Cannes After Dark: Why Cinéma de la Plage Is Still the Festival’s Most Anticipated Event

 

While tuxedos climb the steps of the Palais and celebrities battle flashbulbs on the Croisette, the real soul of the Festival de Cannes often waits much closer to the sand.

It waits at night.

It waits at the Plage Macé.

And it waits under the banner of Cinéma de la Plage—the Festival’s open-air cinema where the public, not just the industry elite, gets invited to the show.

For the 2026 edition, running from May 12 to May 23, the Festival once again turns the beach into a giant seaside theater, with nightly screenings beginning at 21:30 and free public access, subject to available space.

That matters.

Because of all the mythology of Cannes—private yachts, velvet ropes, whispered deals in hotel bars—Cinéma de la Plage remains one of the few places where cinema escapes the gatekeeping.

This year’s lineup proves exactly why.

There are 11 films in total, and the programming is a love letter to both nostalgia and spectacle: Top Gun returns for its 40th anniversary, two Palme d’Or winners from 1966 return for a historical nod, Ken Loach makes a return with Land and Freedom, and there is a tribute to Brigitte Bardot through a screening of Viva Maria! by Louis Malle.

Even the beach itself is being symbolically renamed for the tribute, with the city organizing the homage as Plage Macé becomes the “Brigitte Bardot Beach.”

And then there is the headline surprise: the world premiere of Les Caprices de l’Enfant Roi by Michel Leclerc, starring Artus, Doria Tillier, Julia Piaton, and Franck Dubosc, lighting up the beach screen instead of hiding behind an exclusive premiere wall.

That choice says something.

Cannes knows its reputation. It knows the accusations: too exclusive, too self-congratulatory, too obsessed with prestige and not enough with people.

Cinéma de la Plage is the rebuttal.

No badge required for the beach screenings. No invitation list. No desperate networking. Just a chair, sea air, and a screen under the stars. The official city listing makes it plain: access is free, within seating limits.

That is Cannes at its best.

Not the luxury branding.

Not couture politics.

Not the standing ovation Olympics.

Cinema.

Shared, public, collective cinema.

There is something almost rebellious about watching Top Gun with strangers by the Mediterranean while a few hundred meters away executives negotiate million-euro distribution deals.

One space sells the dream.

The other remembers why the dream mattered in the first place.

That is why Cinéma de la Plage survives every year. Because beneath all the machinery of the world’s most famous film festival, audiences still want the simplest thing possible:

A good film.
A warm night.
And the feeling that cinema belongs to everyone.

Not just the people wearing the lanyards.

The Reality of Renting a Villa on the French Riviera in Peak Summer

 

There is a dream that almost everyone who desires to come here has at some point: a beautiful villa rental on the French Riviera in July or August, a pool overlooking the Mediterranean, long lunches on the terrace, walking distance to the beach, and enough space for friends or family to enjoy it all together.

It is a wonderful dream—and sometimes it can absolutely become reality.

But it also helps to be honest about what that reality actually costs.

Every summer, villa rental agencies across the Côte d’Azur receive a flood of requests from travellers hoping to find the perfect top luxury villa for surprisingly modest budgets. The issue is not that people should not ask—it is that many simply do not realize how the market actually works here, especially at the height of the season.

And peak season changes everything.

July and August are the busiest and most expensive months anywhere in the Mediterranean, but particularly on the French Riviera. From Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Cap Ferrat, demand is enormous and inventory is limited.

A villa that sleeps six to ten people, with a garden, pool, sea view, privacy, and proximity to the beach, is not just “a rental.” It is often a multi-million-euro property with significant year-round costs.

Owners are not simply covering a mortgage. They are paying for landscaping, pool maintenance, gardeners, cleaning staff, insurance, security systems, repairs, taxes, utilities, and constant upkeep on homes that often exceed several million euros in value. Salt air, intense sun, frequent guest turnover, and luxury expectations all create serious maintenance costs.

