Are You Ready for House Hunting Season?

 

October has arrived, and for many people dreaming of owning a home on the French Riviera, the vacation season is giving way to house-hunting season.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that people considering buying property on the French Riviera are doing their homework more than ever before.

Whether the dream is a second home, a permanent residence, an investment property or eventually a place to retire, buyers are arriving with questions. They are researching towns, comparing property prices, looking at transport connections, investigating schools and healthcare, considering restaurants and shops, and trying to understand what everyday life might actually look like once the holiday feeling wears off.

And that is a very good thing.

My only advice is not to let the sheer volume of information available online overwhelm you. There is only so much you can learn from property portals, Google Maps, Instagram and endless articles about the “best” places to live.

At some point, you need to put your feet on the ground.

Because the French Riviera is one of those places where a few kilometres can make a surprisingly big difference.

A property that looks perfect on a screen may turn out to be difficult to reach without a car. A beautiful hillside location may have spectacular views but involve considerably more driving or walking than expected. A village that looks wonderfully peaceful in August may feel very different in January. And a town that was never on your original list may turn out to offer almost everything you were looking for — sometimes at a considerably more accessible price.

The Riviera Is Not One Lifestyle

Thankfully, I think we are seeing less of the old approach where someone arrives for a few days on vacation, falls in love with a particular property or view, and decides that they absolutely must buy there.

The Riviera can certainly have that effect on people.

But loving a property and loving the life that comes with that property are two different things.

It is entirely possible to fall in love with a spectacular property only to discover later that the surrounding area doesn’t offer the restaurants, shopping, transportation, beaches, healthcare, community or year-round activity you actually need.

That is why I encourage prospective buyers to explore before they buy.

If possible, come more than once — and preferably at different times of the year.

See The Riviera In More Than One Season

Summer is, of course, extraordinary here. The coastline is alive, restaurants are busy, beaches are full, terraces are buzzing and there is an energy throughout the region that is difficult to replicate anywhere else.

But summer is only one version of the French Riviera.

Come back in autumn and the pace changes. Come in winter and you see another side entirely.

The weather can still be wonderfully sunny, but the crowds have for the most part disappeared and daily life becomes much more local. Some seasonal businesses close, certain restaurants reduce their opening days and some smaller communities become considerably quieter.

For a potential homeowner, that information is incredibly valuable.

You aren’t simply buying a beautiful view. You are buying into a community and a lifestyle.

And you need to know what that lifestyle looks like when the sunbathers have gone home.

Start Looking Beyond The Obvious Hotspots

One of the things I have particularly enjoyed seeing over the past few years is buyers becoming much more adventurous in their searches.

They may arrive convinced they want to be in one of the famous Riviera destinations, only to start exploring neighbouring towns and villages. They discover that each community has its own personality, its own rhythm and its own practical advantages.

Some places offer excellent train connections. Others provide more space and privacy. Some are ideal for someone who wants to walk to restaurants, shops and the beach. Others appeal to buyers looking for a larger house, a garden, a pool and spectacular views.

And then there are the places that simply weren’t on the radar at all.

I have seen the excitement when someone arrives with a very specific idea of where they want to live, only to discover a seaside town they had never seriously considered and immediately think, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this place?”

Those are some of my favourite moments.

Sometimes The Best View Isn’t On The Waterfront

There is also a practical side to looking beyond the coastline.

Property prices can change dramatically depending on exactly where you are.

Move slightly inland or higher into the hills and you may find a completely different type of property. A buyer who cannot afford the space they want directly on the coast may discover a home with substantially more living space, outdoor space and privacy — while still having a beautiful view of the Mediterranean in the distance.

For some buyers, that can completely change the equation.

Instead of asking, “Where can I afford to buy on the coast?”, the question becomes, “What lifestyle do I want, and where on the Riviera can I create it?”

That is a much more interesting question.

Why October Can Be The Beginning Of The Journey

Over the past three years in particular, I have noticed a pattern among many of the people I work with.

