Beaulieu has popular public beaches at both ends of town. The beaches aren’t as rocky as those in Nice or other nearby resorts, but they’re still closer to gravel than sand. The longer of the two is Petite Afrique, just past the yacht harbor. It has a submerged diving platform, a beach bar, and a family-friendly atmosphere. The shorter is Baie des Fourmis, which lies beneath the casino at the foot of Cap Ferrat.
As you walk along the seafront promenade, you can see many stately Belle Epoque villas that evoke the days when Beaulieu was the height of fashion. Although you can’t go inside, you’ll see signs for Villa Namouna, which once belonged to Gordon Bennett, the owner of the “New York Herald,” and Villa Léonine, former home of the marquess of Salisbury.
The town is home to an important church, the late-19th-century Église de Sacré-Cœur, a quasi-Byzantine, quasi-Gothic mishmash at 13 bd. du Maréchal-Leclerc (tel. 04-93-01-01-46). It’s open daily 8am to 7pm.
For a memorable 90-min. walk, start north of boulevard Edouard-VII, where a path leads up the Riviera escarpment to Sentier du Plateau St-Michel. A belvedere here offers panoramic views from Cap d’Ail to the Estérel. A 1-hr.-long alternative is the stroll along promenade Maurice-Rouvier. The promenade runs parallel to the water, stretching from Beaulieu to St-Jean. On one side you’ll see the most elegant mansions in well-landscaped gardens, including the pink palace of former resident David Niven on place Niven; on the other, views of the Riviera landscape and the peninsular point of St-Hospice.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
