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The Rolling Stones were so taken with Villefranche-sur-Mer they recorded their 1972 album Exile on Main St close by.
And the French Riviera town has not just drawn rock stars over the years. Movie-makers have also used the old town and bay as a natural set for films including Hitchcock’s “To Catch A Thief” and Bond flick “Never Say Never”.
You may also recognise it as the backdrop to “The Count of Monte Cristo”, “The Bourne Identity” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. Despite all this, Villefranche-sur-Mer has been kept a tourist secret for far too long. So my fella and I jumped at the chance to check out this sun-trap by the sea. Instead of a hotel or guesthouse, we opted to rent an Irish-owned apartment through the Irish-based agency Holiday Homes Direct.
The apartment cost a fraction of what staying at a top hotel for the week would have but it wasn’t short of any home comforts.
Charming
There was plenty of room for the two of us- in fact it would have comfortably housed two adults and two children. And the owners had kindly left us all the information we could need for a pleasant stay. We were so close to the sea and the charming old walled town that popping up and down to the beach to change for dinner only took minutes. If you did fancy a night in, the apartment had all the mod cons you need for cooking up a French feast with produce bought at the fantastic weekly local market or from the local shops stuffed with tasty breads, meats and cheeses.
There was even Sky TV in the pad but it would be a shame to spend your time there sitting in watching telly.
If lying on the child-friendly beach and swimming or snorkelling in the crystal blue sea isn’t enough for you, there’s plenty more to see and do.
Built on terraced hills overlooking the Mediterranean, the old town is an intricate labyrinth of steep paved streets and lanes.
The Promenade des Marinieres stretching along the waterfront lining the north side of the bay, is perfect for romantic strolls. A massive walled citadel built in 1557 lies on the water’s edge. Today, the ancient fortress houses the Town Hall, a convention centre, three museums and an open air theatre.
In the heart of old town, Eglise Saint-Michel (Saint Michael’s Church) was built in the 1750s and is well worth a look, as is the Chapelle Saint Pierre (Saint Peter’s Chapel) which dates from the 14th Century.
The town is packed with good restaurants to suit all budgets and bars to suit all moods-including sports bars if your fella is that way inclined.
Oh, and ladies, the shopping is great too.
On the stunning hills surrounding the town, the Fort of Mont Alban offers a fantastic view of nearby Cap Ferret and the eastern coastline as far as Italy.
It’s well worth a trip up there. On a clear day, you might even catch a glimpse of the mountains of Corsica way off in the distance.
Stunning
Villefranche-sur-Mer is located about 6km east of the city of Nice, and just 10km south west of Monaco, and both are well worth a trip.
And the stunning city of Antibes is only 15 minutes way by train.
Kids or no kids, I heartily recommend the killer whales and dolphin show at Marine World in Antibes.
We went on a grey, rainy day and forgot instantly the sun wasn’t shining, so impressive was the spectacle. Cap Ferret, just around the corner, is a playground for celebs every summer.
Villefranche-sur-Mer itself has had its fair share of famous holiday makers in the past from author Katherine Mansfield to Jean Cocteau. Tina Turner has had a house there for years.
So if you fancy living the life of a star in the south of France without paying stellar prices, this might be just the place.
FACT FILE
Sinead booked her accommodation with Holiday Homes Direct.
Holiday Homes Direct list thousands of villas, apartments, and holiday rentals across Europe to rent directly from the owner.
For more information please visit www.holidayhomesdirect.ie or call 01-2846653
To view all Holiday Homes Direct rentals in Villefranche-sur-Mer,click here