In case you are frustrated by the weather - too dark, too cold, too uncomfortable - just take a mental trip looking for the perfect holiday spot for the next year. We have got a suggestion: How about the French Riviera? With more than 300 days of sunshine yearly the eastern French Mediterranean coast is a dream-like location  for short and longer outings, starting in spring and ending in autumn. In March already the average temperature is convenient 18 °C. 

The popular image of the French Riviera is very one-dimensional. Most of us have on their mind a long coastline with promenades on which the latest fashion and the most expensive jewellery is shown off by more or less prominent people. Offshore anchor expensive yachts, prestige objects that have never seen choppy water. 

But in reality the French Riviera is a region full of contrasts: the Mediterranean Sea next to snow covered mountains, glamorous sea resorts next to nearly unknown villages, a national park next to numerous sights and an eventful cultural program.   

Close to St. Tropez, the famous hotspot for artists and the high society, you find Ramatuelle. In the middle of a typical Provencal landscape - hills grown with pines and fertile lowlands - the medieval village is situated with its small streets. On the antique open stage at Ramatuelle a yearly festival for classical music, the Festival de Théâtre et Variété de Ramatuelle, is held. Just a few steps from the beach and in the middle of a huge park you will find the Romantik Hotel La Ferme d'Augustin. Until early afternoon you are served a delicious breakfast with home-made water melon jam. Enjoy the typical Provencal delicacies and the wines from the home-own vinery. 

Saint-Raphaël is situated half-way between Cannes and Saint Tropez and is sea resort and winter spa at the same time. Here the coastline is dominated by red rocks coming out of the sea. Visit the daily flower and fruit market and have a look at the church of San Raféu, which - from an architectural point of view - reminds of a templer church. On the hills you will find the Romantik Hotel La Chêneraie, built in 1890 in Victorian style. Close by there are various golf courses and the hotel itself has a beautiful pool area and a spacious garden.

Not far from the famous perfume city of Grasse is Saint Paul de Vence. Many artists have settled in this medieval village with its well-preserved fortress, which is today visited by crowds of tourists. A country house from the 18th century is home to the Romantik Hotel La Grande Bastide. Decorative details, chosen with love, and the beautiful panoramic view make your stay unforgettable. 

The town of Aups, sometimes called "gateway to Verdon", is to be found on the foothills of the Alps. Besides tourism the most important sources of income are the production of olive oil, the search for truffles and beekeeping. Every two weeks the famous Provencal market attracts visitors from near and far.  In the middle of beautiful nature the Romantik Hotel Bastide du Calalou is situated. Antique furniture and modern art form a harmonic symbioses in this county house, the atmosphere is familiar and friendly. Enjoy the clear, fresh air and the straight-forward, authentic cuisine.

For hundreds of years the smell of lavender dominates the atmosphere at Sault, the town on the edge of a wooded plateau. Spacious blue fields surround the village and in the summer a special festival is held for the flavoursome plant. The medical plant is not only used as moothproofing but also as antiseptic. The guest rooms of the Romantik Hotel Hostellerie du Val de Sault combine typical features of the Provence and of Asia. Relax far away from the daily business and let yourself be pampered with culinary delights - remember: truffles are called the "black diamond of the Provence".

You see: The French Riviera and the surrounding areas have much more to offer than overpriced restaurants, "more style than substance", expensive fashion shops, film festivals, stars. Take a round trip through the Romantik hotels and get to know another side of the French Riviera. Experience relaxation, enjoyment, activity, art and culture in perfect harmony and get some special tips from the Romantik hoteliers.  

How to get there:

The international airports in Nice and Marseille make travelling to the French Riviera convenient. Another way of travelling is by using the so called "Mediterranean TGV", which takes you several times a day in just 3 hours from Paris to Marseille. The cities on the coast are easily accessible by public transport. To get to know the smaller villages and the unspoilt countryside you have to hire a car.