Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St. Michael's Church
The town church, a few blocks up Rue de l'Eglise from the harbor, features an 18th-cen-
tury organ and a fine statue of a recumbent Christ—carved, they say, from a fig tree by a
galley slave in the 1600s.
Seafront Walks
A seaside walkway originally used by customs agents to patrol the harbor leads under the
citadel and connects the old town with the workaday harbor (Port de la Darse). At the port
you'll find a few cafés, France's Institute of Oceanography (an outpost for the University
of Paris oceanographic studies), and an 18th-century dry dock. This scenic walk turns
downrightromanticafterdark.YoucanalsowandertheotherdirectionalongVillefranche-
sur-Mer'swaterfrontandcontinuebeyondthetrainstationforpostcard-perfectviewsback
to Villefranche-sur-Mer (ideal in the morning—go before breakfast). You can even extend
your walk to Cap Ferrat (the wooded peninsula across the bay from Villefranche).
Sleeping in Villefranche-sur-Mer
You have a handful of good hotels to choose from in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The ones I list
have sea views from at least half of their rooms—well worth paying extra for.
$$$ Hôtel Welcome**** easily has the best location in Villefranche-sur-Mer,
anchored right on the water in the old town, with all 35 balconied rooms overlooking
the harbor. The lobby opens to the water, and the mellow wine bar lowers my pulse.
You'll pay top price for all the comforts in this smart hotel (standard Db-€218, “comfort”
Db-€275, “superior” Db-€340, suites-€340 and up, breakfast-€17, air-con, elevator, park-
ing garage-€45/day with reservation, 3 Quai Amiral Courbet, tel. 04 93 76 27 62,
www.welcomehotel.com , resa@welcomehotel.com ).
$$ Hôtel La Flore*** is a fair value if your idea of sightseeing is to enjoy the view
from your spacious bedroom deck (most rooms have one) or the pool. It's a 15-minute
uphill hike from the old town, but the parking is free, and the bus stops for Nice and
Monaco are close (Db with no view-€100-145, Db with view and deck-€140-160, larger
Db with even better view and bigger deck-€170-212, Db mini-suite-€220, Qb loft with
huge terrace-€220, extra bed-€34, breakfast-€12, 15 percent cheaper Oct-March, check
website for deals, air-con, elevator; just off main road high above harbor—go 2 blocks
from TI toward Nice to 5 Boulevard Princesse Grace de Monaco; tel. 04 93 76 30 30,
www.hotel-la-flore.fr , infos@hotel-la-flore.fr ) .
$$ Hôtel la Fiancée du Pirate*** is a family-friendly refuge that's best suited
for drivers, as it's high above Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Middle Corniche (although it
is on bus lines #82 and #112 to Eze-le-Village and Nice, and also served by minibus
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