They visit during the summer. They explore. They get a feel for different communities and begin narrowing down what actually suits them.

Then they return in the autumn, when the Riviera is calmer and everyday life becomes much easier to observe.

Sometimes that second visit changes everything.

A location that seemed too quiet in August may suddenly feel perfect. A town that looked too busy during the summer may prove to be exactly what they wanted. And an area they had never considered may suddenly move to the top of the list.

For buyers who are ready to move forward, this can also be a useful time to begin the purchasing process with a longer-term goal in mind.

French property purchases involve their own process, including the role of the notaire, financing and proof-of-funds considerations, property due diligence and the legal stages leading to completion. It is worth understanding those steps before falling completely in love with a property.

The earlier you begin, the more time you have to make informed decisions rather than rushed ones.

From Holiday Dreams To Everyday Life

There is something particularly rewarding about helping someone make that transition.

At first, they are often thinking about the Riviera as a destination.

Then they begin thinking about it as somewhere they could actually live.

Where will I have my morning coffee?

Can I walk to the bakery?

How easy is it to get to Nice or Monaco?

What happens here in November?

Where will my guests stay?

What is the local community like?

Can I get around without constantly relying on a car?

Where are the nearest shops, medical services and transport connections?

These may not be the questions that sell a holiday.

They are, however, the questions that help you decide whether somewhere could become home.

And that distinction matters.

So, Are You Ready For House Hunting Season?

Last week a strong portion of my summer guests left for the season, but they have just as quickly reached out to plan their next journey here. That being the house hunting journey.

If October has you thinking seriously about owning your own little piece of the French Riviera, this is a great time to start the conversation.

Don’t feel that you need to have everything figured out before you arrive. In fact, sometimes the most useful part of the process is discovering that your original idea wasn’t quite right — and finding something even better suited to the life you actually want.

The French Riviera has far more to offer than its most famous addresses.

There are seaside towns, historic villages, hilltop communities, countryside properties, contemporary villas, Belle Époque apartments and homes tucked away in places you might never discover simply by scrolling through a property portal.

The trick is knowing where to look, what questions to ask and, perhaps most importantly, taking the time to experience these places as a local rather than simply passing through as a visitor.

So, if you have been dreaming about buying a home here, perhaps this is the year to stop simply looking at the Riviera online and start exploring it for yourself.

House-hunting season has arrived.

If you are considering buying a home on the French Riviera and would like to talk through the possibilities, send me an email. We can start with a conversation about what you are looking for, what matters to your lifestyle and which parts of the Riviera might be worth exploring.

Sometimes the right property isn’t the one you were originally looking for.

Sometimes, you have to discover the right place first.

Let’s get started.

Contact: Info@experiencethefrenchriviera.com

Giving Soap Is Giving Dignity: Côte d’Azur LGBTQIA+ Center Launches October Hygiene Drive

 

For many people, everyday hygiene products are so ordinary that we rarely stop to think about their cost. A bottle of shampoo, a tube of toothpaste, deodorant, sanitary products or a razor may seem like a small expense, but for someone already struggling financially, even these basic necessities can become difficult to afford.

That is why, from October 1 through October 31, the LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur Center in Nice is organizing a major collection drive for hygiene products in conjunction with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The message behind the campaign is simple but powerful: giving soap is giving dignity.

 

Taking care of yourself should never be considered a luxury. Yet when money is tight, people are often forced to choose between essentials such as food, housing, transportation and personal hygiene. Young people can be particularly vulnerable, especially those who may already be facing financial hardship, family difficulties, housing insecurity or a lack of support.

The LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur Center wants to make sure that people who need these basic products can access them without shame or judgment.

 

Throughout October, the Center is asking members of the public to donate new, unused hygiene products, which will then be made available to the people supported by the organization, with a particular focus on young people.

The requested items include shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors and shaving cream, face and body lotions, wipes, tampons and sanitary pads.

