‍A wonderfully unplanned itinerary to enjoy the South of France 

‍

When wanderlust strikes and the moment takes you to spend a long weekend somewhere away from your home, or second home, the South of France is deliciously inviting. For those that seek respite in sun, sea, and mountains, balanced with a dash of glitz and glamour, there isn’t much that Nice, Cannes and the lesser-known neighbourhoods of les Alpes-Maritimes does not offer. 

‍‍

We spend an afternoon with founder Mélie Dunod speaking of the local food markets, sumptuous beach spots, including what to pack for a wonderfully unplanned three day trip to the South of France. 

‍

‍

Do you think the Côte d'Azur is somewhere that you can go last-minute?

I don't know if people do, but they should. It’s such a nice region to spend a month exploring and it’s also just so easy to fly into Nice from wherever you are. I love going, even just for three nights, when I’m in Europe, it is so accessible from London and Paris.

‍

I was dying to get some sun and so I thought you know what, I'm just going to go for a long weekend in the south of France with nothing really planned. And it was so easy. I just went to the airport, jumped on the flight, arrived in Nice and got out of the airport in no time at all, 15 minutes flat. In 30 minutes I was at my family home in Mougins. ‍It was just so perfect because everything was very spontaneous and that's a region where you can be spontaneous. Everything is so easily accessible.

‍

Day 1

My family was there in our home. I arrived in the morning, and there was the farmer's market so the first thing we did was we went to Valbonne’s farmer's market and I was dying to get anything that would remind me of summer, the food that tastes like summer. I remember exactly what I bought. I bought melons - even just the smell of melons made me so happy. I bought cherries. I bought figs. And I bought tomatoes. ‍And then I went to the little deli that is on the main square and I got a really nice burrata and prosciutto and olives. Naturally, I went to the local bakery and bought fresh bread. It would ‍be rude not to!

‍

‍

What more do you need?

And then I went to 365 Cheese Shop, which is my favourite cheese shop in the Valbonne old village, and I bought all the cheese I wanted. And then we had a glorious afternoon with rose wine, in the garden and then we cooked. Well, we just threw all of that gorgeous food on platters and that was the dinner. ‍And that made me feel so rooted and energised and calm. It was so nice. I loved it. 

‍

Day 2

The following day I joined some good friends and had a very nice moment in one of my favourite places by the beach, Plage Keller, where we spent some quality time together in the sun, with great food (of course). 

‍

‍

Which beach is your favourite? 

It depends on my mood. But if I want something a bit more sophisticated, I do go to Plage Keller and I make sure that I book my sunbeds and I have lunch in the restaurant. The restaurant has gorgeous fish en croûte de sel which is really nice, so that's probably my favourite place to go. I also love taking the car. Sometimes I’ll drive to Menton or to one of the smaller beaches between Nice and Menton or Nice and Cannes. There are a lot of little hidden spots where you just put your towel on the sand and it feels a little more secluded.

‍

We then headed to Tourettes-sur-Loup, which is lesser-known but one of my favourite villages. We started with a drink at the local wine shop on the main square followed by dinner in SPELT. It’s always a set menu and it’s always delicious, it’s also so affordable, you can’t eat like that everywhere. Make sure you book in advance and ask for a table on the terrace if you ever go.

‍

‍

Day 3

I was flying home this evening so I wanted to fit in all of my favourite things. I played some tennis very early in the morning while it was still cool; followed by a coffee on the main square in Mougins. There is something so special about seeing the village come to life and speaking with the locals, who love to complain about the heat!

‍

Then I passed by the bakery on my way home to buy fresh bread and croissants and all of that delicious produce for my guests. For lunch we went to one of my new favourites, a restaurant called Lougolin which has local produce and a really simple but sophisticated cuisine which is delicious. The terrace is also beautiful, there are expansive views and it’s such a nice moment to eat with friends under the shade of the trees. Then it was a short 30-minute drive back to the airport and in no time at all, I flew back to London. It felt like I was gone for three weeks. And I was gone for three nights. 

‍

‍

What makes last-minute vacationing so effortless in the South of France?