These homes are expensive to own before a single guest even arrives.

That is why pricing is structured the way it is.

To put it into perspective, a simple one-bedroom apartment in Villefranche-sur-Mer for two people during summer can easily average around €200 per night. That is for a modest holiday apartment—not a private villa with a pool and grounds.

Meanwhile, a five-bedroom villa with a pool and a sea view in the same area during peak season will often start around €27,000 per week (if you are lucky to find one)—and very often much higher depending on the view, location, and level of luxury.

This surprises many people, but it should not.

People often assume that travelling as a group means a villa should somehow become “cheap.” In reality, group travel is a fantastic idea precisely because it helps distribute the cost per person.

If ten people split a €25,000 weekly rental, suddenly the number becomes much more manageable than if one family were carrying it alone. Group travel absolutely makes villa rentals more accessible.

But the starting number still has to be realistic.

Recently, we received a request for a villa for 24 guests, with a pool and sea view, close to the beach, for two weeks at the height of summer—with a budget of €1,000 per night.

At first glance, that may sound like a substantial budget.

But broken down, that works out to roughly €42 per person per night for a property large enough to legally and comfortably host 24 people in one of the most expensive summer destinations for two weeks in Europe. And these are just one of many types of daily requests agencies receive.

For comparison, during July and August, it can be difficult to find even a shared hostel room in Nice for that price as an individual.

Expecting a large private villa with a pool, prime location, and luxury amenities for that rate simply is not realistic. And that does not even account for the wear and tear on a property hosting 24 guests—constant pool use, heavy kitchen and bathroom use, increased cleaning, more laundry, more maintenance, and far greater risk for the owner.

Large groups create significantly higher operational costs.

This is not about being elitist or dismissive. It is simply about understanding the market before planning around it.

The best advice for travellers is simple: do your homework early. Most people reserve a villa during the winter months here (or even a year ahead) for the summer as there are more properties available to choose from with better rates.

As per usual here when property stock gets tighter that means less options and even bidding wars for some rentals from last minute requests during the summer. Having mentioned that, an agency such as ours that has been in business for over 15 years does have the connections to help.

So before falling in love with a vision, or something you’ve scrolled by on social media, ask questions. Speak with a local rental agency.

Be honest about your budget and your priorities from the start as it also helps narrow down the search for you much more rapidly. Is the sea view more important than walkability? Is a pool essential? Would a charming smaller villa work better? Would two nearby apartments make more sense than one giant villa?

Often, agencies can guide people toward better options they had not considered.

Sometimes that may mean a smaller villa that fits the budget beautifully. Sometimes it may mean booking a beautiful hotel suite instead, where service and location offer better value for the money.

Sometimes it simply means adjusting expectations.

And that is not disappointing—it is smart.

The French Riviera is extraordinary, and there are incredible ways to enjoy it at many different budgets. But when it comes to renting a summer villa with space, privacy, a pool, and a sea view, honesty matters.

Luxury here is real.

So are the costs.

Monte-Carlo Casino Undergoes a Major Restoration Ahead of F1 Grand Prix

 

Behind the elegant trompe-l’oeil façade currently covering the legendary Monte-Carlo Casino, an ambitious restoration project is bringing one of Monaco’s most iconic landmarks back to its former Belle Époque glory.

The historic building, owned by the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), is undergoing a €2.5 million renovation that will be completed just in time for the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. With thousands of visitors expected to descend on the Principality for race weekend, the timing could not be more significant.

To preserve the visual elegance of the famous Place du Casino during construction, SBM installed an extraordinary 1,500-square-meter decorative tarp printed with a full-scale replica of the casino’s Belle Époque façade. Created using drone photography, the covering conceals nearly 80 tons of scaffolding erected in January, ensuring that tourists seeking Monte Carlo’s famous luxury experience are met with only minimal disruption.

“We couldn’t imagine doing it any less well than this,” said Luc Leroy, Director of Construction and Built Heritage at SBM, emphasizing the high standards expected for a project involving one of Monaco’s most treasured architectural jewels.

