Overview of the areas of Villefranche

Villefranche sur Mer is easily segmented by using the sea and main Nice to Monaco roads. The old town is bordered by the Mediterranean and the N98 Basse Corniche. Central Villefranche is the sector between the N98 and the N7 Moyenne Corniche and the Corne D'Or or Col de Villefranche is defined by the area along the Moyenne Corniche and up to the Grande Corniche high above the coast.

With it's warren of little streets and alleys Villefranche Old Town is the heart of the area. Famous for it's port side restaurants, Citadel and church squares it is a perfect location for a post prandial stroll. The properties here are very old, none of the buildings have lifts and anything above street level normally requires a climb up at least one staircase, but this all adds to the wonderful charm of the place. The view from le place d'eglise down the stairs to the sea typifies the look of this gorgeous town. Take a stroll around the outside sea wall of the Citadel and you will come across a little gem, Le Port de la Darse, another great place to buy a little pied a terre... or a big one.

Starting just up behind the Old Town, along and above the N98 is the residential area of Central Villefranche. This area is interspersed with villas, apartment buildings, windy roads and olive trees. Many of the apartments are arranged in domains with private parking, concierge services and swimming pools, offering a low maintenance way of living to those who simply want to enjoy the stunning views from their South facing terraces and balconies.

Up the steep sides of the bay even further and you will find the Nice to Monaco road, the N7. This winds along the Corne D'Or from the Col de Villefranche towards Eze Village. The views from here are the obvious attractions and a drive along this road will highlight why properties are so sought after. Living up here, some 300m above sea level offers the opportunity to sit on your balcony having dinner on a balmy summer evening, watching the incredible firework displays in the bay far below. The tranquility of the huge skyscape and the possiblilty of seeing Corsica on an autumn morning are reason enough to buy here, but the nightlife and restaurants of Nice are only minutes away.

Heading back towards Nice along the Basse Corniche and capped by an impressive fort is the exclusive forest covered cap of Mont Boron. Exclusivity and privacy are the hallmarks of this area and some of Villefranche's more famous residents live here.

Leaving Villefranche and heading towards Monaco to the East are the globally recognised towns of Beaulieu sur Mer and St Jean Cap Ferrat. Beaulieu has a great beach, wonderful hotels, a casino and beautifully manicured gardens. The mixture of villas and apartments is not immediately obvious due to the centre of the village being quite concentrated, but with its network of pathways and little roads most properties have great access to the local amenities, including the central train station.

St Jean Cap Ferrat, has the feel of exclusivity and fame running through it, and probably unjustly. This is not our of reach for everyone, the town itself has some fantastic apartments cheaper than their average equivalent in South or West London. Of course there are also the breathtaking villas with their huge gardens and gates, and price tags but this gives the whole Cap a wonderfully diverse and interesting quality. The footpath around the whole Cap is worth the two hours and can be begun or finished with lunch at one of the little waterside restaurants.