The French Riviera

Overview

The French Riviera, known in French as the Côte d'Azur, has a long and interesting history. From the 18th century onwards, the region became one of the first modern resorts, with aristocrats and the prosperous from England and other parts of Europe flocking to take advantage of its warm winters and delightful summers. Victims of consumption came in an attempt to restore their health, whilst Anglophone authors - including Edith Wharton, Henry James and Somerset Maugham - settled in the area to derive inspiration, penning such masterpieces as the Age of Innocence.

Particularly after the transformation of Monaco into the resort and casino enclave renamed Montecarlo, the area became the playground for a new breed of elites, and in the twentieth century attracted the glamourous likes of Wallis Simpson and Coco Chanel. Drawn by its unique light and attractive landscape, the Riviera also became the haunt of a series of important painters, including Picasso and Matisse.

Join Dr Eireann Marshall for a romantic look at the legendary French Riviera - a location which has never failed to inspire.