From the battlements......

We were just about to enter the castle at Haut-de-Cagnes to look around the various museums it contains, when we spotted this rather lovely restaurant from the entrance, and decided we had other priorities, namely lunch......

With a delightful embowered courtyard Les Baux is run by two guys who serve up freshly cooked fish - red snapper and sardines here, plus an absolutely heavenly dessert of some squidgy caramel confection, all washed down with a chilled rose and a bill for 50 euros for us both...

Eventually, we did make it all around the museums and art galleries inside the castle, as well as taking in these lovely vistas from the battlements, and the narrow, cobbled streets of the Medieval village itself...

But I am glad that we got our priorities right by getting sidetracked and starting off with the best fortifications of them all - an exquisitely tasty lunch in beautiful surroundings - something which is really not hard to find here in France....Cheers!

To reach Haut-de-Cagnes take a ten minute train ride from Nice-Ville to Cagnes-sur-mer - walk into the centre of town and take the free shuttle bus up the hill (La Navette - which runs up every 15 minutes) Enjoy!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 174 - Cros de Cagnes

We have had some gorgeous weather over the festive season here on the Riviera, characterised most strongly by these vibrant blue Riviera winter skies. These shots are taken on the lovely open  and spacious promenade which links the small fishing village of Cros de Cagnes and Cagnes-sur-mer. Above is one of the beachfront restaurants, and below is a selection of views and vistas along the promenade.....

After strolling along the promenade you can take the free shuttle bus (la navette) up from Cagnes Ville to the Medieval hilltop village of Haut de Cagnes where you can visit the Chateau Grimaldi  housing an olive museum and art galleries and boasting a wonderful panoramic view from its tower. Then descend to the narrow cobbled streets and alleyways for a delicious lunch - more in the next post. In the meantime check out Shadow Shot Sunday for more photography - Enjoy!! Happy New Year 2013!!

Velo Bleu Vistas.....

I'm no hard-core lycra-clad cyclist of the Riviera ilk that you see here clocking up the kilometres on busy roads or gruelling climbs, but I do like a leisurely bicycle ride courtesy of Velo Bleu (Nice's version of Boris's Bikes) and my favourite little trip is along the seaside cycle path from NIce to Cagnes which takes about an hour and if you time the trading in of your bike right costs not even a Euro.......

First you cycle along the glorious Promenade des Anglais in Nice with glorious sea views across La Baie des Anges, past the airport, before arriving at St Laurent du Var with many harbourside restaurants and boardwalk cafes.....

Hop back on a new bike and cycle on to the charming Cros-de-Cagnes which still has an old timer's fishing village atmosphere and lots more seaview cafes and restaurants......(a clear theme is emerging here)..

From here there is a wide, spacious promenade to enjoy around the sweep of the bay to Cagnes-Sur-Mer itself where the cycle path terminates......and you can continue to explore the modern town of Cagnes or the Medieval hilltop village of Haut-de-Cagnes....

Velo Bleu allows you to hire bikes by the day or you can buy an annual pass for just 25 Euros and the bikes are free for 30 minutes - but you can trade them in immediately and take a new bike every 30 minutes. After cycling round  the heart of Mexico City using a similar scheme (Ecobici) this one really is a piece of cake... (with lots more places to stop off for tea and cake)......

Enjoy the ride!!!

Shadow Shot Sunday 167 - Cagnes

Not the most typical or scenic of shots of the French Riviera, but something about the shapes and colours was appealing on a sunny, shadowy day. For more shadows click here for Shadow Shot Sunday. Enjoy!!

High up in Haut-de-Cagnes ......

 

There are three parts to Cagnes-sur-mer - the fishing village and beach named Cros-de-Cagnes, the modern town Cagnes-Ville and the ancient medieval hill-top village Haut-de-Cagnes which is topped by Chateau Grimaldi - built as a fortress prison in 1309 by Rainier. The village contains cobbled alleys, steep lanes, grand Renaissance houses and nearby is Church St Pierre where the Grimaldis are entombed. Nowadays the castle houses a wide array of art galleries and museums - including an olive museum....

There are many delightful restaurants and cafes - some with amazing views right across the valley. I chose this spot for a leisurely cup of tea and tarte citron one Saturday afternoon....

 

 Nosing round the narrow streets with camera in hand is always a lovely way to while away an hour in these architectural treasure-houses - alongside one building I even found some Roman graves....

Cagnes-Sur-Mer is easily reached from Nice by bus or train (only 10 minutes) or a more enjoyable alternative is to cycle by the sea along the promenade path from Nice (only one hour). I will leave you with a view of Haut-de-Cagnes from the cycle path...more on this route next post.....

Musee Renoir - Cagnes-Sur-Mer

I visited the Musee Renoir in Cagnes-Sur-Mer on a gloriously sunny Autumn Day with bright blue skies and Fall foliage making it quite clear why an artist would choose this place to live and paint....

Renoir spent the final years of his life here, and inside the house you can view twelve of his original paintings on display, as well his studio complete with the wheel chair from which he painted...

For me the interior of the house was of mild interest compared to the beautiful garden setting with rolling vistas across to the medieval village of Haut Cagnes-Sur-Mer. The gardens are full of palm trees, orange trees, and mature olive trees which in Autumn were just stunningly beautiful...

Musee Renoir is located in the town of Cagnes-Sur-Mer easily reached by train or bus from Nice (Number 200, 400 or 500) The museum is open daily from 10am -6pm except Tuesdays (and beware it is also closed from 12-2pm).