Paris for the houses, the palaces and the Place Vendôme; the Côte d’Azur for the summer; Courchevel and Megève for the winter; Bordeaux and Burgundy for the cellar. France is where luxury was codified, and it still runs on the same manners.
Stay
- Ritz Paris, Le Bristol, Cheval Blanc Paris
- Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Cap d’Antibes
- La Réserve Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez
- Cheval Blanc Courchevel, Les Airelles
Shop
- Rue Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne, Paris
- Place Vendôme for jewelry
- Cannes La Croisette
- Antique dealers at the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
Dine
- Plénitude at Cheval Blanc, Arpège, Le Cinq in Paris
- La Vague d’Or, Saint-Tropez
- Mirazur, Menton
- Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc Courchevel
Gavalia’s rules
- Book Riviera restaurants and beach clubs weeks ahead in July and August; the season is short and full.
- A Paris apartment with a view of a monument is a lifelong asset; buy through a notaire with a lawyer of your own.
- In the Alps, Courchevel 1850 is the address, Megève the charm, Val d’Isère the skiing.
Paris
The Place Vendôme is the centre of the jewelry world; Avenue Montaigne and Rue Saint-Honoré hold every house that matters; the palaces (Ritz, Bristol, Crillon, Plaza Athénée, Cheval Blanc, George V) compete on service in a way no other city can match. Stay on the Right Bank for the houses and the museums, on the Left Bank for the galleries and the quiet. Three days is a weekend, a week is a life.
The Riviera
From Saint-Tropez to Menton, the Côte d’Azur is the summer capital of luxury: Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc for the legend, the Cap-Ferrat villas for the privacy, Monaco next door for the harbour, Cannes for the festival. The season runs from the Monaco Grand Prix in May to the Régates Royales in September. Charter a yacht for a week and see it from the water.
The Alps
Courchevel 1850 has more palace hotels per square kilometre than anywhere on earth, the best ski-in ski-out chalets and the highest prices. Megève is the charming alternative, Val d’Isère the skier’s choice, Chamonix the mountaineer’s. The season is December to April; chalets are booked a year ahead for Christmas and February.
Wine and country
Bordeaux for the châteaux and the en-primeur campaign, Burgundy for the smallest and most expensive vineyards in the world, Champagne for the houses. The Luberon and the Alpilles in Provence for a stone house with a pool; the Dordogne and the Loire for a château. Country property in France is slow to sell and rewarding to own.
The property market
Prime Paris apartments 20,000 to 40,000 euros per square metre; Cap d’Antibes and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat villas 20,000 to 50,000; Courchevel 1850 chalets 30,000 to 60,000.
Regions in France
Try it yourself
Destination MatcherMonth, mood and budget: the three countries or regions that fit, with the season and the hotels.Villa Cost CalculatorPurchase price and country: taxes, fees, annual running costs and the ten-year total, with rental income if you let it.Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit the French Riviera?
June and September for warm sea, open restaurants and fewer crowds. July and August are the height of the season, fully booked and expensive.
How much does a villa cost on the Côte d’Azur?
From about 5 million euros for a good villa near Cannes to 20 to 100 million on Cap d’Antibes and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
What are the best luxury hotels in Paris?
The Ritz, Le Bristol, Cheval Blanc, the Four Seasons George V, the Plaza Athénée and the Crillon lead the palace category.
Share
