Just whisper "French Riviera", and you'll hear sighs, see eyes glaze over with dreamy, far-away gazes into the distance, and perhaps an accompanying "ooooh", "aaaah" or "oh-la-laaaa"... Do it, and you'll see. The Côte d'Azur is one of the most sigh-worthy travel destinations in the history of ever; not just in Europe, but in the entire world. But have you ever wondered why?

This Mediterranean paradise is not only a playground for the rich & glam, dripping with beautiful people, private jets, water toys and mega yachts, but also a picture-perfect postcard immersed in a rich history and sprinkled with colourful towns, beaches, villas (regular people too! ) and legendary allure - all the way from St. Tropez to Monaco. Keep going East past Monaco and you'll find yourself next door on the Italian Riviera - but that's another blog post.

So how did the French Riviera become THE French Riviera? How did this mythical destination find itself at the top of most people's "must see" bucket list? Few people are aware of how artists created, shaped, and spread the myth of the French Riviera - equating the Côte d'Azur, (and The South of France) with beauty, culture, and a green-with-envy-worthy lifestyle for the rich and famous.

Long before the South of France became a symbol of glamour and sun-soaked allure—evoking images of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief (1955) or Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon on the beaches of Saint-Tropez—this region drew a very different type of traveller.

How The French Riviera Became... THE French Riviera: The Art and Artists That Shaped The Myth

Art & Asthma: The Start Of The World's Most Famous Promenade

In the 1700's and 1800s, the French Riviera attracted Russian and English royalty and aristocrats, along with wealthy Americans seeking its mild Mediterranean climate, health cures, and luxurious winter vacations. They built grand villas and estates, hosting lavish parties that brought together the bourgeoisie, actors, artists, writers, and influential thinkers.

Inspired by my many walks along Nice's famous Promenade des Anglais, I created this personification of nostalgic elegance of a bygone era through this modern-vintage artwork:  Secrets By The Sea. You can read more about my creative process and inspiration of this artwork here. 

But why did they flock here in the first place? Have you ever wondered why The Promenade des Anglais in Nice is one of the world's most celebrated boulevards? What began as a winter health resort for the British upper class in the 1700's was all because of a book by Tobias Smollet: a Scottish a novelist, historian and travel writer.

Tobias Smollett first ignited British interest in the region that is now known as the French Riviera with his 1766 work, Travels through France and Italy. This book, among the earliest English accounts to highlight Nice, is often credited with inspiring the longstanding British fascination with the region.

What began as a quest to cure asthma would unexpectedly lay the foundation for one of history's most iconic travel campaigns.

Smollett’s asthma improved significantly: "since my arrival in Nice, I have breathed more freely than I have in years, and my spirits are more lively." The climate was exceptional. “For several months on end, there is nothing overhead but a delightful, unblemished blue sky,” he wrote, meticulously recording daily temperatures.

Intrigued by his descriptions, members of the British royal family began visiting Nice, transforming it into a fashionable destination. Soon, wealthy travelers followed, establishing a British enclave in the new part of town along the Paillon River.

When an unusual frost in the 1820s destroyed the orange and lemon trees that had once enchanted Smollett, British residents sought to aid local workers impacted by the loss. In doing so, they funded the creation of a broad seaside pathway, offering sweeping views of the beautiful Baie des Anges. This path would become the famous Promenade des Anglais. 

Et voilà, we have our answer. The Prom owes its existence to asthma, a book, and a shortage of citrus fruits.

La Belle Époque (Late 1800 - 1930's)

During the Belle Époque ("The Beautiful Era" and Europe's Golden Age), famous figures like Coco Chanel, Salvador Dali, Picasso, and Hollywood stars mingled with political leaders like Winston Churchill and the Prince of Wales, creating a vibrant social scene filled with glamour and creativity.

Before summer vacations became popular for the general public in the 1930s, this elite crowd built golf courses, casinos, and stylish villas along the coast from Antibes to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, where Coco Chanel had her summer house.

Chanel's villa was called "La Pausa", where she would spend her summers and non-working months before the war, and welcomed some of the biggest artists of the time such as Jean Cocteau, Serge Lifar, Salvador Dali, Pierre Bonnard and great thinkers like Winston Churchill. Chanel had singlehandedly designed, built and decorated the interiors in quintessential Chanel style, then threw some legendary parties there for her creative and interesting friends.

They drank champagne and partied until early mornings, and she had chauffeurs on standby to drive them all down to the beaches in Menton, then a sleepy fishing village, to swim off the champagne and rest up for the next evening's party. The villa was recently acquired by the House of Chanel.

One of the most fascinating books I've read is a historical novel by Anne de Courcy: Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival on the Côte d'Azur, 1930-1944. It paints a very vivid and entertaining picture of life on the French Riviera and Coco Chanel's entourage, life, creativity and epic parties during this time. This book depicts life on the Côte d'Azur during incredible highs and terrifying lows, where opulent parties and celebrity glamour were soon overshadowed by the hardships of World War II. I highly recommend it. 

Between creating legendary works of art, design and literature, this talented and eclectic group of artists and thinkers popularized tanning, indulged in luxurious lifestyles, and partied late into the night. Although the war years temporarily dimmed the Riviera's opulence, the region remained a favourite destination for society's shiny people.

