Property Sales Office Vence Nice

Vence - Nice  Riviera Property Sales

The Coast and Country sector Vence – Nice comprises the eastern part of the Cote d’Azur department in the south of France. It encompasses what people always think of as being the real French Riviera. Our property sales area runs along the Riviera coast from Menton by the Italian border, through many beautiful towns and villages such as Villefranche sur Mer, Saint Jean Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu sur Mer to the east of Nice, and then on to Villeneuve Loubet on the Baie des Anges to the west of Nice. To the north it includes the town of Vence and the typical Provence villages of St Paul and Tourrettes sur Loup. Nathalie Finaz-Buchan is in charge of sales in this area.
The centre of the sector is of course Nice, which is the fifth largest city in France and the capital of the French Alpes Maritimes. With a population of over 400,000 and the second busiest airport in France, the city that was once dominated by tourism is now a fully functioning metropolis all year round and deserves its title of Queen of the Cote d’Azur. In a stunning setting just twenty five miles from the Italian frontier, Nice has only been part of France since 1860 and still combines the best of both Italian and French influences. The English played a large role in the development of Nice as a holiday resort - the Promenade des Anglais was constructed by the English in 1822 and many of the hotels that line it still have names like the West End and the Westminster. The promenade is the natural place to begin a tour of Nice, which, despite its size, is very much a city to be seen on foot.
Nice is in many ways the envy of the rest of France. Public transport is good as are the city’s universities and schools. Below the city, a huge network of cheap underground car parks means that Nice does has fewer the parking problems than other cities its size. The residents of Nice celebrate their love of the city with a Carnival in February that attracts huge numbers of visitors. Nice has large cultural programme all year round with concerts, exhibitions and plays most of which are free. There are several wonderful art museums and the shopping is excellent also with pedestrian areas as well as traditional tree-lined avenues.
Old Nice is very much the heart of the city. Small, dark, narrow streets filled with tall houses separated by pretty colourful squares. The old town is currently being restored with amazing results - buildings and churches are being returned to their original vibrant colours and the streets are now full of small shops selling antiques and local specialities. Between the old town and the sea, the Cours Saleya is the location of Nice’s main market. Every day except Monday, this square is full of stalls selling food and flowers. On Mondays antiques replace the olives and roses as dealers come from all around to sell anything from old phone cards to furniture. There is also a fish market six days a week in the Place St Francois. Many people search for apartments on sale in this area so as to be at the centre of activity.
The port of Nice has a yacht marina and regular ferry services to Corsica. There are some attractive old high-ceilinged apartments with sea views on sale around this Riviera port
For those seeking less of the hectic French Riviera lifestyle and something more typical of Provence you do not have to go far inland to find a change of atmosphere. In Vence, for example, life is already less hurried and a wander around the old town is very relaxing. In the summer a favourite activity is to watch one of the numerous open-air concerts during “Les Nuits du Sud” , seated comfortably in a restaurant in the main square of Vence, surrounded by historic property.
For those seeking magnificent sea and countryside views there are super Riviera houses for sale near the Col de Vence, just a short drive from the Vence center. There you find 180° views stretching from the Italian Alps to the Gulf of St Tropez, and at night the lights from the plain below have a fairy-like quality.
Just a short distance away from Vence the atmosphere changes yet again with the fortified villages of St Paul and Tourrettes sur Loup. Both retain their historic quality but while St Paul attracts the crowds, Tourrettes is much quieter. In both there are typical village houses on sale, but around Tourrette the choice of property is much wider and also includes small houses on sheltered domains as well larger Riviera properties with pool and olive groves, the real Provence;
Whatever property you wish to buy, be it a Riviera house or a Provence style village house, an apartment or an estate, Coast and Country will take delight in finding the property you wish for.