 

These may seem like small things, but together they can make a meaningful difference. A toothbrush can mean being able to go to school or work with confidence. Shampoo and deodorant can help someone feel comfortable and presentable when they are already dealing with difficult circumstances. Menstrual products can provide something as fundamental as the ability to get through the day without having to choose between personal hygiene and another household expense.

 

The campaign is also a reminder that poverty is not simply about whether someone has enough money in their bank account. It can affect confidence, social participation, health, education and a person’s sense of dignity. Providing practical support can therefore be about much more than the item being donated.

How You Can Help

Donations can be dropped off at the LGBTQIA+ Côte d’Azur Center on Rue Cathy Richeux in Nice throughout October, from October 1 through October 31.

Businesses and retailers are also being encouraged to get involved. Whether it is a specific donation from a company, a collection organized among employees or customers, or a larger hygiene-product drive, every contribution can help expand the reach of the campaign.

Businesses interested in organizing a donation can contact the Center at contact@centrelgbt06.fr.

And participation does not require filling an entire box. One item matters. A few items matter. A whole bag matters. Every donation counts.

For those who are unable to donate, there is still an easy way to contribute: share the campaign. Spreading the word through social media, community groups, friends, colleagues and local networks can help the Center reach people who are able to give.

In a community, dignity is often supported through small acts of practical kindness. This October, something as simple as buying an extra bottle of shampoo or a packet of sanitary pads could help someone who needs it.

Because personal hygiene should never be a privilege reserved for those who can easily afford it.

Giving soap is giving dignity.

Growing Older, Staying Connected: The LGBTQ+ Community of the French Riviera

 

I frequently receive emails and DMs from people asking whether there is an older LGBTQ+ community on the French Riviera. The short answer is: absolutely.

In fact, there is a much larger and more socially active older LGBTQ+ population here than many visitors might expect. What is less obvious is that you probably won’t find it neatly packaged online. And that can be a good thing.

Much of the LGBTQ+ content associated with the French Riviera (or anywhere) focuses on nightlife, younger travellers, Pride events, beach clubs and tourism. That can give the impression that once you reach a certain age, the Riviera’s LGBTQ+ social scene somehow disappears. It most certainly doesn’t.

A week or two ago, I went to one of the social gatherings that some local friends put together once a month. What struck me immediately was how many LGBTQ+ people were there of every age demographic and it was very social. They had come from different parts of the world and had very different stories. Some had lived on the Riviera most of their lives. Others had moved here within the past year or two after retiring. Some were working locally, while others were long-term expatriates, seasonal residents or people who had simply decided they wanted a change of scenery.

And that gathering was hardly an isolated example. The French Riviera has an enormous population of older LGBTQ+ people, including retirees, long-term residents, seasonal residents, business owners, and professionals. The difference is that much of their social life isn’t necessarily visible through the same online channels that younger visitors use to find LGBTQ+ activities. There is a whole social world happening beyond Instagram, dating apps and nightlife listings.

So What Happens When You Are Older In The Cote d’Azur?

It is a question I find particularly interesting because people sometimes seem to assume that LGBTQ+ life has an expiration date. What happens after the party years? Where do gay men, lesbians, bisexual people and other LGBTQ+ people socialize when nightclubs and bars are no longer the center of their lives?

The answer, at least from what I see around the Riviera, is that they simply keep living. Coffee meet-ups, lunches, private dinners, drinks with friends, beach days, hiking, swimming, cultural events, weekend trips, shopping excursions and parties all become part of the mix. And yes, for those who want it, there are still nightclubs, cruising venues and sex clubs. Getting older doesn’t suddenly mean you stop being interested in life, friendship, romance, sex, travel or having fun.

People simply find different ways of doing it.

One thing I have noticed repeatedly is that many of the older LGBTQ+ people I know here are exceptionally sociable. Some are local and some aren’t. Some speak French fluently and some don’t. Some have lived here for decades, while others arrived relatively recently. But there is often a willingness to welcome people into existing social circles that can make settling into life here considerably easier.

