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

Monaco Goes Pink: A Day of Golf, Giving and Glamour for Pink Ribbon Monaco

 

On Saturday, October 3, Monaco and the French Riviera will come together for a full day of sport, philanthropy, celebration and fundraising in support of Pink Ribbon Monaco — with the Monaco Invitational at Royal Mougins Golf Club leading into the Pink Ribbon Monaco Gala at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

For a Principality accustomed to combining spectacular settings with high-profile events, the day is a particularly fitting example of how Monaco’s sporting, business, social and philanthropic communities can come together around an important cause.

And while the events have very different personalities, they share the same objective: supporting women’s health, raising awareness about cancer and contributing to research.

The Monaco Invitational: Where Golf Meets Giving

The day begins with the Monaco Invitational, a charity golf experience presented by Pink Ribbon Monaco and led by Cameron Avery.

Taking place at the prestigious Royal Mougins Golf Club, the Invitational brings together business leaders, athletes, artists, philanthropists and distinguished guests for a day built around golf, networking and philanthropy.

The event begins with an official Welcome Cocktail at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, the event’s official hospitality partner, before moving to Royal Mougins for a shotgun-start shamble tournament.

The experience is designed to be considerably more than simply a round of golf. Participants are offered breakfast, refreshments on the course and lunch, while the event creates an environment where people from different professional and social worlds can meet around a common cause.

Pink Ribbon Monaco describes the Invitational as a celebration of community, generosity and the Monaco lifestyle — but its timing is particularly significant.

The golf event is scheduled for the morning of October 3, with the day ultimately culminating in the Pink Ribbon Monaco Gala at the Hôtel de Paris.

In other words, participants can spend the morning on the golf course before moving from the fairways of Mougins to one of Monaco’s most famous hotels for the evening’s main fundraising celebration.

That combination gives the day a distinctly Riviera character.

From the Fairway to the Hôtel de Paris

The Pink Ribbon Monaco Gala takes place on the evening of October 3 in the magnificent Salle Empire at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

The gala is being held under the Honorary Presidency of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco and brings together the worlds of philanthropy, luxury, entertainment and fundraising.

The evening is intended to be an elegant celebration, but the purpose behind it is considerably more important than the setting.

Funds raised through the gala support cancer research at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace, helping support research into cancers affecting women.

Pink Ribbon Monaco describes its wider mission as promoting women’s health, cancer awareness and education, with early detection playing a central role. The organisation says it was the first association in the Monaco region dedicated to raising awareness around female cancers and illuminating buildings in pink.

The gala therefore represents the culmination of a day in which sport, social engagement and philanthropy all converge.

And There Is Another Way to Take Part

For people who cannot attend either the golf tournament or the gala, there is another opportunity to support Pink Ribbon Monaco.

Héli Air Monaco’s solidarity panoramic flights offer residents and visitors the chance to see the Principality from the air while contributing to the campaign.

The flights begin on October 3 and continue through November 1, providing another way for people to participate in Pink Ribbon Monaco’s fundraising efforts.

It is an appropriately Riviera-style idea: take to the skies above Monaco, enjoy the extraordinary views and, at the same time, contribute to a cause that affects countless families.

The initiative also demonstrates that supporting Pink Ribbon Monaco does not have to mean attending a formal gala or participating in a sporting event. There are different ways to get involved, depending on how people want to contribute.

More Than a Day of Events

What makes October 3 particularly interesting is the way these initiatives connect very different communities.

Golf brings together business leaders, athletes and philanthropists. The gala brings together Monaco’s international social and philanthropic community. And the panoramic flights open the campaign to residents and visitors who simply want to participate in a memorable experience while making a contribution.

That variety matters because breast cancer awareness cannot be confined to one particular community.

It affects women and families across different generations, backgrounds and countries. Research, education and early detection therefore require support from a broad cross-section of society.

Pink Ribbon Monaco’s events are designed to turn that support into something tangible.

The organisation’s message is straightforward: empowering women through education about early detection.

That message sits behind the glamour.

Monaco’s Ability to Bring People Together

There is something particularly appropriate about holding these events in Monaco.

The Principality has an extraordinary ability to bring together people from the worlds of international business, sport, entertainment, luxury and philanthropy. That concentration of influence can be particularly powerful when directed toward a cause that extends well beyond Monaco itself.

The Monaco Invitational illustrates that perfectly.

It isn’t simply a golf tournament. Pink Ribbon Monaco describes it as a celebration of community, generosity and the spirit of Monaco, with participants coming together before ultimately joining the Gala in the evening.

The result is effectively one continuous day of fundraising and awareness — beginning on the golf course in Mougins and ending beneath the chandeliers of the Hôtel de Paris.

October 3: Golf, Glamour and a Bigger Purpose

For anyone spending October 3 on the Côte d’Azur, there will be plenty happening.

For golfers and those looking for a high-end networking experience, there is the Monaco Invitational at Royal Mougins.

