces spread across five floors imaginative water features and a fantastic pool guarantee that this unique house will be bought by someone with a taste for the dramatic The asking price is £25 million through Knight Frank For buyers who prefer to be set back from the sea Mr Harvey points to the villages behind Cannes such as Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Tourettes-sur- Loup Knight Frank are currently offering a villa in Vence which has five bedrooms and three receptions over three levels a great swimming pool and panoramic sea views ‘Robert Dallas-style houses are still very popular,' Mr Harvey maintains Another interesting property in this area is a château in Le Bar-sur-Loup which is set on top of a hill with far-reaching sea views the house offers great reception rooms and five bedrooms with grounds of 12.35 acres containing a pool and a fun boules court (00 33 623 48 39 19; www.savills.co.uk/international) Returning to the waterfront, past the urban centres of Nice and Cannes, Jean-Claude Caputo from Savills says his hot tip for 2013 is one of the most famous coastal towns in France-Saint-Tropez ‘The most noticeable trend we've seen this year is a very international clientele enquiring about Saint- Tropez Middle Eastern and French clients all currently looking for an apartment or town house there a little wilder and has been historically more protected than the more built-up areas along the Côte d'Azur It's also the ultimate destination for the young and glamorous-Cap Ferrat and Villefranche are beautiful but they maintain a quiet elegance that appeals to families rather than young party animals.' More of his clients now make their fortunes at a younger age and are drawn to places where there is the kind of nightlife they're accustomed to in cities such as London and Paris where you're within walking distance of the beach a private domaine where some glorious houses and estates with swimming pools 24-hour security and a private beach are sheltered under canopies of pine trees Estates start at €8 million and can reach beyond €50 million A wonderful town house laid across four storeys with a roof terrace and gorgeous interiors overlooking the citadel is for sale through Savills for €2.5 million (00 33 615 06 29 91; www.savills.com) Also for sale in the La Ponche area of Saint-Tropez is a quirky old fisherman's house on the medieval ramparts With three bedrooms and accommodation over four floors It's for sale through Leggett Immobilier at €3.5 million (00 33 55 36 08 488; www.frenchestateagents.com) Those who spend the summer months there usually winter in Courchevel or the Caribbean ‘We're seeing more people coming for the weekend throughout the year because there's so much happening in places such as Aix-en-Provence,' says Mr Caputo Marseille-Provence is the that always brings interest from all over the world One major exhibition is ‘Painters and the Mediterranean' which will showcase the ways in which artists such as Van Gogh Matisse and De Staël illustrated southern France from 1880 to 1960 Taking place simultaneously at Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille's Palais Longchamp Thanks to the packed calendar of events and the recent launch of the direct Eurostar route from London to Aix-en-Provence, Sheeran Serre estate agents (00 33 6 80 64 03 75; www.sheeranserre.net) experts in helping British people buy in the southern part of the Luberon anticipate a period of new arrivals to the area but we think this beautiful French town is finally coming of age,' says Bill Sheeran The coastline west of the Côte d'Azur and has attracted discerning buyers looking for sea views without the glitz noise and traffic that come with most of the coast between Menton and Saint-Tropez The land has remained relatively undeveloped which means there are hardly any beachfront properties and prices are less eye-watering than elsewhere in the South of France ‘A 250sq ft villa with sea views and 4-5 bedrooms would cost about €2.2 million to €2.5 million whereas a pretty village house in the hills in Lambesc or St Cannat will cost perhaps €1.5 million,' explains Bill's wife and business partner prices can reach between €4 million and €10 million.' Many British buyers love inland properties with a rustic feel who's seeing more contemporary houses for sale in the area aimed at capturing some of the successful local businessman market One bastide only 5ó miles from Aix has been entirely renovated and now offers five bedrooms and a guest cottage plus wine cellar and pool for €4.5 million through Knight Frank Mr Moore reports that many of his clients are also considering a wine estate in the Var: ‘For €10 million-€15 million you can buy 10-100 hectares [25-250 acres] of wine-producing land managed for you * Properties for sale in France