Behind the temporary façade, dozens of craftsmen are working meticulously to restore the building’s exterior, tackling everything from masonry and paintwork to the marble entrance staircase and the grand canopy above it. The project also includes the restoration of four statues—two in copper and two in plaster—the two glazed-tile domes and their lightning rods, as well as the architectural lighting that helps define the casino’s unmistakable nighttime presence.

Built in 1863, the Monte-Carlo Casino has been the centerpiece of Monaco’s luxury identity for over a century. While it has undergone smaller maintenance works over the years, this marks one of the most significant restoration efforts ever undertaken on its main façade.

According to SBM, the work is part of a larger heritage preservation campaign that began in 2018, with restoration projects scheduled outside of the summer season and extending across multiple sides of the building over several years.

The renovation comes after major transformations around the casino district, including the redevelopment of Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, One Monte-Carlo, the Jardin des Boulingrins, and the entire Place du Casino.

“It is essential that we preserve our heritage,” Leroy explained. “SBM has a very rich history; it’s part of our DNA, and that’s what sets us apart.”

Years of sun, rain, sea spray, pollution, and time had left visible marks on the structure—peeling paint, weather-worn façades, blackened statues, weakened ornamentation, and occasional roof leaks all signaled the need for deeper intervention.

 

Now, with the world’s eyes set to return to Monaco for Formula 1’s most glamorous race, the crown jewel of Monte Carlo is preparing to shine once again.

 

Photos courtesy of Justine Meddah / Nice-Matin 

Nice to Rise for Equality: LGBTQ+ Community Calls for Powerful Peaceful March on May 17

 

On May 17, Nice will take to the streets with pride, purpose, and determination as the LGBTQ+ community and its allies gather for a major demonstration marking the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.

The call is clear: make some noise for equality and stand firmly against discrimination in all its forms.

Participants are invited to meet at 3 p.m. at the plaza of Gare de Nice-Ville (Thiers train station), where voices will unite in a visible and powerful show of solidarity. Organizers are urging people from across the city and beyond to come together—loud, proud, and impossible to ignore.

At a time when LGBTQ+ rights continue to face challenges across Europe and beyond, this gathering is about more than symbolism—it is about presence, resistance, and community. Friends, families, supporters, and activists are all being called to stand side by side.

Visible. United. Determined. Peaceful.

On May 17, Nice marches for dignity, respect, and equality for all.

Uber Takes to the Sea: Boat Transfers Between Nice and Cannes Launch This June

 

Starting June 26, Uber will officially launch Uber Boat along the Côte d’Azur, allowing passengers to book private boat trips directly through the Uber app—including highly anticipated coastal transfers between Nice and Cannes.

Yes, instead of sitting in summer traffic on the A8 or crawling along the crowded coastal roads, travelers will soon be able to open Uber, tap a new “Boat” option, and head to Cannes by sea.

The move comes through Uber’s partnership with Click&Boat, Europe’s largest peer-to-peer boat rental company, which gives Uber access to a fleet of roughly 50,000 boats across Europe without needing to operate its own vessels.

The Riviera’s New Luxury Commute

For years, private boat charters between Nice and Cannes have been reserved largely for the wealthy, yacht owners, and concierge-booked tourists.

Uber is now trying to make that process far simpler.

Users will be able to reserve:

• Private boat charters

• Skippered day trips

• Coastal point-to-point transfers

• Leisure cruises

• Smaller boats with or without license requirements

The goal is convenience: no separate booking platforms, no charter brokers, no endless WhatsApp negotiations with local operators.

Just book through the same app people already use for airport transfers and late-night rides home.

A Direct Answer to Riviera Traffic Chaos

Anyone who has tried getting from Nice to Cannes during summer—or worse, during the Cannes Film Festival—knows the pain.

Traffic can turn what should be a 30-minute trip into a two-hour ordeal.