The Riviera Has A Different Relationship With Ageing

For me personally, this is one of the reasons I chose to make the French Riviera my permanent home more than a decade ago. I am still proudly Canadian, but after spending many years visiting this region before eventually moving here, I had become increasingly aware of something that bothered me about the environment I had left behind.

Too often, people seem to become increasingly focused on the past: the “good old days,” the parties that used to happen, the people who used to be around, the places that used to exist and the community that supposedly used to be better. Perhaps that happens everywhere, but I found myself wondering why so much energy had to be spent looking backwards.

The Riviera certainly has its own history. There are people here who can tell you stories about LGBTQ+ life in the region decades ago that you simply won’t find in a tourist guide. But what I noticed during all those years of visiting was that people here seemed much more interested in actually living in the present. The past is remembered, certainly, but it isn’t necessarily where life stops.

And I think that distinction becomes particularly important as we get older.

You Don’t Suddenly Disappear When You Turn 50, 60 or 70

I occasionally receive messages from people planning a trip to the Riviera who are worried that they might be “too old” for the LGBTQ+ nightlife scene. My answer is generally the same: come and see for yourself.

Of course, different venues attract different age groups. That’s normal. A particular nightclub, event or party might have a predominantly younger crowd. But I have yet to experience the kind of blanket age discrimination that some people fear when they ask me whether they will be welcome.

There is another reality that is sometimes overlooked. Older customers often have more disposable income, more freedom to travel and more time to spend locally. They stay in hotels, rent villas, dine in restaurants, visit bars, attend events and return year after year. They are an important part of the hospitality and tourism economy in the Cote d’Azur.

Many of the people who operate LGBTQ+ establishments and businesses on the Riviera today have been part of the community for decades. Some were involved when the region’s LGBTQ+ scene was much smaller and less visible than it is today. They have watched the community evolve. They’ve seen venues open and close, generations come and go, attitudes change and new forms of LGBTQ+ social life emerge. And some of them have some pretty extraordinary stories.

Retirement Doesn’t Have To Mean Slowing Down

One of the things I particularly enjoy seeing is what people actually do with retirement here. For many, retirement doesn’t mean sitting at home waiting for the next doctor’s appointment. It means suddenly having time: time for friends, time for travel, time for exploring and time for that long lunch you never had time for when you were working. Along with time to learn proper French.

Someone might spend a weekend in another part of the Côte d’Azur. Another person might organise a group trip somewhere else in France. Others might take the train into Italy for lunch, shopping or simply wandering around another town.

Our location makes this incredibly easy. The Riviera sits beside Italy, and the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport provides quick connections to destinations across Europe. For people who have spent much of their working lives dreaming about travelling, retirement here can open up an entirely different chapter.

And because so many people are doing exactly the same thing, there are always opportunities to find someone who wants to come along.

There Is Also Something To Be Said For Intergenerational Community

One of the things I think gets lost in discussions about LGBTQ+ life is the assumption that different generations exist in completely separate worlds. They don’t have to.

The older generation brings decades of experience. Younger people bring different experiences of identity, relationships, technology, activism and community. Put the two together and there can be an enormous amount to learn from each other. You see mentorship in action here.

The Riviera has people who remember what LGBTQ+ life was like here long before social media existed, alongside people who have arrived recently and are experiencing the region for the first time. That creates an interesting mixture.

Someone who has lived here for 30 or 40 years can tell a newcomer where the community used to gather, who was around and how much has changed. Meanwhile, a newcomer might introduce that same person to a restaurant, event, social group or online community they had never encountered.

That exchange keeps a community alive.

Loneliness Can Happen Anywhere — But Isolation Isn’t Inevitable

I read a great deal about the loneliness epidemic in other countries. And yes, people can absolutely become lonely on the French Riviera.

Moving to another country doesn’t magically eliminate loneliness. In fact, moving somewhere new can initially make it worse. You may not know anyone, you may not speak the language confidently, and you may have left family and friends behind.

But loneliness and being alone are not necessarily the same thing.

