About Beaulieu-sur-mer

Earliest records of inhabitation in the area extend back to when there was an ancient Greek port called Anao situated on the coast. With the whole region suffering from a great period of unsettlement during the earlier half of the first millennium, little remains of the old port and only after the turn of the twelfth century when the area actually became part of France did the area become more established and connected to the region of Villefranche-sur-Mer, thereafter the town becoming officially known as Beaulieu-sur-Mer after the visit of Napoleon Bonaparte. His love of the area allowed it to become one of the more popular regions of the Côte d’Azur with the rich and famous, with more famous names from the nineteenth century whose visits gave the town more cachet including Leopold II, the first Prince of Wales and Leo Tolstoy.

The area around Beaulieu-sur-Mer caters well for those who enjoy sport as aside from all the expected watersports – the town having a major marina as well as the original small and historic port. Boating is serious business in this area and the main marina also has a chantier naval together with other associated maritime maintenance businesses. However, golf and tennis are also very popularso the town is an ideal place to stay even if water is not your passion.  Villa Kerylos – a neo classical Greek villa whose origin is owed to the archaeologist ThéodoreReinach – and its magnificent gardens is a ‘must-see’ as well as being a popular venue for local 'treasure hunts'.

The more larger towns tend to provide more substantial cultural events, but that does not mean that the smaller towns don’t have their own characterful events and Beaulieu-sur-Mer is no exception with the festival of Beaulieu-sur- Fete and open air ‘nuits guitars’ during the summer evenings all adding to the town’s charm and character. In July there is also the Festival du Folklore and Ballets sur la Mer, while in September there is the Fête Patronale.Brocantes, the staple ‘flea market’ of many a French town, take place on the first Saturday and third Sunday of each month, except for July and August.

It probably goes without saying that with its location on the Mediterranean that when it comes to food, seafood and fish appear regularly on local menus and are a fairly staple part of Provençale fare. La Réserve de Beaulieu et Spa is the only Michelin starred restaurant in Beaulieu, but there is certainly plenty to choose from where more simple and traditional food is concerned, with set lunch menus at restaurants like Les Épicuriens offering traditional brasserie food from a set menu starting at €18.00. As with larger French towns there is a daily market where all local produce can be found, while down at the old harbor there are also a few stalls selling fresh fish and seafood.