Top of the most beautiful villages on the Côte d'Azur

For everyone, it’s a holiday destination in the South of France, where the weather is always warm and sunny. But the Côte d’Azur is also full of jewels perched on its hillsides, overlooking the sea and the valleys and bearing in their stones the richness of the region’s heritage. Between the sea and the mountains, these hilltop villages make up the unique character of the Côte d’Azur: a harmonious blend of culture, art and festive pleasures in an exceptional natural setting. Discover the Top of the most beautiful perched villages on the Côte d’Azur.

Village côte d’azur : ÈZE

A veritable eagle’s nest overlooking the Mediterranean, Eze is one of the most beautiful perched villages on the Côte d’Azur!

Like an eagle’s nest (or rather a Phoenix’s nest, the town’s emblem), perched on a rocky spur, Èze will impress you from the moment you arrive. The old stones tell of its medieval past. The narrow streets lined with vaulted houses and numerous artists’ and craftsmen’s stalls give this hilltop village a special atmosphere of authenticity and tradition. On the ruins of the ancient fortress, its famous Jardin Exotique plunges into the sea, offering exceptional scenery over the Cap Ferrat peninsula and the entire Côte d’Azur.

DISCOVER ÈZE

See this post on Instagram
A publication shared by Côte d’Azur France (@visitcotedazur) on 21 June 2016 at 5:28 PDT

Village côte d’azur: SAINT-PAUL DE VENCE

A village of artists par excellence, you’ll be seduced by the charm of this perched village!

Facing the Mediterranean that shimmers at its feet, backed by the Southern Alps, the medieval village of Saint-Paul de Vence, perched on its promontory, sheltered by its ramparts, is one of the most beautiful villages on the Côte d’Azur. These attractions alone would explain Saint-Paul’s fascination. And then there’s its cultural and artistic influence. The village attracts creators and artists. Sensibilities and talents from the most diverse horizons settle here or meet in the many art galleries. In the heart of nature, the Fondation Maeght, an open-air museum, is a showcase for modern and contemporary art.

DISCOVER SAINT-PAUL DE VENCE

Village côte d’azur: SAINTE-AGNÈS

Situated at an altitude of almost 800 metres, the perched village of Sainte-Agnès is nicknamed the “Balcony of the Côte d’Azur”!

You only have to look at the nearby Menton coast to understand why this nickname is so. The view is sumptuous from Sainte-Agnès. A breath of Azur! It adds to the charms of a commune which, in addition to its title of “Europe’s highest coastal village“, is officially listed as one of “The Most Beautiful Villages in France“. A title that distinguishes the panorama as much as the pebble-paved alleyways, the century-old houses clustered around the glazed-tile bell tower, and the disused fort, the southernmost bastion of the famous Maginot Line. Be sure to visit its medieval garden set against the rock and the ruins of its castle, which offer breathtaking views of the Mercantour and the Mediterranean.

DISCOVER SAINTE-AGNÈS

See this post on Instagram
A post shared by Borghi_Mania__ (@borghi_mania__) on 30 May 2019 at 3 :59 PDT

Village côte d’azur: GOURDON

Classed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”, Gourdon offers a panoramic view of the entire Côte d’Azur!

Gourdon enjoys a nickname that denotes its exceptional location: the “Eagle’s Nest”. A village perched at an altitude of over 700 metres, Gourdon offers an exceptional view of 80 kilometres of coastline, from Nice to the Estérel. In the past, it was mainly reached via the mule track that runs from Bar-sur-Loup. Its name says it all: the Chemin du Paradis! And it’s well deserved. With its medieval houses, Romanesque church, Provencal mood and thousand-year-old château, surrounded by gardens created by Le Nôtre, the hilltop village of Gourdon really does cultivate a whiff of Eden.

DISCOVER GOURDON

Village côte d’azur: SAORGE

Cramped into the cliffs, the village of Saorge is a striking example of medieval town planning!

Saorge is undoubtedly the most spectacular perched village in the Roya Valley. It was rebuilt after a major fire in the 15th century. A former stronghold, Saorge is bound to impress visitors on arrival. The ancient troglodyte buildings and streets take us back in time. From the Franciscan monastery to the Semite bath in the Roya, via the baroque church of Saint-Sauveur, it’s all a change of scenery. Note that you’ll need to leave your car at the entrance to the village, as it’s only possible to get around on foot.

DISCOVER SAORGE

See this post on Instagram
A publication shared by Côte d’Azur France (@visitcotedazur)

Villages du Pays de Fayence

A veritable sentinel of stone, the narrow streets of Fayence will propel you back to the heart of the Middle Ages!

Discover this perched Var village: the Tour de l’Horloge with its magnificent panorama over the tiled roofs of the village of Fayence, the 14th-century Sarrazine Gate, the remains of the Watchtower, its fountains or its washhouses. Take advantage of the tour offered by the Tourist Office to discover the village’s heritage. Near Fayence, be sure to visit the hilltop villages of Seillans, Mons, Caillan and Montauroux. All boast a rich cultural and natural heritage.

