Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé.
There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. ~George Sand
We are on a mission to find the best places to plant “the kiss” in the world. We are calling it our Kissing Capitals. Our pick for this installment is some “French Kissing” in the South of France: Nice. The Cote d’ Azur or its better known name the French Riviera offer couples warm sunshine, inviting beaches, lush parks and gardens, sun washed villas and costal paths. Nice was made for couples!
First off before we start our kissing lessons, a quick French lesson. How to pronounce Nice. In the French it is pronounced: Niece. This little hint will separate you from the great unwashed masses.
So what does Nice have going for it on the kissing front? Grande!
The blue waters of Nice, France
The Beach–
Our first recommendation is the crown jewel of places to smooch, the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean. The beaches attract everyone from Hollywood starlets to German pensioners. It important before going to set some expectations. There is no sand on the beaches in Nice. It is made up of small stones and pebbles. Bring a chair or you can easily rent one at one of the many vendors. The beach is divided up in intervals of public and private beaches. As long as you walk along the water line, you don’t have to pay. Steal a kiss at one of the little beach front cafes that offer the best of French cuisine, with views to die for. Better yet plan a moonlight stroll along the surf.
Dreamy Eze–
Just outside Nice is one of our favorite little French towns, Eze. This charming town is truly one of the most magical places we have visited in our journeys. The hill town is perched on a rocky outcropping overlooking the sea. The 12th century fortification has been transformed into a cluster of little shops lining winding paths. We highly recommend you take an afternoon and meander in and out of the artisan workshops, and intimate cafes.
Pathway in Eze, France
To plant the perfect kiss, climb the stairs and paths to the crown of the city. There you will find an amazing reward for your effort: the Jardin exotique d’Èze. Commence kissing. The panoramic vistas from the garden are simply breathtaking. Your chaperone for your intimate moment will be 15 white alabaster-like female statues entitled the “Earth Goddess” they are the handiwork of artist Jean-Philippe Richard. For more pics of these masterworks, please visit our facebook site.
View from top of Eze
Français : Chateau de La Napoule (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Castle Kissing
-One of the quirkiest places we have visited is the Chateau De La Napoule. It is one of those off the beaten path treasures that make couple travel wonderful. We love it for the love story associated with it. The castle perched on the edge of the sea was constructed in the late 14th century for the Countess of Villeneuve. Since its construction it has been added to and renovated a number of times. In the 19th century it was converted into a glass factory. By 1900 the Chateau had fallen into neglect and disrepair. In 1918, an American couple Henry Clew Jr. and Marie Clew saw potential in the location, purchased the property. They fell in love with its charming location amongst cedars and eucalyptus trees.
Henry Clew Jr. was a renowned sculptor, and son of one of the richest bankers of the mid 1800s. Chateau de La Napoule was a labor of love between Henry and Marie. Marie focused on creating the wonderful gardens surrounding the property and Henry tackled placing crazy sculptures and reliefs in every nook and corner of the castle. As the story goes after Henry’s passing, during WWII the Nazi’s occupied the home and Marie disguise herself as a maid and continued to serve at the Chateau to be close to her husband’s memory.
Ornate door of Chateau de La Napoule
The castle in now owned and operated by the La Napoule Art Foundation. They host a number of art events including an artist in residence program. Tours of the home and gardens are available. The tour and stroll through the gardens are highly recommended.
But what about the kissing? We are saving the best part for last. Framing one of the entryways of the Chateau is a sign “Once upon a time”. Find a willing tourist to take the picture, center yourselves under the sign and Smooch! What a story book picture for you adventure in Nice!
Make your own fairy tale
These are three of our best recommendations for Kissing in Nice. We could have an entire blog dedicated to “French Kissing”! Here is some help to find Nice hotels in central locations. Nice has so much to offer couple travels. Have you been to Nice? Did we miss a great kissing location? Is there a wonderful street side cafe you could recommend? Please leave us a comment below.
We are Mike and Luci.