Explore the Antibes region and the French Riviera on a luxury yacht
Why not hire a boat on the Côte d’Azur as an ideal way to set off in discovery of this stunning region in Southeast France! On L’Atalante, your Dufour 48 Prestige sailing yacht with cabins, which you can charter without a skipper, you can go exploring along the Mediterranean coastline and sightseeing in its iconic towns: Antibes, the home port of your boat, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Marseille, Nice and Monaco. All year round, whatever the season, there are events galore to enjoy in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, some for sailboats, and others for motorboats.
At Voile et Patrimoine, we love our Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. We’d like you to be able to experience all its wonders too, aboard the luxury, 15 m-long sailing yacht L’Atalante – a Dufour 48, equipped with three cabins. Remember, you can hire the boat without a skipper or crew. You can go on a tour of the Mediterranean just for a day, a whole week or a longer cruise if you like.
Once your trusted skipper has been chosen, chartering a boat on the Côte d’Azur is the perfect solution. You can sail at your leisure from one town to the next, from Cannes to the Lérins Islands, Saint-Tropez and Nice. There’s so much to see in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
Antibes, Cannes, Marseille: a cruise taking in the star towns in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Antibes is the home port of L’Atalante. It is one of Europe’s largest ports in terms of numbers of moored yachts – sailboats and motorboats alike – some of which are available for hire. And it certainly has a special place in the yacht owner’s heart. The rampart walls along the Antibes seafront look out over the Mediterranean. From Port Vauban, you can admire the Fort Carré, built in Renaissance times. The Picasso Museum is a short stroll away.
At Cap d’Antibes, one of the most beautiful headlands in France, you’ll find La Garoupe sanctuary. The views over the town and part of the French Riviera from there are fabulous! For another panoramic outlook over the surrounding scenery, climb to the top of the 103 m-tall La Garoupe lighthouse nearby.
Antibes, home port of the sailing yacht L'Atalante
There’s so much more to Cannes than its famous festival. The mediaeval district of Le Suquet and its cobbled streets overlook the city. They are a reminder that Cannes was once just a small fishing village. On the Croisette boulevard, you can gaze in admiration at the luxury hotels and cruise yachts. Just off the beaches of Cannes, your skipper will set the course for the gorgeous Lérins Islands. Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat are idyllic havens of peace nestling in the Mediterranean.
Cannes, a day on the Croisette during your sailing cruise
In Nice, the stunning Baie des Anges will welcome your hire boat and its crew. Head up Castle Hill, near the port, to soak up the breathtaking views. Wander along the 5-mile stretch of the Promenade des Anglais, running beside the Mediterranean. In Nice’s Old Town, pay a visit to Cours Saleya, with its flower market and local produce. This is a bustling place all season round. Don’t forget to buy your olive oil from Nicolas Alziari and your candied fruits from Auer, before indulging in local, traditional cuisine at Le Safari.
Nice, the Côte d’Azur’s most scenic bay
When you charter a boat on the Côte d’Azur, you can call in at Monaco: a popular destination for the jet set and well-known for its luxury yachts. Elegant 16th- and 18th-century mansions grace Monaco City, the district known as Le Rocher, located on the heights. Before returning to your boat, why not pop into the Monte-Carlo Casino, the Exotic Garden or the Oceanographic Museum for an unforgettable outing.
Monaco, the principality of luxury yachts
Saint-Tropez is arguably the most iconic village along the French Riviera, with its colourful building fronts. The port is a must. You’ll be able to moor your hire boat among the luxury yachts. The Place des Lices market, the church bell tower of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption or the Citadel are all sights well worth seeing in Saint-Tropez. Back on your boat, you’ll be able to sail towards Cap Taillat, a rugged natural wonder at the tip of the Saint-Tropez peninsula.
Saint-Tropez, a port steeped in legend
In Toulon harbour, set off to explore the military port and its ships, the fortifications and the naval ship cemetery, all of which are home to a unique Provençal heritage. Once you have disembarked, treat yourself to a walk along the heights of Mont Faron to enjoy the sweeping views over Toulon and the Mediterranean.
Toulon, its harbour and military port
No sailing trip around the French Riviera in a hire boat is complete without calling in at Marseille. Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica watches over the Old Port. Boats of all kinds are welcome there (catamarans, sailboats and yachts). Mucem, a museum devoted to the civilisations of the Mediterranean, stands at the port entrance. Then return to your Dufour 48 Prestige yacht to visit the Frioul Islands and the beautiful scenery of Marseille’s calanques (rocky inlets).
Marseille, its Old Port and Mucem
By opting to hire a boat on the Côte d’Azur, you’ll also be able to venture as far as the picture-postcard islands off Hyères. Your skipper will sail the boat around the islands of Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Levant, and you’ll soon see why they’re nicknamed the Golden Isles.
Hyères, les îles d’Or de la Méditerranée
Whatever season you come, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has a packed events programme. You’ll be able to sail from one to the next aboard your chartered yacht. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the year’s main highlights to experience along the Mediterranean coast.
From the Cannes Film Festival to Les Voiles d'Antibes, there are plenty of events all season long
Nice Carnival sets the tone from mid-February to early March. Don’t miss its Flower Battle and Carnival Parade, two eagerly awaited events to get the year off to a sensational start! Menton’s unique lemon festival, the Fête du Citron, is also held over the same fortnight.
In May, it’s time for the Cannes Film Festival. You’ll be able to admire the famous actors and sublime yachts on the Croisette. In Monaco, the world’s fastest racing drivers gather on the circuit laid out on the town centre’s streets for the mythical F1 Grand Prix.
July is jazz month, with festivals organised in Juan-les-Pins, Porquerolles and Toulon. Monaco hosts an International Fireworks Competition in late July-early August, followed by the Prince’s Festival, its national holiday, in November.
Also in November, runners competing in the Alpes-Maritimes Marathon set off from Nice to Cannes.
Flagship events year-round in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
If the idea of hiring a boat on the Côte d’Azur appeals, you’ll enjoy the experience all the more with the skipper of your choice. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region hosts two major boating events every year.
In the first week of June, Les Voiles d’Antibes brings together a selection of the finest vintage, classic and traditional yachts. These venerable boats participate in regattas right along the coast from the home port of the sailboat L’Atalante to Juan-les-Pins.
Meanwhile, for one week in early October, 250 boats – ultra-modern and classic boats alike alongside maxi yachts – flock to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez to take part in regattas in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. This is THE annual meet for international competitive skippers and a thrilling event for sailing enthusiasts the world over.