One of the biggest mistakes newcomers can make is waiting for the community to come to them. It probably won’t. You have to participate. Go for the coffee. Accept the invitation. Join the group. Go to the event. Talk to the person sitting next to you. Get off the dating app and occasionally have an actual conversation with someone. Take the train somewhere with people you’ve just met. Say yes to something you wouldn’t normally do. You’ll be surprised how much it will open up your world.

That is how communities develop.

Sometimes All It Takes Is One Conversation

I was reminded of this again recently when I met a stream of people from around the world who were in the region for the Monaco Yacht Show. More than half told me some version of the same story. They had overheard a conversation in a restaurant, someone had started talking to them, and suddenly they were having a conversation with complete strangers who then became friends along with business connections.

That is one of the things I enjoy about this part of the world. The Riviera is full of people who are both new and established. You might be sitting beside someone who has lived here for 40 years or someone who arrived three weeks ago. You might meet someone from London, Montreal, New York, Paris, Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels or somewhere you have never even considered visiting.

And sometimes those casual conversations turn into friendships. That is particularly valuable for older people who may be arriving here alone or as a couple and are wondering whether they will find their place.

You Don’t Have To Party To Have A Social Life

There is also no requirement to make nightlife the center of your existence. Maybe your idea of a perfect Saturday is dancing until four in the morning. Maybe it is dinner with six friends followed by a bottle of wine. Maybe it is swimming in the morning, lunch in a small village and an afternoon train ride along the coast.

Maybe it is hiking, going to an art exhibition, sitting in a café for two hours talking about absolutely nothing important, or having a private dinner at someone’s home. Or maybe, occasionally, you really do want to go out and have a ridiculous night. All of those things can coexist.

That, for me, is one of the great advantages of life here. You have options.

The Riviera Keeps Giving You Reasons To Get Out

I certainly don’t have a problem with boredom here. I work a lot and always seem to have another project underway, but there is still an enormous amount to see and do around me. Sometimes, in fact, the problem is the opposite. I occasionally have to deliberately disappear for a few hours just to get some quiet time.

A swim somewhere along the coast helps. So does a hike. Or simply getting on a train and going somewhere without much of a plan.

One of the lessons I’ve learned from living here is that you don’t have to be surrounded by people every minute to have a rich social life. Being comfortable with yourself matters too. Sometimes you need the crowd, sometimes you need the company of one good friend, and sometimes you need absolutely nobody. It also doesn’t feel like some type of competition here based on ego or things as one might assume there would be in the Riviera. People want to get to know you.

There Is No Age Limit On Discovering Something New

Perhaps that is ultimately what I find most interesting about the older LGBTQ+ community on the French Riviera. People are still discovering things. They are moving here, starting businesses, retiring, making new friends, dating, travelling, learning, exploring, trying restaurants they have never visited, taking trips they never imagined taking and occasionally doing things that they probably would never have considered doing ten or twenty years earlier.

Getting older doesn’t mean the end of discovery. If anything, having more time, greater financial freedom and a better understanding of yourself can make discovery even more enjoyable. There is also a whole lot to do here that is accessible on any budget.

There are people who have moved to the Riviera specifically because they wanted a slower pace of life. And that’s perfectly fine. But slower doesn’t have to mean smaller.

You can have a slower life and still have an extraordinarily full one. You can retire without retreating. You can grow older without becoming invisible. And you can arrive here at 50, 60, 70 or beyond and still build an entirely new social life.

The Older LGBTQ+ Riviera Is There. You Just Have To Look Beyond The Obvious.

Perhaps the biggest misconception is that LGBTQ+ life on the French Riviera revolves around young tourists and nightlife. It doesn’t.

There is a much deeper community underneath all of that — people who have lived here for decades, people who arrived last year, people who come for part of the year and people who are still figuring out whether this is where they want to spend the next chapter of their lives.

Some are still dancing, some are travelling, some are working, some are retired, some are dating, some are happily partnered and some are perfectly happy being single. Some are going to the same café every Tuesday morning, while others are probably still having considerably more fun than the people half their age.