I think it's difficult to do that in another region because it takes longer to fly. In this region in France, everything is so easily accessible and nothing has to be fussy for it to be the best. You can find a beautiful bottle of rosé, and even for ten Euros you can have something gorgeous.

‍

What would you say everyone needs to pack for a long weekend? 

You definitely need a bikini, and a linen outfit. Then I would pick something that is quite versatile. Something that is quite easy, but chic. The South of France is very stylish but also relaxed. You walk around a lot and go to those tiny little cafes, but then, you might end up in a restaurant that has that great view and where everyone is dressed a little more elegantly and you want to join them.

‍

You always need a really chic hat as the sun is hot. Then, of course, comfortable flat shoes because you walk everywhere - especially if you like experiencing the more rural parts of the region (which is my favourite part). There are all the quaint, historic villages and nothing is flat. It can be quite slippery at times too, so I will always have a pair of sandals that are easy to walk in.

‍

‍

What are your favourite cultural places to visit in the South of France? 

Well, I love the Matisse Museum. It's simply gorgeous. I also really like visiting the Fondation MAEGHT, which is the first independent art foundation. It's beautiful. And then you have Villa Kyrillos, which is one of those imposing villas that were owned by those very affluent families that you can visit. You also have old palazzos with orangeries in Menton and they are very impressive and worth a visit.

‍

You also have Villa Renoir, which is very special. So is Fondation Maillé, Matisse, Villa Renoir, and the gardens and old villas in Menton. Those are probably my favourite cultural things to do. 

‍

‍

What other hidden spots do you love going to in this part of France?

There are two other things I adore doing in this region, it is a big part of the reason that I love the south of France so much. There's a restaurant called Café des Arcades in Biot (not to be confused with the one in Valbonne) that few people know. This café is similar to the one in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, la Colombe d'Or that is known for being a go-to spot for famous French painters, mostly impressionists. And everyone should go to the Colombe d'Or at least once, as it's the most a great setting and the family has owned it for decades and it has a lot of history. It is where they had all the most influential artists like Renoir, Matisse, all of the greats, their work is still there to this day and it's gorgeous. Then all of the food is still family cooking. Meat and wine in Valbonne is perfect for a dinner. As the name suggests, those that like fine wine and meats will be really impressed.

‍

What makes Tourrettes-Sur-Loup in particular so special?

The reason we buy in Tourrettes-Sur-Loup and not in Saint-Paul-de-Vence is because it is less touristy, with more local life, a great farmer’s market and really good restaurants. We prefer finding homes in understated places that are really well located. It is actually an old Medieval village that is really charming, and because of its high location, you get impressive views of the whole valley. And you have all the essentials on your doorstep. There is a great wine shop on the square where you can buy nice produce too, there is a great butcher and bakery - there is everything you need for an exciting but relaxing holiday. Tourrettes-Sur-Loup is a great place to experience the real France.

‍

My absolute favourite restaurant is SPELT, it is just so great. I could eat there every day and I would be the happiest person in the world. CINQ is another great address, as is Chez L'Ami Paul. The owner actually owns another place that is a nice setting to have an apéro and order the charcuterie on high tables, it is called Le Chat viré. In Tourettes, you're really close to Le Bar-sur-Loup too, which has a few lovely restaurants like Les Jasmins. There is a gorgeous terrace if you want something a bit more open. In Tourettes, everything is a little bit more closed due to the nature of the village so that is a really nice setting and it’s only a ten minute drive from Tourrettes-Sur-Loup. But SPELT, I go every time I go to the South of France, I love it. 

‍

‍

Would you say Cannes is a good jump off point for the South of France?

Completely. You can go to Menton, Côte d'azur, and you could even go to Italy on the other side, or Monaco. Cannes gives you full access to a different side of Europe. If you come and you experience Europe from all the big capitals, you're getting a good snapshot of what it is but being in Europe is also about being in those smaller cities where you can move very easily from one place to the other and go from a hyper local spot to an area that is slightly more international. Cannes is perfectly placed for that. 

‍

‍

Explore the South of France like a local with August. Request a brochure or book a call with our expert Advisory Team to find out more.