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Cruise to Villefranche-sur-Mer

After cruising from Toulon, we arrived at Villefranche-sur-Mer early in the morning - I managed to hop out of bed just in time to catch the sunrise - I love the quiet of the early mornings on board - no rushing to catch the latest show, and free from the crowds at mealtime - just plain appreciation of the simple things, like this sunrise (which is a misnomer by the way, as it's actually caused by the earth rotating on its axis).

Villefranche-sur-Mer is situated between Nice and Monaco, and is the most visited cruise ship port of call in France.

We disembarked onto a smaller boat which ferried us to Villefranche's old town harbour, passing the Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the way. This is a bastion fortress that was built from 1554 on behalf of Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy.

The peach coloured building on the right is the Welcome Hotel, where French artist Jean Cocteau lived: "When I look at Villefranche,I can see my youth. May Man never allow it to change."

Germaine Halap set up her restaurant in Villefranche-sur-Mer in 1938, the La Mere Germaine.

The train station in Villefranche-sur-Mer is just behind the Carpaccio Restaurant. It's only 10m by train from Villefranche to Monte Carlo. We were advised to beware of pick-pockets at the station.

Here's a photo from my trip back to our Royal Caribbean International ship, of the Ibero Cruises Grand Holidays ship.

Author: Rob Baker

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