From Expatriates to Jet-Setters: A Century of Americans on the French Riviera

 

With more and more North Americans coming to the region (including the LGBTQ community) either for a vacation, retirement, secondary home investment, or even a forever home. I thought it was important to give some background as to why that continues to this day.

For more than a century, the French Riviera—la Côte d’Azur—has seduced Americans with its blend of Mediterranean charm, sun-soaked leisure, and artistic spirit. From bohemian writers in the 1920s to modern retirees and tech nomads, Americans have woven themselves into the cultural and social tapestry of this legendary coastline. Here's a look at how that relationship has evolved over the decades.

The 1920s: The Lost Generation Finds the Riviera

The earliest wave of American migration to the French Riviera began in earnest during the 1920s, when a cohort of disillusioned, ambitious writers and artists fled Prohibition-era America and found refuge in France. Chief among them were members of the so-called “Lost Generation”: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. Drawn to the Riviera for its beauty and its freedoms, these expatriates made towns like Antibes, Cannes and Nice their creative sanctuaries.

Fitzgerald, in particular, immortalized the region in his novel Tender Is the Night, depicting the glittering but decaying lives of Americans abroad. The Côte d’Azur became a place for introspection and excess, a land where art mingled with jazz, gin, and Mediterranean light.

The 1940s–1950s: Postwar Glamour and the Hollywood Invasion

World War II temporarily dimmed the Riviera’s luster, but the postwar years brought a resurgence—this time with a Hollywood flair. The 1950s saw American movie stars such as Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and Elizabeth Taylor flock to the region, helped in part by the rising glamour of the Cannes Film Festival. Grace Kelly’s marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956 cemented the connection between the French Riviera and American fantasy.

Simultaneously, American writers like James Baldwin found in the Riviera a quieter, more contemplative retreat. Baldwin lived for years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a hilltop village where he wrote and socialized with fellow artists, far from the racial tensions and constraints of the United States.

The 1960s–1980s: Counterculture, Wealth, and the Global Jet Set

The 1960s ushered in a new kind of American presence: the counter-cultural traveler. Hippies and beatniks arrived in droves, drawn to the Riviera’s artistic reputation and relaxed lifestyle. While Paris remained the intellectual capital, the South of France offered sunshine, sea, and a sense of bohemian freedom.

By the 1970s and 1980s, however, a different class of American began arriving: entrepreneurs, bankers, and heirs, part of the global jet set. Towns like Saint-Tropez transformed from quiet fishing villages into luxurious playgrounds. Americans invested in property, opened restaurants and clubs, and became part of the Riviera's wealthy elite.

The 1990s–2000s: Second Homes and Globalization

As globalization took hold, the Riviera became increasingly accessible. More direct flights, international business networks, and the rise of real estate investment drew another wave of Americans—this time not as wanderers or artists, but as vacation-home owners and retirees. From Saint Tropez to Menton, American retirees and professionals purchased villas, often using them as seasonal retreats.

Though integration into local culture varied, many Americans contributed to the region’s cosmopolitan vibe, bringing with them ideas about wellness, entrepreneurship, and international living.

The 2010s–Present: Tech Nomads and the Remote Work Boom

In the last decade, the profile of Americans moving to the French Riviera has shifted again. Fueled by the rise of remote work (with the appropriate paperwork in place) and the appeal of a slower-paced Mediterranean lifestyle, a younger generation of Tech nomads and freelancers is settling in cities like Nice and small towns along the coastline. Social media has added to the region’s allure, promoting a curated, sun-drenched vision of Riviera life that continues to enchant.

At the same time, longstanding American enclaves—expat groups, English-speaking bookstores, international schools—remain vital parts of the local ecosystem.

A Cultural Dialogue Across the Sea

Today, Americans on the French Riviera represent a rich blend of history, ambition, and adaptation. From writers and celebrities to retirees and remote workers, they’ve each brought something uniquely American while also absorbing the art de vivre of southern France.

The Riviera continues to enchant not just as a destination, but as a kind of mirror—reflecting back American dreams through the prism of breathtaking landscapes, café terraces, and endless blue horizons over the Mediterranean Sea

If you are considering coming this way, connect with us today.