Uber is clearly targeting that frustration.

Instead of gridlock, travelers can take the coastline itself, with routes expected to include:

• Nice → Cannes

• Cannes → Îles de Lérins

• Nice → Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

• Nice → Villefranche-sur-Mer

• Cannes → Saint-Tropez

For tourists, influencers, executives, and festival guests, the pitch is obvious: skip the traffic, arrive by boat.

Because on the Riviera, arriving dramatically is half the point.

Not Cheap—Just Easier

Uber Boat is unlikely to be a budget option.

Since the service pulls directly from Click&Boat’s existing listings, pricing will remain comparable to traditional charter bookings. Skipper fees, fuel costs, deposits, and Uber’s own service fees mean this is more about luxury convenience than affordability.

Uber One members, however, will receive 10% back in Uber credits, which can be used later on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders.

So yes, your yacht transfer might help pay for your hangover lunch.

A Bigger Push Into Lifestyle Travel

Uber announced the expansion during its GO-GET 2026 event in New York as part of its broader push to become more than just a rideshare app.

Hotels, flights, dining reservations, event access—and now boats.

The company wants to own the full travel experience.

In France, launch cities include Nice, Cannes, Marseille, Paris, Annecy, Saint-Tropez, and Toulon.

But nowhere fits the concept better than the Riviera.

Because if there is anywhere on earth where “Uber Boat” feels less like innovation and more like inevitability, it is here.

Cannes 2026: From Post-War Dream to the World’s Most Glamorous Red Carpet

 

Every May, the eyes of the film world turn to the Croisette in Cannes, where cinema, celebrity, and couture collide under the Mediterranean sun. The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival begins on May 12 and runs through May 23, once again transforming the French Riviera into the global capital of film.

But Cannes was not born out of glamour—it was born out of resistance.

The festival was originally conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the Venice Film Festival, which had become heavily influenced by Fascist politics under Mussolini and Nazi Germany. France wanted a festival where artistic merit—not political pressure—would decide the winners. World War II delayed that dream, and the first true Cannes Film Festival was finally held in 1946.

Since then, it has grown into the most prestigious film festival in the world, where winning the Palme d'Or can transform careers overnight.

Today, Cannes is equal parts cinema showcase, business hub, and international fashion spectacle. It is where auteurs premiere their boldest work, where studios quietly begin Oscar campaigns, and where every staircase at the Palais des Festivals becomes a runway.

This year’s festival opens with The Electric Kiss (La Vénus Électrique), directed by Pierre Salvadori, setting the tone for what promises to be one of the strongest auteur-driven lineups in recent memory. Jury president for 2026 is acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, best known for Oldboy, leading a jury packed with major names including Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga, and Isaach De Bankolé.

Two Honorary Palme d’Or awards will also be presented this year—to Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand—a reminder that Cannes celebrates both new voices and living legends.

Films Everyone Will Be Watching

Among the most anticipated competition titles:

• Amarga Navidad by Pedro Almodóvar

• Parallel Tales by Asghar Farhadi

• Paper Tiger by James Gray

• Coward by Lukas Dhont

• All of a Sudden by Ryusuke Hamaguchi

• The Unknown starring Léa Seydoux

• Gentle Monster featuring both Catherine Deneuve and Léa Seydoux

• Another Day by Jeanne Herry

• Karma, out of competition, starring Marion Cotillard

Also drawing major attention is Ira Sachs’s The Man I Love, starring Rami Malek and Rebecca Hall, expected to be one of the major conversation pieces on the Croisette.

Celebrity Watch: Who Will Be on the Red Carpet?

Expect a flood of star power this year, including:

• Penélope Cruz

• Javier Bardem

• Julianne Moore

• Cate Blanchett

• Tilda Swinton

• Demi Moore

• Léa Seydoux

• Marion Cotillard

• Rami Malek

• Catherine Deneuve

And of course, the unofficial stars of Cannes remain the photographers, publicists, and fashion houses battling to create the one image everyone remembers.

