Welcome to the French Riviera

After admiring the rows of private jets parked at the Nice airport, just steps from the Mediterranean, Tim and I exited our plane and officially began our WOW trip to the French Riviera. Our driver met us at the arrivals area, and he whisked us away in a sleek Mercedes van to our hotel. Rush hour traffic was crazy, but we would soon learn that traffic on the Riviera is nuts no matter the time of day.

Having Our Own Driver Meet Us Was Very Cool!

Cagnes-sur-Mer is one of the lesser-known cities on the French Riviera, but it is close to the Nice airport and is the location of our hotel, Chateau Le Cagnard. Actually, our hotel is located in the medieval hilltop village of Haut-de-Cagnes, the Old Town, a hidden gem with narrow, winding streets and ancient stone buildings.

We found out just how narrow the streets (alleyways?) were when our driver abruptly stopped the van, got out, and walked up ahead. He apologized profusely after he realized he could drive no farther on a street that was much too narrow for his van. Since the hotel was nearby and the hotel valet walked up to meet us, our only concern was how our driver was going to back out. We never did find out how he managed, but the episode provided us with a great story to tell!

Oops!

We found Chateau Le Cagnard to be a charming historic hotel, and our room was lovely and spacious. With exits and rooms on multiple floors connected by stone stairways, it was a bit difficult to navigate, however, especially with my bum knee.

Chateau Le Cagnard

Lejeune - Our Room

An Expansive View

It was a balmy evening, and we enjoyed a relaxing dinner on the hotel terrace with its amazing view of the Mediterranean and the Côte d’Azur. Although we had opted only for a main course tonight, we learned that fine French restaurants provide a complimentary amuse bouche to start the meal. After topping off our meal with a delicious chocolate dessert, which Tim and I shared, I was happy to acknowledge that my high expectations for new Provençal cuisine had been met.

Enjoying Our Dinner, and the View, on the Terrace

Delicious and Beautifully Presented