For those looking for an elegant evening in Monaco, there is the Pink Ribbon Monaco Gala at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

And for those looking for something completely different, there are the Héli Air Monaco solidarity panoramic flights, beginning the same day and continuing throughout October.

Three very different experiences, but one common thread.

Pink Ribbon Monaco is using the extraordinary platform of Monaco and the wider Côte d’Azur to put women’s health, early detection and cancer research firmly in the spotlight.

And perhaps that is the most important part of October 3.

The golf, the champagne, the helicopter flights, the gala setting and the glamour are all memorable. But ultimately, they are vehicles for something much more meaningful: helping raise awareness, encouraging early detection and supporting research that can make a real difference to women’s lives.

On October 3, Monaco won’t simply be going pink for the cameras.

It will be putting its sporting, social and philanthropic communities behind a cause that deserves attention long after the pink lights are switched off.

How to Get Involved

Monaco Invitational

Saturday, October 3, 2026
Royal Mougins Golf Club, Mougins
Presented by Pink Ribbon Monaco and led by Cameron Avery.

Pink Ribbon Monaco Gala
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Salle Empire, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

Héli Air Monaco Solidarity Panoramic Flights
October 3 – November 1, 2026
Héliport de Monaco.

For participation, partnership opportunities, tickets and further information, visit Pink Ribbon Monaco’s official events page.

Lights, Camera, Ride: Cyclists Wanted for Hollywood Thriller Filming in the Nice Hinterland

 

Cyclists across the Côte d’Azur could soon find themselves riding alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

A major film production is coming to the Nice hinterland, and male and female cyclists with their own competition-grade racing bikes are being sought as extras for Pumping Black, an upcoming psychological thriller directed by Mimi Cave.

The film explores the intense and often ruthless world of professional cycling, following a rider approaching the end of his career who is pushed beyond his physical and psychological limits by a doctor obsessed with winning. The project has been described as a “Whiplash meets Black Swan” on two wheels, and features an impressive cast including Natalie Portman, Jonathan Bailey and Lukas Gage.

For local cycling enthusiasts, this is an unusual opportunity to combine a passion for cycling with a chance to experience a professional film set.

Cyclists Wanted

The production is looking for men and women of all ages, although particular interest is being shown in men aged 18 to 35.

Applicants should:

• Own their own competition-grade/racing bicycle

• Have intermediate to advanced cycling skills

• Be comfortable riding confidently in cycling clothing

• Have strong cycling ability and experience

• Be available to work in the Alpes-Maritimes and Nice hinterland

The production is expected to film in the Nice hinterland between late September and early December 2026.

Pay is listed at approximately €130 to €250 gross per day, depending on the role.

What You Need to Submit

Cyclists interested in applying will need to provide recent photographs, including a headshot and full-body photograph, together with:

• First and last name

• Age

• City of residence

• Cycling experience and skill level

• Measurements

• Availability

Applicants who were not born in France and do not hold French citizenship will also need to have the appropriate authorization to work in France. The production will verify the necessary paperwork.

A Chance to Get on Set

For cyclists living in Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Monaco and elsewhere along the Côte d’Azur, this could be a fun opportunity to see how a major international production operates from behind the scenes — while doing something you already love.

And with Pumping Black bringing Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey to the region, those selected as extras could find themselves with a rather memorable story to tell about their next ride through the hills above Nice.

Interested in applying? Applications and full casting information are available through CastingProd.

Villa Casalita: Where 1970s Côte d’Azur Style Meets Modern Luxury

 

There are beautiful villas on the French Riviera, and then there are villas that have a story to tell.

Villa Casalita, tucked away in the prestigious hills of Super Cannes, is one of those rare properties where the past and present have been brought together with remarkable care. With sweeping views across the Bay of Antibes towards Cap d’Antibes, extensive Mediterranean gardens and a private swimming pool, the villa offers the privacy and space of a secluded Riviera retreat while remaining within easy reach of Cannes, Antibes and the beaches of the Côte d’Azur.

But what makes Villa Casalita particularly special is not simply what has been added to the property. It is what has deliberately been preserved.

A Villa That Remembers Its Era

Originally built in the early 1970s, Villa Casalita carries the unmistakable character of that era — a period when the French Riviera was becoming synonymous with sophisticated international living, architecture, design and a certain effortless glamour.

When the owner undertook the renovation, the intention was never to erase that history and turn the villa into another anonymous contemporary luxury property.

Instead, the goal was to preserve the spirit and character of the original villa while bringing its comfort, quality and functionality firmly into the 21st century.

The renovation was completed in 2024, with the interiors developed specifically around the architecture and character of the period. The result is a home that feels considered rather than manufactured: original character and 1970s influences sit comfortably alongside contemporary comforts, carefully selected furnishings and high-quality finishes.

The philosophy behind the renovation was beautifully simple: preserve the spirit of the early seventies while creating a level of quality and specification designed to last for decades to come.

That approach is evident throughout the house.

Rather than stripping away its identity, the villa has been given a new life.

