DK Travel : Provence and Côte d'Azur

Provence’s top sights span the region’s rich and varied history, from Roman arenas, isolated abbeys, and the palace of the medieval popes, to the more recent opulence of the belle époque era and the glamorous resorts beloved of the 20th-century jet set. Sunsoaked beaches, pretty villages nestled among lavender fields and a mountainous hinterland have inspired generations of artists, and continue to enchant every visitor to the area.

Casino de Monte Carlo

Walk in the footsteps of princes, courtesans and film stars at the Riviera’s most dazzling example of 19th-century grandeur (see Casino de Monte Carlo).
Casino des Palmiers, Hyères

Renovated in the 1990s, the casino has retained its belle époque style, added on a glass dome and widened its horizons. Alongside the gaming rooms are a hotel, restaurant and nightclub.
Casino Gardens, Monaco

Laid out around the casino (see Casino de Monte Carlo) these are classic 19th-century gardens, with trim lawns and water features.
Casino Ruhl

The original Neo-Classical Ruhl building has sadly gone, to be replaced with a more Las Vegas-style set-up. It offers gaming tables, cabaret, a disco on Friday and Saturday nights and slot machines until dawn.
Cassis

Cassis is overseen by France’s highest coastal cliffs, whose scale reinforces the intimacy of the narrow little harbour and old town centre down below. Tourists crowd the beaches – the best bathing is in the creeks to the west – but Cassis remains a fishing port, and well retains its authenticity (see Cassis).
Cassis

Fresh, dry whites – particularly good served with Provençale fish dishes.
Cassis

This delightfully pretty fishing port (see Cassis) with its brightly coloured fishing boats anchored in a harbour on a rugged, rocky coastline, was a favourite with painters such as Dufy, Derain and Matisse (see Painters in Provence), all of whom were inspired by its clear light and bright Mediterranean hues. Amazingly, it has escaped being spoiled by tourism, and there are pretty rocky coves (calanques ) and beaches nearby. Cassis is also noted for its excellent seafood (fresh sea urchins are considered a local delicacy) and there are plenty of good restaurants.
Castellane

Castellane is a lively market town surrounded by steep mountains. The Verdon flows through it on its way to the Grand Canyon. It is also a centre for adventure sports (see Castellane).
Castellane

The remote village of Castellane is tucked away among the rugged hills of Provence, surrounded by the wildest and emptiest scenery in France. Castellane is the gateway to the breathtaking Gorge du Verdons, France's answer to the Grand Canyon. Drive around the top of the canyon for a succession of jaw-dropping views or take a whitewater rafting trip along the river, organized by the small and friendly rafting company in the main square (the water is at its wildest in spring). The picturesque village is overlooked by a colossal, craggy outcrop of rock with a chapel on top; there are steps up to the top from the village square. Two very good traditional French hotels in the main square double as the best restaurants in town. To get to Castellane from the coast, take the main road north from Nice. The drive is straight out of a James Bond film: a seemingly endless succession of winding rock tunnels, cliff-hugging roads and beautiful valleys - amazing to find such an empty and unspoilt wilderness so close to the Cote d'Azur.
Cathédrale d’Images

Opposite Les Baux, and with a great view of the village, is the dramatic Val d’Enfer, where the soft rock of the cliffs has been eroded by wind and water into weird twisted shapes. Old cuttings show where the easily worked rock was quarried to build the houses and battlements of the village. One of these quarry tunnels has now been turned into a remarkable spectacle, with thousands of beautiful Renaissance frescoes projected on to the 20-m (65-ft) high walls of the artificial cavern.