Crédits : Lina Tchalabi. Translation: Jill Harry. Pictures: GettyImages.
Art & Culture
Since the early days of cinema, the French Riviera has served as a backcloth for countless films, from Hollywood classics to French productions, with celebrities in the spotlight. One of the must itineraries for re-living the magic of the 7th Art is La Grande Corniche. 500 metres above sea level, this road linking Nice to the Italian border is the star of "To Catch a Thief" (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954).
Most of its scenes were shot at the Carlton Cannes, though visits to other emblematic spots such as the Promenade des Anglais, the Rock of Monaco, and the sublime villa Les Bolovens in Saint-Jeannet recall the romance between the legendary Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. En route, movie fans will call at Èze, one of France's oldest villages, to admire its stunning view of the Mediterranean, or the little town of La Turbie, not far from Menton. In 1967, American director Stanley Donen also immortalized the Côte d’Azur's magnificent scenery, capturing its very essence in "Two for the Road" (1966), with the enchanting Audrey Hepburn topping the bill.
World-renowned for its Film Festival, Cannes has also been a muse for many movie makers. In particular, in Henri Verneuil's "Mélodie en sous-sol" (1963), Claude Lelouch's "La Bonne Année" (1973), Brian de Palma's "Femme fatale" (2002), and Jacques Audiard's "De Rouille et d’Os" (2012). From 1919, Nice produced major movies in its Victorine Studios, also lending its natural setting to classics such as "La Piscine" (Jacques Deray, 1969) with Romy Schneider and Alain Delon, and "Ronin" (John Frankenheimer, 1998) with its frantic car chase through narrow streets in the Old Town of Nice.
In Saint-Tropez, the legend is permanently linked to the image of a sensual Brigitte Bardot in "And God Created Woman" (Roger Vadim, 1956), catapulting this little fishing harbour onto the international scene. Stroll along the quaysides, the beaches of La Ponche or Pampelonne, following in the footsteps of an actress who became an icon for an entire generation. Another favourite place among directors, the Principality of Monaco lays claim to 300 films in its image. Several legendary scenes in the "James Bond" saga were filmed on the famous Rock.
While the coastline is often given pride of place, the hinterland is not ignored. A remarkable natural site, the Verdon gorges have provided the background for several movies. One of Europe's most magnificent canyons, its protected environment played host to "Pieds nus sur les Limaces" (Fabienne Berthaud, 2009) with Ludivine Sagnier and Diane Kruger, and "Un Balcon sur la Mer" (Nicole Garcia, 2010) with Jean Dujardin. From epic scenes to legendary decor, the Côte d’Azur invites you to re-live a timeless experience in which the saga of cinema is enhanced by beautiful places.
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