More Than Movies

For the South of France—especially Nice, Antibes, and Cannes itself—the festival is an economic engine. Hotels fill months in advance, restaurants are booked solid, yachts crowd the harbor, and luxury brands take over beach clubs and rooftops.

But beyond the spectacle, Cannes still matters because it remains one of the last places where cinema itself is treated like a world event.

Before streaming algorithms decide what audiences should watch, before awards campaigns begin, and before box office numbers dominate the conversation, Cannes asks a simpler question:

What is the best film in the world right now?

For nearly 80 years, filmmakers have come here hoping to answer it. Starting May 12, they will try again.

Nice and the 2030 Winter Olympics: A Mediterranean Gateway to the French Alps Games

 

The idea of the Winter Olympics being connected to Nice might sound unusual at first. A sun-drenched Mediterranean city known for its beaches, palm-lined promenades, and Riviera lifestyle is not the typical image of winter sport.

Yet for the 2030 Winter Olympics—officially awarded to the French Alps region—Nice is set to play a central and highly visible role in what is being called a new model for the Olympic Games.

Rather than a single host city, the 2030 Games will be spread across multiple clusters under the banner of “French Alps 2030”, officially awarded by the International Olympic Committee in 2024.

The concept is deliberately regional: snow sports will take place in Alpine hubs across Savoie, Haute-Savoie, and the Hautes-Alpes, while coastal Nice anchors the Games with indoor events and international access. This structure reflects a modern Olympic strategy—reduce new construction, use existing venues, and distribute economic benefits across a wider territory.

Nice as the Coastal Olympic Hub

Nice’s role is expected to be one of logistics, ceremonies, and indoor ice events. The city is projected to host competitions such as ice hockey, curling, short track speed skating, and potentially figure skating, along with the closing ceremony. The Allianz Riviera stadium and surrounding infrastructure are being discussed as key Olympic venues.

What makes Nice particularly strategic is its geography. Within roughly an hour or so, athletes and spectators can travel from the city’s Mediterranean coastline to Alpine resorts such as Isola 2000 and Auron, which will support snow sports events. This rare “sea-to-snow” connectivity is one of the strongest arguments in favour of Nice’s involvement.

Equally important is access. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is one of France’s busiest international hubs, with direct global connections that far exceed those of many mountain-only destinations. For the Olympics—where thousands of athletes, media representatives, and spectators converge—this level of accessibility is a major logistical advantage.

Tourism, Business, and Economic Opportunity

For Nice and the wider Côte d’Azur, the Olympics represent a significant economic opportunity. The city is already one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations, but the Games could extend its global profile beyond the summer season.

Key potential benefits include:

• Tourism expansion year-round, especially winter visibility for a traditionally summer-heavy destination

• Increased demand for hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, and luxury retail

• Growth in transport, event services, and hospitality employment

• Long-term branding of the region as a “gateway to the Alps”

For businesses, especially in hospitality and real estate, the Olympics can act as a catalyst for investment and infrastructure upgrades. If managed well, the Games could reinforce Nice’s position as a premium international destination that bridges coastal luxury and alpine sport access.

A New Olympic Model—But Not Without Questions

The French Alps 2030 bid is intentionally designed to avoid the pitfalls of past Olympics. Instead of building entirely new infrastructure, organizers aim to use existing venues across the region and minimize long-term “white elephant” facilities. Some events may even be hosted outside the immediate Alpine area if necessary, reflecting a flexible and cost-conscious approach.

However, this model also raises legitimate concerns.

Infrastructure pressure and costs

Even with reduced construction, hosting Olympic events requires upgrades to transport, security, and venue capacity. Residents often worry that public funds will be diverted from long-term local priorities such as housing, healthcare, and transport infrastructure.

Environmental impact

The sustainability narrative is central to the 2030 plan, but the reality of moving large numbers of people between coastal and mountain zones raises questions about emissions, road congestion, and ecological disruption in sensitive Alpine environments.

