917km (570 miles) S of Paris; 21km (13 miles) NE of Cannes

Cagnes-sur-Mer has two visitor-friendly centers. Perched on a hill overlooking the Riviera, Haut-de-Cagnes is one of the most stunning hill villages on the Riviera. It’s quieter than Eze, another village perché near Monaco, and is alive with flower-filled lanes and alfresco eateries. At the foot of the hill is the working fishing port and beach resort of Cros-de-Cagnes, which lies midway between Nice and Antibes.

For years Haut-de-Cagnes attracted the French literati, including Simone de Beauvoir. A colony of painters also settled here, most famously Pierre Auguste Renoir. He claimed the village was “the place where I want to paint until the last day of my life.” His former home is the highlight of any visit to the area.