The important thing is that they are living. The bonus with this group of people is that if you are in need of anything, the community rallies around to help where they can. I’ve seen it in action.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest things about growing older on the French Riviera: you don’t have to spend your later years looking backwards at the life you once had.

There is still plenty of life happening right in front of you.

Bear French Riviera: A New Community for Bears, Chasers and Allies on the Côte d’Azur

 

There is exciting news for the Bear community and its friends across the French Riviera.

Alexandre Paulmier, known on Instagram as @mister_bear_alex, has announced the creation of a new association in southeastern France: Bear French Riviera. Gay French Riviera is pleased to help spread the word about this new community initiative and its inaugural gathering in Nice.

The idea behind Bear French Riviera has grown from several years of experience within the Bear community, but even more importantly, from the friendships, encounters and shared experiences that have made that community so special. Alexandre and the friends joining him want to channel that experience into an organization that is welcoming, inclusive, community-focused and committed to creating a genuine sense of belonging.

And importantly, Bear French Riviera isn’t intended to be about fitting into a particular physical stereotype.

Whether you identify as a Bear, Chaser, Bear admirer or simply feel connected to Bear culture, the association aims to create a place where people can meet others, develop friendships, share experiences and feel comfortable being themselves.

At its heart, the organization says it wants to promote camaraderie, authenticity, kindness, freedom and sharing.

More Than Just Social Events

While meeting up, making friends, going out and having a good time will certainly be part of Bear French Riviera, the association’s ambitions extend considerably further.

The organization intends to advocate for the rights and dignity of gay and Bear communities while challenging discrimination and prejudice in its various forms. That includes homophobia, fatphobia, stigma surrounding physical appearance and other forms of exclusion that can affect people within LGBTQ+ communities.

Body acceptance is another important part of its proposed mission. Bear culture has traditionally celebrated a diversity of bodies and appearances, and Bear French Riviera wants to encourage greater self-acceptance while reinforcing the message that there is no single physical definition of what a Bear—or anyone else—should look like.

Health and wellbeing will also have a place within the association’s activities, with an emphasis on information, prevention, screening and access to appropriate sexual and general health resources.

The broader objective is to build connections and solidarity among members of the community while keeping alive the social and cultural aspects that make Bear culture so distinctive.

In other words, there should be plenty of opportunities to meet, socialize, party, laugh, make new friends and enjoy the Côte d’Azur together.

Building a Community on the French Riviera

For those living on or regularly visiting the French Riviera, the creation of Bear French Riviera adds another opportunity for LGBTQ+ people to connect locally rather than always having to travel elsewhere to find established Bear communities and events.

The Côte d’Azur already has a diverse LGBTQ+ community, particularly in Nice and throughout the surrounding Riviera. A dedicated Bear, Chaser and Allies association could provide another space within that broader community—one where people can come together around shared interests while remaining open to different identities, ages, appearances and backgrounds.

That emphasis on openness is particularly important. Bear communities themselves are diverse, and Bear French Riviera says its objective is not to create another set of expectations about how somebody should look or behave in order to belong.

Instead, the message is straightforward: come as you are.

The Inaugural General Assembly

The next step is the official launch of the association.

Bear French Riviera is inviting members of the community and anyone interested in supporting its objectives to attend its inaugural General Assembly on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 8:00 p.m.

The event will take place at:

Nice LGBTQIAP+ Center
Rue Cathy Richeux
06300 Nice

The General Assembly will be followed by a cocktail reception, giving attendees the opportunity to meet Alexandre, the founding team and other members of the community.

For anyone who has been looking for a way to become more connected to the Bear community on the French Riviera, this could be the beginning of something new.

And perhaps that’s ultimately what Bear French Riviera is about: creating a community where people can find friendship, acceptance, solidarity and a good excuse to get together.

Gay French Riviera wishes Alexandre and the entire Bear French Riviera team every success as they begin this new chapter. We look forward to seeing where it goes.

Saturday, October 10, 2026 — 8:00 p.m.
Nice LGBTQIAP+ Center, Nice
Inaugural General Assembly followed by a cocktail reception