As summer ascends upon us, pretty much everyone knows about the French Riviera and all that it has to offer this time of the year. The food, the weather, the lovely villages stretched across the coastline – and, of course, the five-star hotels. Few, however, are aware of the magnificent swimming pools that these luxury establishments offer up – each and every one as enchanting as the area it calls home. Odds are that you’re spending a week or two in the Côte d’Azur pretty soon, so we’ve put together a short list of the best places to make a splash this summer.
LA PISCINE DE L’HÔTEL DU CAP-EDEN-ROC, AU CAP D’ANTIBES
The views along the coast are reason enough to be here – and the Eden Roc sure makes the most of them. Located in Antibes, this pool is dynamited right into the rock, overlooking the Med and providing a unique view stretching from Juan Les Pins to the red rocks of Esterel and the matchless Lérin Islands. Once you’ve dried up, Eden Roc also happens to be one of our favourite hotels in the whole world.
LA RÉSERVE DU BEAULIEU & SPA
The Réserve De Beaulieu & Spa, facing the Mediterranean, also offers a stunning 200 sqm pool filled with sea water, lined by deckchairs that signal you to stretch out and relax. Historic guests include characters such as Winston Churchill and Pablo Picasso, and we can sure see why.
HOTEL CAP ESTEL
Tucked away in lush scenery between Nice and Monte Carlo, the understated luxury and privacy of Cap Estel almost contradicts its exciting past. Originally built in 1900 by a notorious Irish novelist, it was converted into a hotel in the 1950s – quickly becoming a favourite haunt for famous faces like The Beatles, Greta Garbo and Sir Laurence Olivier. The hotel, one of our absolute favourites (not just in the area – but globally) also happens to feature one of the nicest infinity pools in the area – and a private beach at that!
GRAND-HÔTEL DU CAP-FERRAT
The announcement last year that Four Seasons will assume management of the spectacular Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, built in 1908 and surrounded by immaculate grounds and pine woods, at the tip of what is arguably the loveliest peninsula on the Côte d’Azur, will have delighted everyone who cares about grand hotels. Apart from heavenly pine-scented gardens and impressive public spaces of polished white marble, it (quite naturally) features an olympic-sized heated sea water infinity pool down – still presided over by the venerable 84 year old Pierre Grüneberg, swimming teacher to the stars (among them Aristotle Onassis, Ralph Lauren, and Stella McCartney).
Enjoy! And wear sunscreen!