Legacy uncertainty

While tourism gains are likely, Olympic history shows mixed outcomes when it comes to long-term benefits. Cities often experience short-term economic boosts followed by debates about whether the investment truly paid off for residents.

Balancing Opportunity and Responsibility

Despite these concerns, the potential upside for Nice is significant. Few cities in the world can offer such a combination of international airport access, established tourism infrastructure, and immediate proximity to high-altitude winter sport venues.

If successfully managed, the 2030 Winter Olympics could:

• Strengthen Nice’s global identity beyond summer tourism

• Accelerate transport and infrastructure improvements

• Boost winter tourism in the Alpes-Maritimes and surrounding regions

• Create a lasting partnership between coastal and mountain economies

The challenge will be ensuring that the Games leave behind meaningful improvements rather than temporary disruption.

End Game

The 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps represent a shift in how the Games are conceived—less about a single city, more about a coordinated regional ecosystem. Within that structure, Nice stands out as the Mediterranean gateway, linking international travel, coastal tourism, and alpine sport.

It is an ambitious vision: sunshine and snow, sea and ski, all within a single Olympic experience. But as with all large-scale events, success will depend on execution. If done well, Nice could emerge not just as a supporting host, but as one of the defining symbols of a reimagined Winter Olympics.

Queer Palm 2026 Marks a Landmark Year for LGBTQ+ Cinema at Cannes

 

The 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival is shaping up to be one of its most LGBTQ+ inclusive in history, with the Queer Palm announcing a record-breaking 21 feature films in competition for its 16th edition.

 

Created to honor films with strong LGBTQ+ themes or feminist perspectives across Cannes’ official and parallel selections, the Queer Palm has become one of the festival’s most significant cultural markers for queer cinema. This year’s expanded lineup reflects a broader shift in international filmmaking, where queer stories are no longer treated as niche, but increasingly recognized as central to contemporary cinema.

 

Franck Finance-Madureira, founder of the Queer Palm, noted how dramatic the evolution has been since the prize began. In its first year, only five or six films qualified for consideration. Now, with 21 feature films selected, he sees it as proof that queer narratives have become far more visible and accepted in mainstream film culture. 

 

According to him, cinema is undergoing a real normalization of LGBTQ+ storytelling.

 

At the conclusion of the 12-day festival, the Queer Palm jury will award both a feature film and a short film. This year’s jury is co-chaired by actress Anna Mouglalis and director Thomas Jolly, who is also set to lead the upcoming Drag Race France tour later this year. They are joined by André Fischer, creator and director of the MixBrasil Festival; musician and actress Jehnny Beth; and multidisciplinary artist Raya Martigny, recently recognized at the Têtu Awards.

 

Among the films competing for the 2026 Queer Palm are major works from internationally acclaimed LGBTQ+ filmmakers including Pedro Almodóvar, Lukas Dhont, and Ira Sachs. Their entries include Autofiction, Coward, and The Man I Love, respectively.

 

Other films in contention include A Few Days in Nagi by Kōji Fukada, Garance by Jeanne Herry, The Black Ball by Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, Club Kid by Jordan Firstman, and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma by Jane Schoenbrun.

 

In total, seven of the 22 films in Cannes’ Official Competition feature LGBTQI+ characters, themes, or perspectives—a remarkable figure for one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. 

 

Many of these films are also directed by openly LGBTQ+ creators, further highlighting how representation is expanding both on screen and behind the camera.

 

For queer cinema, 2026 is not just another festival year at Cannes—it is a statement. The record-breaking Queer Palm selection signals that LGBTQ+ storytelling is no longer fighting for a seat at the table. It is now helping define the conversation.

See you in Cannes from May 12 to 23, 2026.

Why the French Riviera Remains One of the Best Places to Buy Luxury Property in 2026

 

If you are considering investing in world-class real estate, the French Riviera should be at the top of your list.

