The French Mediterranean Cerbere to Menton

January 17, 2008

The south coastline of France runs from Spain to Italy, with Monaco interrupting this near the Italian border.

Today I was in Cerbere, right on the Spanish border and I thought I would write an occasional article about each coastal town as I visit them - Cerbere to Collouire, like the other end of Mediterranean France, Nice to Menton, it is an area where the mountains scrabble down into the Mediterranean with dramatic bays, peninsulars and super scenery - real postcard stuff.

Today the sea was azur blue and the sky like a pigeons egg - then it rained (it is January)

Cerbere was closed - one dingy cafe was open, the streets were empty and the parking meters covered over - it would be a great place to retire to, like if you really plan to do nothing, ever, in winter.

There were no boats, this is because there is a submarine pen or something military underwater around the bay, so boats bigger than a matchbox are banned it seems.

Houses cling to the rocks like seagulls nests and construction of many more apartments and terraced houses seems to be the only activity - I can see why, it is a spectacular setting, great position, good communications, close to Spain for cheap ciggys, booze and fuel - as well as tapas and headache wine.

Property prices are the lowest on this corniche which makes them the lowest in France for this sort of location - but the new cote d’Azure it ain’t - not yet - so if you like a quiet life with great stuff only twenty minutes away, Cerbere is the best buy, with fantastic views - but until the submarines go, it will lack the same energy all the other ports have along the coast.