Design With a Sense of Place

Villa Casalita’s interiors were designed by Azur360 and combine iconic Italian and Scandinavian design influences from the period with contemporary pieces, bespoke details and carefully considered lighting. The result is sophisticated without feeling overly formal.

This is a villa designed to be lived in.

The generous 250-square-metre interior provides accommodation for up to 10 guests, with five beautifully designed bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Two separate living rooms, each with an open fireplace, create space for different generations or groups of friends to spread out, relax and enjoy the house at their own pace.

And then there is the outdoors.

 

Set within approximately 3,500 square metres of Mediterranean gardens, Villa Casalita takes full advantage of the Riviera climate. Terraces, balconies and outdoor living spaces provide numerous places to enjoy breakfast in the sunshine, a long lunch with friends, an afternoon around the pool or an evening drink while watching the light change across the Mediterranean.

The spectacular sea view is, of course, one of the property’s defining features.

Looking across the Bay of Antibes towards Cap d’Antibes, the panorama changes throughout the day — from brilliant Mediterranean blue in the morning to the softer colours of the evening.

Your Own Private Riviera Retreat

The villa has been designed with both relaxation and entertaining in mind.

The large swimming pool is accompanied by a dedicated lounge area, while an outdoor kitchen and barbecue make al fresco entertaining wonderfully easy. There are two outdoor dining areas as well as a rooftop sun terrace, giving guests plenty of options for enjoying the Riviera lifestyle outdoors.

Inside, modern conveniences have been discreetly incorporated throughout.

There is air conditioning, Wi-Fi and Smart TVs, a fully equipped high-quality kitchen, generous bathrooms with rain showers, double showers in some bathrooms and a freestanding bathtub. Walk-in wardrobes provide additional comfort, while a garage and two additional parking spaces make the property particularly practical for families and groups travelling by car.

In other words, you get the atmosphere and personality of a distinctive 1970s Riviera villa without having to sacrifice the conveniences expected from a luxury holiday home today.

Super Cannes: Privacy Without Isolation

Location is another major part of Villa Casalita’s appeal.

Super Cannes is one of the most exclusive residential areas surrounding Cannes, known for its hillside villas, privacy, greenery and expansive views across the Mediterranean. It offers something that can be increasingly difficult to find on the Côte d’Azur: space and tranquillity while remaining close to everything.

From Villa Casalita, guests can enjoy the peace of a private hillside retreat while having Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins within easy reach. The beaches, restaurants, shopping, nightlife and cultural attractions of the Riviera are all accessible, while returning to the villa feels like leaving the activity of the coast behind.

For families, the location offers room to breathe. For groups of friends, there is plenty of space to gather together — and equally plenty of places to disappear for a little quiet time.

It is the kind of property where you can spend the morning at the beach, return for lunch beside the pool, head into Cannes in the afternoon and then come home to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean.

Or, quite honestly, you could simply stay at the villa all day.

A Villa Designed for Memories

The strongest endorsement of Villa Casalita may actually come from the people who have stayed there.

Guests have repeatedly commented on the spectacular views, the pool, the design, the peaceful setting and the quality of the renovation. One guest specifically praised the way the villa had been renovated and furnished with respect for its original architecture, while others have highlighted the combination of the pool, outdoor spaces, location and thoughtful design.

That is ultimately what makes Villa Casalita different.

It isn’t trying to be something it isn’t.

It doesn’t need to disguise its history behind an ultra-modern makeover. Instead, its history has become part of its appeal.

The owner has taken a villa from another era and carefully refreshed it for today’s guests — retaining the character, proportions and spirit that make it distinctive while introducing the comfort, technology and quality expected from a luxury Riviera property.

The result is a home that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.

A little bit of 1970s Côte d’Azur. A little bit of modern Riviera luxury. And a lot of Mediterranean living.

Your French Riviera Escape Awaits

Whether you are planning a family holiday, travelling with a group of friends or simply looking for somewhere exceptional to experience the Côte d’Azur at your own pace, Villa Casalita offers a very different kind of luxury.

It is private without being isolated, stylish without being impersonal and historic without feeling dated.

Most importantly, it gives you the opportunity to experience the French Riviera not simply as a visitor staying in a villa, but from your own private hillside retreat overlooking one of the most beautiful stretches of the Mediterranean.

Villa Casalita is available for holiday rental from approximately €4,000 to €8,500 per week, depending on the period.

A Collaboration Bringing You More

Villa Casalita is available through a collaboration between Perfect Homes and Experience The French Riviera.

By bringing these two agencies together, guests can benefit from the combined local knowledge, experience and services of both teams — providing a more extensive level of support before and during your stay.

For guests travelling to the French Riviera, that means having more than simply a beautiful villa waiting for you.

It means having experienced local professionals available to help make your Riviera experience as seamless, enjoyable and memorable as possible.

Villa Casalita — where the history of the Côte d’Azur meets the way we want to live today.

For rental enquiries and further information, please contact Perfect Homes or Experience The French Riviera