Christmas Markets in the Cote d’Azur & Monaco

 

If Christmas is your favorite time of year, then you’ve come to the right place as the lights and sounds of the season liven up the cities and villages throughout the region.

One can sense the energy in the air as the holidays approach with numerous shops beautifully set up for all the shoppers getting their gifts and the party season is already in full swing as restaurants have started their Christmas parties along with the outdoor cafes being the ideal place to catch up with friends and family between all the ongoing activities.

Christmas markets are a long-standing tradition in the region, so to break it down for you, here is the following list of what is taking place where:

Nice - Without question, the Christmas Village in Jardin Albert 1er and Place Masséna is always an impressive sight filling the senses of the season. Running until January 1st, there will be crafts and food stalls, entertainment, games for children, Santa’s Grotto, rides, and 14 free shows for young and old. Nice is also organizing a series of festive “Soirées After Work” with international DJs and acts.

Monaco – Once again in Monaco, the traditional Christmas Village has taken up residence on the Port Hercule. This year, it will be open until January 2nd, 2023. With lots of stalls, rides, and games making it entertaining for everyone in attendance. This year, to stay in line with energy savings, the ice rink has been transformed into a roller rink. The Société des Bains de Mer has also decorated the Place du Casino in its sumptuous five-star style and has a full schedule of events taking place in hotels across its portfolio.

Cannes – This year, the captivating Cannes market has 50 different chalets selling Christmas fare alongside Santa’s Cottage and an ice skating rink on the Allées de la Liberté Charles de Gaulle until January 2nd. There is also a parade on Rue d’Antibes with acrobats and live music on December 24th from 3 pm.

Antibes – Not a place known for holding back, this year, a 450m2 ice skating rink will dominate the Antibes Christmas market on the Esplanade Pré-aux-Pêcheurs, which runs from December 11th to January 2nd. Plus, there is a Ferris wheel, carousel, and rides set up alongside stands laden with handicrafts and warming food and drink options. In Antibes’s old town, a letterbox for sending wish lists to Santa, a mini farm, and craft workshops for young children.

Menton – You won’t be able to miss Santa’s Workshop which can be found in Menton until January 1st in the Jardin Biovès, where elves will be hard at work making toys in full view so all can see the magic. At the Bastion and the Sablettes, visitors can enjoy delicacies, a merry-go-round, a little train, Santa’s mailbox, a gourmet market, and workshops of all kinds in this most colorful city.

Saint Tropez – There is nothing better than spending time in the holiday season at this most beautiful seaside village where you will see Christmas-themed stalls line the old port every day until January 1st, as well as the timeless open-air ice rink in the Place des Lices. In the week running up to Christmas, little ones will love meeting Santa and his animals at the pedological farm in Place Grammont.

As for anything in the LGBTQ community, all the bars, cruising bars, bathhouses, and nightclubs will be open as usual and of course will be party central.

Have a wonderful Christmas season everyone.

French Riviera LGBTQ Real Estate Options Four

 

Sainte-Maxime is a beautiful part of the Cote d’Azur that is ideally located close to Saint Tropez but delightfully far enough away from the hustle and bustle of that lifestyle during the high season, allowing one to visit, yet live in a quieter, community-minded town of about 15,000 inhabitants.

Like many parts of the French Riviera, tourism is still the largest source of revenue for Sainte-Maxime, but here, it’s not so overwhelming and still very much enjoyable.

Overall, Sainte-Maxime is the ideal place for property investment, with that, let us introduce you to just a few available options.

Sainte-Maxime Property Option One - 4,200,000 EUR

Villa with panoramic sea view over the Bay of Saint Tropez on the market.

Area: 320 m2

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 1900 m2

In a secured and closed domain, close to the Sainte-Maxime center and the beaches.

This luxury property enjoys a panoramic sea view and is built with high-quality and refined materials.

On the center floor, there is a beautiful living room that opens to large terraces offering a magnificent view of Saint-Tropez and the sea with an open plan kitchen and a bedroom en-suite with a private shower room.

The first floor offers two large en-suite bedrooms with beautiful dressing rooms, both opening onto a very large terrace so you can enjoy the exceptional view.

On the ground floor, you will find the fourth en suite bedroom overlooking the green garden with the heated, saltwater 15 x 8 meters overflow swimming pool.