This monochrome, detailed architectural drawing of the Negresco Hotel in Nice is my homage to  an iconic Belle Epoque building sitting like a white jewel on the Promenade des Anglais... and also one of my top favourite buildings in the world.  The Negresco  has a rich history filled with glamorous people, art, parties, and love-stories - and it owes its existence and name to a fellow Romanian :) You can read about this drawing in more detail here. 

In the 1930's, after paid vacations were institutionalized for regular people and workers in France, the notion of "summer vacation", as we know it, was born. With their summers now free and filled with imagery of paradise in the south propagated by the arts, ordinary people began flocking the beaches in the South. And while the rich had to share the coast, the French Riviera's allure remained undiminished.

Inspired by the quintessential French Riviera marinière motifs (blue and white striped patterns now associated with a nautical, beachside aesthetic on the Côte d'Azur), this beachy artwork pays homage to the endless stripes on stripes, blue and white beach umbrellas, beach clubs, and summer relaxation along the Mediterranean. I created the Sun Kissed And Salty artwork using a mix of drawing, painting and mixed media collage. You can find out more about this beachy art here.

The Timeless Charm Of The French Riviera, And How It Influenced Famous Artists and Modern Art: A Very Brief History (With A Little Bit of Juicy Gossip)  

What drew these talented artists to the South of France in the first place, and why did the art they created there in turn become so famous around the world? 

The very simple answer is that the artists who flocked here were attracted by the colours and the light in the Mediterranean, where everything felt so ALIVE... and they stayed because this environment fuelled their art, creativity and inspiration, allowing them to create in new and innovative ways. 

Here are some major art movements and fun cultural history that flourished in the South of France, and added to its allure.

1800's: Impressionists & Post-Impressionists Defying The Rules In The South Of France 

The Impressionists were rebels: they went against all the academic rules of painting, and focused on painting outdoors spontaneously "on the spot" rather than relying on studio work from sketches, capturing landscapes and everyday life as their main subjects, focusing on light and impressions rather than academic, realistic artwork that was considered "proper art". 

1900’s: Matisse And Fauvism ( "Wild Beasts", They Said): The Power Of Colour

1920’s – 1960’s: Great Gatsby, Picasso, Gambling & Sunbathing 

In the 1920s, the French Riviera became a creative modern art hub and it was during this decade that the image of the Côte d'Azur as we know it today was truly born. The Riviera  attracted artists and literary figures like Picasso, Jean Cocteau, and Ernest Hemingway. The roaring 20's also brought with them American actors, silverscreen Hollywood stars, singers and musicians during the Jazz age - and this art set liked to party!

Essentially, the Côte d'Azur was shaped by the artistic expats of the 1920s - think Art Deco, casinos, gambling, roaring 20's, jazz and glitzy glam dance parties. No one embraced the Côte d’Azur as intimately as F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of the Great Gatsby. The iconic novelist lived extravagantly on the Riviera, leaving an indelible impression on the region. From the dazzling summer scenes to the exclusive guest lists, it’s still Fitzgerald’s Riviera soirée we long to join. And the party is far from over—whether or not you’re on the list. 

Picasso, with his wife Olga, frequented southern hotspots like Antibes and Cannes, popularizing the concept of "sunbathing" through their extravagant beach parties.

Me with my adventure-loving friend from Paris, Steph, on one of our first trips discovering Paloma Beach and the incredible gems hidden along St. Jean Cap Ferrat, shortly after we had moved to the French Riviera. Our smiles say it all. (I had no idea at this point that this beach is named after Picasso's daughter, or anything about the fact he had spent a lot of time here. Or all the drama this involved for his poor girlfriends and muses). 

And here's yet another juicy bite: after separating from his wife Olga in 1935, Picasso continued to visit the Riviera, never divorcing her to protect his assets. He found renewed inspiration after WWII with his mistress Françoise Gilot, and his subsequent mistress Dora Maar, followed by countless of his "other" women, who became his muses.

To learn more about Picasso and his time spent on the French Riviera, the art he created here and how he created his famous Wailing Woman series, I highly recommend the historical ficiton novel "The Paris Muse", by Louisa Treger. Set in Paris and along the French Riviera, where Dora Maar and Pablo spent holidays among their glamorous artist friends, this account offers a captivating glimpse into Picasso's life, and his art - as told through the perspective of one of his muses. It reveals how his genius allowed him to sidestep conventions—not only in his art but also in his personal relationships. You won't be able to put it down.  

Nowadays, you can find Picasso’s works in various museums and galleries along the coast, and you can trace Picasso’s footsteps by visiting the towns where he lived and worked—Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Paul de Vence, Vallauris, and Mougins.

Experiencing the charm of these French Riviera locations adds depth to the appreciation of the art he created during his time on the Côte d’Azur. You don't have to like the man, as we can all agree he was he was horrible to women... but love him or hate him, his artistic output was unparalleled, and the artist's art and influence on the French Riviera is significant.

This graphic, glammy portrait was my way of encapsulating the glamorous allure of  the Côte d'Azur: French Riviera Beach Style  is a stylish visual allegory of the reputation of the Rivera as a playground for the rich, famous, beautiful and stylish sparkly people of the world. You can read about the creative process and inspiration in creating this portrait here.