
Charming Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
Elegance on the Côte d'Azur.

Quick Links
We returned to Villefranche sur Mer

The Welcome Hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer
A reference guide
If you love Provence as much as we do, you'll want to start planning your visit now. I so enjoy using the DK Eyewitness books, as they are extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Provencal road trip, now you can grab the revised copy.
Full of charm
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a reasonably small town and is nestled in a bay between Nice and Monaco. It’s easy to see why it is popular with visitors, as it is so picturesque and charming day and night.
Villefranche makes a perfect long weekend break, Nice airport is just a short hop around the bay.

The quayside of Villefranche-sur-Mer

The view to the bay in Villefranche-sur-Mer

The quayside of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Make a restaurant reservation in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Out and about in Villefranche-sur-Mer

The beautiful bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer

The fish stall on the quayside of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer beach

Plage des Marinières

Tempted to?
About turn

Chapelle Saint-Pierre
Walking back along the quay we stop at the eye-catching Chapelle Saint-Pierre. The chapel dates from the 16th-century, due to its proximity right by the harbour, the church used to be used by local fisherman to store their nets.
The chapel was restored around 1957, and Jean Cocteau painted colourful nautical murals on the inside walls of this tiny chapel, which were quite amazing.
Good to know
La Darse at Villefranche-sur-Mer

Around the Citadel wall to La Darse harbour

Boats in La Darse harbour at Villefranche-sur-Mer
Go with the flow

The Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer

The view from the castle of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Have You?
Villefranche-sur-Mer Old Town


The quiet lanes of Villefranche-sur-Mer

The lanes at night

Where does it lead?
Rue Obscure in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Rue Obscure



Leading from the Rue Obscure
Why not?
Start creating your own French adventure and discover the beautiful bays & harbours for yourself. Search for your flights in one easy place with ebookers.com. Over 400 airlines are scanned for your favoured routes and chosen dates.
Or alternatively, catch a Brittany Ferry and tour through France under your own steam.
Out of my league

Where to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Sunrise view, the Welcome Hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Image Caption
Where to eat in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Other restaurants and bistro's that we can recommend are;
Cote Jardin - We had a fabulous lunch here - a fusion with Asian spices
La Grignotiere Restaurant - A family run favourite of ours
L'Aparte - Great atmosphere & food
La Mere Germaine - excellent location, good food, and a great place to people watch

The Cote Jardin menu board
Would you like a little more?
We have created a little YouTube video of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
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Inspired to visit Villefranche-sur-Mer?
Stroll around the picturesque bay and take a dip in the crystal blue water. Or jump in your car and explore the surrounding towns along the Côte d'Azur?
Why not stay at the Welcome Hotel for that little bit of luxury?

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Comments
I’ve never had the opportunity to travel outside of Paris, but I’d love to explore more, and this looks like such a charming place. As always your magnificent photos really make the place come to life. #farawayfiles
Thanks Hilary
France is a wonderful country, I love all the differences you see & taste from region to region. Villefranche-sur-Mer is lovely, when you stroll around the bay you feel like you’ve stepped into someone else’s world.
I have wanted to go here for so long! I first discovered it at the end of a Cary Grant film, An Affair to Remember. It’s so beautiful and looks way less crowded and touristy than neighboring Nice. Pinned! #FarawayFiles
I do remember seeing it in An Affair to Remember, that’s a great film.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is quite a special place & very picturesque, although it does get crowded as well at times, but on a smaller scale than Nice. It’s lovely wandering around in the evening sunshine admiring the yachts in the bay.
I love this area of France and I feel the same way – I always want to return! Your photos are gorgeous, too. 🙂 #farawayfiles
Thanks very much, yes it is a beautiful region of France, I love all the hilltop villages along the Corniche.