Swimsuits? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Sun cream? Check. Umbrella? What???? When planning your holiday to the French Riviera you expected a week of sun, sea and sand, it is after all the beginning of September, normally the heat is scorching in the South of France at this time of year. You expected to be able to rent boats and enjoy the Riviera how it is meant to be enjoyed, by sea. What you didn’t expect was freezing cold temperatures and thunderstorms in the middle of the day! But it’s too late; you are here now so what do you do? Hiring a boat over the next few days is out of the question however luckily there is more to the Côte d’Azur than the beautiful beaches and the crystal clear sea.

Why not appreciate some of the vast and varied art and culture that the French Riviera has to offer. The museums along the Côte d’Azur are second to none and often overlooked by the passing tourist. Nice has some spectacular art museums including le Musée Matisse and the MAMAC (Musée d’Arte Moderne et d’Arte Contemporaine) which constantly has new exhibitions to be enjoyed. If you are here with your family and don’t fancy dragging the kids around a traditional museum then why not go for something a bit more hands on like the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco, a giant aquarium filled with all kinds of fish! Then there is also the le Souterroscope de Baume Obscure with its spectacular caves combining shapes, sounds and light allowing you to discover the magic and poetry of the deep earth.

Don’t worry though the weather won’t be all doom and gloom for the entire time that you are here. By Thursday it will be back to normal with glorious sunshine and soaring temperatures!