Port of call
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a Mediterranean town in the south of France. It is part of the Alpes-Maritimes department. It lies about six kilometers east of Nice. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a comfortable and popular resort stretching along the most beautiful bay of the Mediterranean, located between Cap Ferrat and Mont-Boron. In these wonderful places, you can stroll endlessly, pondering or dreaming about something. Here, vacationers can enjoy a variety of water sports or simply go on a sea voyage.
Villefranche-sur-Mer can be called one of the most beautiful and recognizable places on the Côte d’Azur coastline between Nice and Monaco. Thanks to its “photogenic” look, the town has repeatedly been chosen as a filming location for episodes of numerous films-for example, such well-known ones as Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief,” starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly; “Never Say Never Again” from the Bond franchise with Sean Connery; “Ronin” with Robert De Niro, and others.
The Bay of Villefranche is one of the deepest natural harbors (95 meters) throughout the entire Mediterranean, where large ships-such as cruise liners or superyachts longer than 150 meters-can anchor.
Houses in Villefranche are arranged in tiers up the hillside along the bay. It is these tiers-with bright, colorful houses in the Italian style and luxurious villas surrounded by lush greenery-that give the town its unique charm.
ClimateVillefranche-sur-Mer has a favorable Mediterranean climate. In summer, there is virtually no oppressive heat here due to the sea breeze, though the resort is quite dry. Rain falls mainly in autumn; in summer it is almost nonexistent. The minimum air temperature is +3-+6°C. The winter period is characterized by consistently mild weather. This resort enjoys about 325 sunny days per year.
The Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer is located by the sea. The fortress was built to protect the town in the mid-16th century. Today, it houses the Villefranche town hall, several free museums, small art galleries, and an open-air theatre. The fortress has been remarkably well preserved to this day and impresses with its unassailability.
De Marinière Beach in Villefranche is a fairly large beach that winds around almost the entire bay. It is thickly strewn with golden sand, and the clear blue water shimmers in the rays of the setting sun. The central beach in Villefranche-sur-Mer is excellent-practically the only place between Nice and the Italian border with the finest pebbles. Here, entering the water is convenient and does not require special swim shoes, making it suitable even for small children. Visually, the beach is divided into two parts: private and public. On the private side, for a small fee, you can rent comfortable, soft loungers and also have lunch at the bar; on the public side, you can swim for free and enjoy magnificent sea views. Besides the long central Plage des Marinières in Villefranche, there is also another small beach in the harbor area-Plage de la Darse.
For those who are more interested in history than in a beach holiday, it is worth visiting the Old Town, where the spirit of the Middle Ages has been preserved. Here you can see stepped streets, narrow covered passages, and colorful façades of ancient houses, from whose windows come lively conversations and the aromas of home cooking. “Dark Street” (Obscuur) is truly a magical place that will surely enchant everyone with its atmosphere. The street dates back to the 14th century and resembles a tunnel. In the past, it was an extension of the watchmen’s route, and soldiers used to pass through it. Later, it served as a refuge from enemies, and during World War II it was used as an air-raid shelter. The length of Obscuur Street is 130 meters.
The Villa of Baroness Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (1864-1934) can be called the main attraction of the Cap Ferrat headland and a draw for many tourists traveling along the French Riviera. The villa, the daughter of Alphonse Rothschild, a representative of the French branch of the famous dynasty, became the best-known work of her life. After her father’s death in 1905, the baroness acquired a plot of land on the Ferrat headland (at the time-a place incredibly popular with the Belgian royal house). By the way, it is known that the plot with the magnificent view-at once over the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer and the bay of Beaulieu-sur-Mer-was also wanted by the Belgian king Leopold II, but the baroness got there first. The villa took 7 years to build, and the restless owner replaced 20 architects, being dissatisfied with the work of even the most renowned of them, before the project was finally brought to life. The villa is filled with wonderful interior furnishings and works of art, while the exotic garden is sure to captivate the imagination.
For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can review it after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.