In the first 2026 Global Prime Market Index by JamesEdition, the French Riviera ranked as the world’s third ultra-prime property hub—an extraordinary position that confirms what buyers and investors have known for decades: this is not just a beautiful place to live, it is one of the most resilient and desirable luxury markets on the planet.

What makes the Riviera so powerful is not simply prestige—it is consistency. While flashy new markets rise and fall, the French Riviera continues to hold its ground, attracting serious international buyers who understand the value of scarcity, location, and long-term stability.

Strong Demand, Limited Supply, Lasting Value

The numbers tell the story.

With a Demand Scale score of 91, the Riviera remains one of the most sought-after luxury property destinations in the world. Buyers from across Europe, the Middle East, North America, and beyond continue to compete for exceptional homes in places like Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Cap d’Antibes, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Demand Momentum may be steady rather than explosive, but that is exactly what sophisticated investors want. This is a mature market built on stability, not speculation.

Supply remains carefully controlled. Prime waterfront villas, historic estates, and exceptional sea-view properties are not endlessly available—and that scarcity protects value. There is enough inventory to create opportunity, but never enough to erase exclusivity.

That is where true long-term strength lives.

Competing With the World—and Still Winning

The French Riviera is no longer simply competing with traditional European luxury destinations. Today, buyers compare it directly with global hotspots like Dubai, Miami, and Ibiza.

And yet the Riviera continues to stand apart.

Why? Because no other destination offers the same blend of Mediterranean beauty, international accessibility, cultural prestige, architectural history, and investment security. It is not just a purchase—it is a lifestyle asset with global recognition.

Whether you are searching for a private hillside villa, a waterfront estate, or a high-end apartment overlooking the sea, the Riviera offers something increasingly rare: a luxury market where emotion and financial logic align.

Now Is the Time to Start Your Search

The best properties in the French Riviera are rarely available for long.

Buyers who wait for the “perfect moment” often discover that the finest homes have already been secured by those who moved earlier. In ultra-prime real estate, hesitation can be expensive.

If you have been thinking about owning in the South of France, now is the time to start looking.

Explore the villages. Walk the coastlines. Visit the hidden estates above the sea. Look beyond the postcard image and see what global investors already understand: the French Riviera is not just a destination—it is one of the world’s most secure and rewarding places to own property.

For lifestyle, legacy, and long-term value, few places compare.

And that is exactly why your property search should begin here.

Contact Experience The French Riviera

Rose Festival Returns to Villa Ephrussi

 

The stunning Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on Saint Jean Cap Ferrat will celebrate the 15th edition of its much-loved Rose and Plant Festival on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May, bringing together flowers, music, workshops, performances and guided garden tours across its spectacular seven-hectare estate.

 

At the heart of the event is the rose, a flower deeply connected to Baroness Béatrice de Rothschild, who created the villa between 1907 and 1912 and made roses a defining feature of the property. Today, nine of the estate’s gardens hold the prestigious “Jardin Remarquable” label from France’s Ministry of Culture.

“The rose holds a special place here — it is both the queen of flowers and a symbol of love,” said Muriel Mayette-Holtz, director of the villa, describing the estate as one of the most beautiful garden settings in the world.

Visitors can explore a plant and flower market in the French garden featuring rose growers, horticulturalists and specialist nurseries. There will also be creative workshops for all ages, from flowerpot decorating and insect discovery for children to basket weaving, floral arranging and scent-based experiences for adults.

Live entertainment will take place throughout the gardens, including performances by the accordion and vocal duo Deux Elles, a fountain-side dance performance by Julia Zolynski, and literary readings in the Florentine garden by actors Elise Clary, Laurent Prévost and Hervé Van Der Meulen.

Special themed tours will also run throughout the weekend, focusing on the Rothschild family, the villa’s art collection and the gardens themselves, led by the estate’s gardening and collections teams.

Tickets are priced at €20 for adults and €12 for students and children aged seven to 18, including full access to the villa and its renowned art collection.