The South of France and the Cote d’Azur have exuded yachting glamour and luxury since the 1950’s, when ports along the French Riviera began to welcome the international jet set and yachting fraternity. The French Riviera boasts some of the most iconic luxury locations and the towns of Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Monte-Carlo rank highly on the international list of acclaimed yachting destinations.

Stretching from Marseille to Monaco, this sophisticated strip of coast offers visitors a luxury playground of fine-dining restaurants, internationally-acclaimed hotels and designer boutiques, all in a strikingly attractive setting.

The Cannes Film Festival was launched in 1946 and this annual event has been putting the town in the spotlight ever since. Attracting stars of the big screen, a superyacht charter which takes in this event specifically, as well as other towns along the Cote d’Azur, is a popular choice with guests.

Cannes itself has a large harbour, a seafront promenade with a beach, and offers visitors an exhilarating nightlife and many high-end restaurants.  The old town of Cannes is known as Le Suquet and sits high above the leafy squares and the old port. The traditional narrow streets wind steeply uphill to the ancient fortification, church and square. The views are spectacular, with the whole town displayed at your feet and framed by the Baie de Cannes and the Massif Esterel mountains.

The name ‘Saint Tropez’ evokes images of sunbathing celebrities, designer boutiques and luxury yachts. As such, it is hard to believe this glamorous town was once just a humble fishing village, with the quaint cobblestoned La Ponche quarter recalls the town’s past.

On the vast and sandy beach of Pampelonne, one can flit between the famously trendy establishments of Nikki Beach and Club 55, spending an afternoon relaxing in the sun, or head inland to discover one of the Saint-Tropez region’s many vineyards.

At the eastern end of the French Riviera is the Principality of Monaco. Monaco is best known for its glamorous residents, upscale casinos, yacht-lined harbour, and of course, the prestigious Formula One Monaco Grand Prix motor race. Monaco is home to an elegant belle-époque casino complex and ornate Salle Garnier opera house. It has many internationally-acclaimed and luxurious hotels, boutiques to be browsed at Le Metropole shopping centre or the Monte-Carlo pavilions, exclusive nightclubs and sophisticated restaurants in which to indulge. Monaco-Ville, where you will find the Palace residence of Prince Albert II, is still a medieval village at heart and an astonishingly picturesque site. The city is predominantly a mass of alleyways, pedestrian streets and houses that date back centuries. The impressive list of places to visit includes the Monaco Cathedral, built in 1875, the world-renowned Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, the City Hall and the Saint Martin gardens.

The French Riviera not only benefits from over 310 days of sunshine per year, but can additionally boast 115km of coastline and beaches, 18 golf courses and 14 ski resorts.