DISCOVER THE PAYS DE FAYENCE

Village côte d’azur: COARAZE

Village du soleil, stamped on the list of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France” and on the Côte d’Azur!

Overlooking the vallée du Paillon at an altitude of 650 metres, the village of Coaraze is nicknamed “Village du Soleil”. Steep cobbled streets, vaulted passageways, stone houses or Italian-style blue, yellow and pink plastered houses and flower-filled squares have attracted many artists and personalities, some of whom, such as Jean Cocteau or Ponce de Léon, signed the sundials scattered around the village.

DISCOVER COARAZE

See this post on Instagram
A post shared by Absolutely Southern France (@absolutelysouthernfrance) on 28 May 2019 at 1 :27 PDT

©Office de Tourisme du Golfe de Saint-Tropez – E. Bertrand

© Office de Tourisme du Golfe de Saint-Tropez – S. Ozolins

Village côte d’azur : GASSIN

Village perched on the Côte d’Azur with panoramic views over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez!

It’s after climbing the flower-filled lanes with pastel-coloured walls that you can enjoy the exceptional view over the Golfe de Saint-Tropez and the Maures massif offered by the Place Deï Barri. The orientation table will help you find your way around one of the most beautiful views of the Bay of Saint-Tropez. Away from the hustle and bustle of summer, take a pleasant break in the hilltop village of Gassin. A few kilometres away, the charming village of Ramatuelle is also worth a visit.

DISCOVER GASSIN

Village côte d’azur : MOUGINS

Mougins, similar to a citadel, will offer you an imposing panorama of the Côte d’Azur and the Pre-Alps!

Wrapped in a spiral like a shell, the perched village of Mougins has seduced such prestigious artists as Picasso, Picabia, Paul Eluard, Jean Cocteau, Man Ray, Edith Piaf, Fernand Léger and many others. The picturesque narrow streets lined with studios and galleries invite you to take a stroll, while the renowned restaurants delight the palate. The rich heritage and exceptional museums (the FAMM; Europe’s first museum dedicated to women artists; the Centre de la photographie; the Centre d’art) invite you to make fascinating discoveries, while the surrounding unspoilt countryside offers superb routes for bucolic escapades. For golf lovers, Mougins is the ideal destination with two prestigious courses.

DISCOVER MOUGINS

©Vue Aerienne Serree Mougins Village Drone Away Mougins Tourisme|Drone away Mougins Tourisme

Village côte d’azur : SAINT-MARTIN-VÉSUBIE

Circled by the Mercantour mountains between the sky and Vésubie, welcome to the “Little Switzerland of Nice”!

At the Gates of the Parc national du Mercantour, between the Boréon and Madone de Fenestre valleys, the picturesque village of Saint-Martin-Vésubie invites you to discover the charm of the Haut Pays niçois through its exceptional natural sites, its cultural and architectural heritage and its many leisure facilities. The village retains traces of its medieval origins: the main street, criss-crossed along its entire length by a small canal, known as a “béal”, will reveal the charm of the old stone houses. Nearby sites: the Vésubia Mountain Park, the Madone de Fenestre, the Boréon, on Parc Alpha, not to mention the many hiking routes in the heart of the Mercantour.

DISCOVER SAINT-MARTIN-VÉSUBIE

Village côte d’azur : PEILLON

Surprising is the right word to describe this discreet perched village located 20 kilometres from Nice!

Deserving its place among the most beautiful villages on the Côte d’Azur, the eagle’s nest of Peillon reserves its visitors a real journey back in time with its winding lanes cut by vaulted passageways and wide staircases. Its tall stone houses grouped together in a circular fashion are literally one with the rock. Don’t miss the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs or the Eglise de la Transfiguration at the top of the village (tours offered by the Syndicat d’Initiative). Don’t forget to climb up to the orientation table.

DISCOVER PEILLON

See this post on Instagram
A publication shared by Peillon (@peillonvillage) on April 22, 2017 at 9:35 PDT

©Office de Tourisme Menton Riviera Merveilles

Village côte d’azur : TENDE

Circled by the mountains between the sky and the Roya, the village of Tende will surprise you with its Himalayan air!

Tende marks the boundary with Italy. Mind-boggling mazes of narrow streets: this picturesque village is full of wonders, from the colours of its facades, to its round tower, or its église collégiale Notre-Dame de l’Assomption and its atypical bell tower. A former trading town on the Salt Route, you’ll appreciate this architecture blending Gothic and Baroque. Also worth seeing is the Musée des Merveilles. To visit this perched village on the Côte d’Azur, why not take the train des Merveilles?

DISCOVER TENDE

TOP OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL

VILLAGES PERCHES DE LA CÔTE D’AZUR

By Ambassadeurs Côte d’Azur France

Lovers and enthusiasts of the Côte d’Azur, regularly discover on this site the selection, good addresses or even favourites of the Ambassadeurs Côte d’Azur France community.