On the same level are various extras such as a wine cellar, a gym, and a hammam complete these high-end amenities.

Plus, there is a fifth independent bedroom with its bathroom and a triple car garage with storage space.

Sainte-Maxime Property Option Two - 4,750,000 EUR

Area: 260 m2

8 room(s)

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 1594 m2

In the prestigious domain of Beauvallon Bartole, this bright and recently renovated villa of 260 m2 is located on a plot of 1600 m2 in a dominant position and offers panoramic views of the sea and the hills of the Var.

Offering a spacious living space with high ceilings, a kitchen, and a dining room, all the rooms open onto the exteriors and terraces. The 5 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms are spread over the 3 levels of the villa.

On the ground floor, a spacious garage, a laundry room, and a room that can be used as a games room, sports room or massage room, or even a 6th bedroom.

The home is fully air-conditioned and has a home automation system.

Sainte-Maxime Property Option Three - 7,800,000 EUR

Newly built villa with 360° sea view on the market.

Area: 366 m2

6 room(s)

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 2191 m2

Superb property from 2022, close to the beaches and the city center, with a magnificent panoramic view of the sea and the entire Gulf of Saint-Tropez, facing south.

This luxurious villa has an entrance hall, a large bright living room opening onto terraces and a patio, 5 bedroom suites with bathrooms and dressing rooms, an equipped kitchen, a pantry, and a wine cellar.

Plus, garage. Jacuzzi and heated swimming pool and garden.

If you are considering buying a property in the French Riviera, do get in contact with us as we have a wide range of properties and prices available on option.

Sainte-Maxime

 

A not often-spoken-about, yet highly regarded part of the Cote d’Azur is the spectacular small city of Sainte-Maxime.

This beautiful seaside place seems slightly tucked away and yet offers a multitude of options for a long weekend getaway or to call home.

Here, it is only a short distance to the summer glam of Saint Tropez, yet life feels much calmer and relaxed amongst the locals.

Situated along the Mediterranean Sea, there is a shoreline promenade with parks, the tourist office, and the city beaches, as well as a casino with its own area of white sand.

In addition to the city beaches, there are the Blue Flag-certified supervised ones. On the west side, The Croisette has a sailing school. On the east side of the town are La Nartelle, La Plage des Eléphants and La Garonette (also called Val D'Esquieres), which all provide water-skiing and jet-skiing activities. In addition, there are several smaller beaches that are unsupervised, for a total of 10 km of publicly accessible shoreline.

Sainte-Maxime also has a wonderful old town with shops, markets, restaurants, bars, and cafés, opposite the harbor. On the pier are marine shops, and also fast boat transportation with Les Bateaux Verts to Les Issambres, St Tropez, and Port Grimaud, which enables you to avoid any traffic jams in the summer months.

There are eight golf courses within a 30-minute radius by car. As for an LGBTQ scene, the best plan would be to login to an app such as Grindr or Scruff and see who pops up, tourists will also be looking for some action.

Sainte-Maxime also has a long history as one of the first settlements in the region and played an integral part in WWII.

Make Sainte-Maxime part of your next trip to the French Riviera.

La Fabrik Des Garcons in Nice

 

Seeking out a tasty treat while in Nice? Then head to a delightful, gay-owned pastry shop, La Fabrik des Garcons at 5 Rue Niepce in Nice that must be experienced to be believed.

Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm, each of the delectable pastries at La Fabrik des Garcons is lovingly handmade daily and truly out-of-this-world delicious.

Going beyond the usual pastries one would find in such a shop in France, La Fabrik des Garcons takes pride in coming up with its own dreamy, even experimental, totally memorable, and fun takes on what an everyday dessert can look and especially taste like.

The owners, a longtime couple, both well-regarded in Nice, have been in the food industry for an extensive number of years, and come with first-hand experience on not only what their regular clients are looking for when it comes to refined food items, but also visitors to the city by offering mouth-watering, reasonably-priced confections that will definitely make you want to come back for more.

All this while being surrounded by a most amazing, charming shop in the heart of the city worthy of many an Instagram shot.

 

Make sure to stop by La Fabrik Des Garcons!

Photo credits: La Fabrik Des Garcons