Living in Saint-Paul de Vence and the Nice Hinterland

Away from the buzz of the Azure Coast’s coastline, the Nice hinterland reveals another side of the Côte d’Azur: more discreet, more natural, infinitely more soothing. Nestled among perched villages, wooded valleys, alpine panoramas, and scents of the garrigue, this region captivates with its authenticity and gentle way of life. Here, you find what the Côte d’Azur offers at its best: space, silence, incomparable light, and a rare proximity to everything (the beaches, ski resorts, major cities) without ever sacrificing tranquility.

It is a land of balance, between art and heritage, preserved nature and refinement, where time seems to stand still.

Saint-Paul de Vence and the Loup Valley

Provençal elegance, artistic heritage, and the art of living

Between sea and mountains, Saint-Paul de Vence, La Colle-sur-Loup, Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, and Gourdon form an exceptional territory, emblematic of the Côte d’Azur’s art de vivre. Just a few kilometers from the beaches, Nice’s international airport, and the Côte d’Azur’s major cultural hubs, this preserved valley enchants with its untouched beauty, absolute calm, and remarkable cultural heritage.

Saint-Paul de Vence, a quintessential artists’ village, is world-renowned for its cobbled streets, ramparts built under François I, art galleries, the legendary Colombe d’Or, and the famous Fondation Maeght, a leading center for modern and contemporary art in Europe. This village, frequented by Matisse, Chagall, and Picasso, is also a refined living place, full of charm and discretion. Here, one savors the art of dining at Alain Llorca, a much-loved gastronomic address set against the hills.

At its feet, La Colle-sur-Loup unfolds a bucolic landscape of wooded hills, pines, olive trees, and lemon trees. This former medieval seigneury, crossed by the Loup river, offers a peaceful, authentic, and preserved atmosphere.

Vence, perched on a natural promontory, combines cultural vitality with a gentle climate. A city of art and history, it boasts a Romanesque cathedral, colorful markets, numerous galleries, and the Vence Museum, Fondation Émile Hugues. It attracts both culture lovers and nature enthusiasts with its open panoramas and high quality of life.

Tourrettes-sur-Loup, known as the City of Violets, extends this spirit of authenticity and understated elegance. This perched village with medieval architecture charms with its artisan workshops, festivals, and sweeping views over the Loup gorges. Properties here are often nestled in greenery, offering absolute tranquility.

Higher up, perched on a rocky ridge, Gourdon offers one of the region’s most beautiful viewpoints. Classified among the most beautiful villages in France, it seems suspended between sky and sea. Its spectacular panorama embraces the entire Côte d’Azur, reaching to the Estérel mountain range. Gourdon attracts aesthetes and contemplatives drawn by its timeless atmosphere.

The real estate market in this sought-after region is marked by great diversity: traditional stone bastides, contemporary villas with pure lines, artists’ homes, or discreet estates on terraced hillsides, often open to the sea or the hills. Between heritage, nature, and refinement, this territory offers a rare and precious art of living, just minutes from the vibrant coastline.

Above Nice

Between peaceful hills and panoramic views, a different pace of life

Just a short distance from the coast, above the Var valley, lie the first foothills of the Nice Pre-Alps. Here, amid gentle hills, wooded valleys, and perched villages, another face of the Côte d’Azur is revealed: one of calm, space, and preserved nature. Gattières, La Gaude, Saint-Jeannet, Tourrette-Levens, Coaraze, and Peillon form a string of authentic villages, each with its own identity, rhythm, and unique charm.

Gattières enchants with its elegant simplicity, peaceful atmosphere, and clear views of the sea and surrounding hills. More discreet, this village, away from tourist flows, offers a sought-after residential setting less than 30 minutes from central Nice.

La Gaude and Saint-Jeannet, nestled at the foot of the Baou, combine a gentle lifestyle, Provençal traditions, and local dynamism. Amid vineyards, olive groves, and small markets, these villages benefit from a privileged location between sea and mountains, with quick access to the Côte d’Azur’s main thoroughfares.

Further east, the perched villages of Tourrette-Levens, Coaraze, and Peillon overlook the Mediterranean from spectacular ridges. True stone sentinels, they offer a unique living environment suspended between sky and earth, perfect for contemplation and serenity. Their narrow streets, stone houses, and wild landscapes embody the spirit of the Nice region.

The real estate market in these communities is as varied as it is appealing: charming homes, modern villas with panoramic views, restored bastides, or discreet properties surrounded by nature. Whether for a primary or secondary residence, this elevated territory attracts clients seeking space, light, and privacy, close to the sea and the city.

Peille and the Menton Valleys

Between raw nature and discreet luxury

At the eastern edge of the Alpes-Maritimes, the valleys overlooking Menton offer a spectacular setting suspended between sea and mountains. This preserved territory, at the crossroads of the Côte d’Azur and the Italian border, captivates with its authenticity, dizzying panoramas, and peaceful atmosphere just minutes from the Riviera.

Peille, a medieval village perched above Monaco, embodies the discreet elegance of these heights. Its narrow streets, stone architecture, and breathtaking views of the Alps and the Mediterranean make it an ideal refuge for those who seek calm and unspoiled landscapes.

Closer to Menton, Sainte-Agnès, Europe’s highest seaside village, overlooks the sea from nearly 800 meters altitude. Listed among France’s most beautiful villages, it combines military history, rural heritage, and absolute tranquility. Gorbio, nestled between hills and valleys, charms with its discreet atmosphere and the raw beauty of its natural surroundings.

In these valleys suspended between sky and sea, the real estate market reveals rare opportunities: village houses with intact charm, contemporary villas discreetly integrated into the terrain, and elevated properties offering unique Mediterranean views. Far from the bustle but just minutes from beaches, Monaco, and ski resorts, this distinct territory offers simple luxury focused on space, light, and nature.

The Nice Hinterland, a Preserved Art of Living

Living in the Nice hinterland means embracing a subtle and rare art of living, between Provençal elegance, preserved nature, and cultural richness. From the heights of Saint-Paul de Vence to the secret valleys of Menton, each village reveals a unique identity, a peaceful pace of life, and an aesthetic deeply rooted in the landscape. Here, luxury takes on a different form, that of silence, light, space, and unspoiled beauty. Whether you seek a charming bastide, a contemporary villa with a view, or a property nestled in a natural setting, this territory offers a lifestyle that is both discreet, inspiring, and accessible, just steps from the coast.

Looking to settle or invest in one of these exceptional places between sea and mountains? Our teams at Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty are ready to support you with expertise and dedication to realize your real estate projects in the Nice hinterland.