The 10 Best Hotel Pools in the South of France

by Eileen Strauss on July 17, 2022

 

 

The South of France is home to some of the world’s most magnificent resort accommodations, surpassed only by the breathtaking pools that line the Mediterranean seaside hotel grounds.   

The mythical, legendary and fabulous French Riviera, nestled between the Alps, Italy,  and the Mediterranean Sea, is a top travel destination, sought by travelers the world over. . Enjoying a mild, sunny climate all year round, the French Riviera is famous for its seaside towns and quaint villages like Cannes, Nice, Monaco, and Saint-Tropez, lively seaside resorts like Juan-les-Pins, wild landscapes of the Estérel, picturesque islands of Lérins and Porquerolles, and century-old villages like Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Èze. 

The beautiful sandy and pebbled beaches that line France’s southern shores are teeming with stunning hotels with breathtaking scenic views, chic accommodations,  and magnificent hotel pools. 

One of the first artists to discover the beauty of the French seaside, impressionist Claude Monet described it this way: “It is so beautiful, so bright, so luminous. One swims in blue air.” 

     

    

          

1) Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat 


Located between Nice and Monaco, at the tip of the beautiful Cap-Ferrat Peninsula, Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel is a French Riviera icon.  Facing the Mediterranean, the property is surrounded by a private 17-acre estate of pine trees and gardens. 

An award-winning legendary resort, the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat has hosted an array of celebs, heads of state, and artistic icons since 1908.  Open from April to October, the hotel’s famous beach club, Club Dauphin,  features an Olympic-size heated seawater pool, cabanas, and a water-edge deck. 

         

 

      

 

2) Château de La Chèvre d’Or, Èze

      

Nature’s artistic backdrops abound on the grounds of the Château de la Chèvre d’Or,  surrounded by sculpture-filled gardens, fountains, waterfalls, flowers, and tree-lined landscapes, perfumed with the scents of jasmine, bougainvillea, and roses.

Pierre Auguste Renoir, the French impressionist who was among the first to discover the artistic potential of the French southern coast’s unspoiled landscape, was inspired by the area’s magnificent flowers and fauna.  The hotel’s pool, terraces,  and fresh, tranquil spots with incredible pastel-colored views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding hillsides,  melt together to form a magical setting, like a snapshot out of a Claude Monet landscape at this French masterpiece.

            

 

     

           

3) Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

          

Gracing the southern tip of the Cap d’Antibes, the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is quintessentially French. A Riviera playground, with a stretch of private shore, parkland, pool, and pontoon, the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc was built in 1869 as a private mansion. When the property opened as a hotel in 1887,  unrivaled panoramic views from a luxurious collection of rooms, suites, and villas, discretely set among vast acres of pine trees and pristine coastline, became a luxury destination for travelers from around the globe. 

On the rocks where Marc Chagall himself once sketched, generations of families come year after year to enjoy the hotel’s warm and generous hospitality, breathtaking views, and the fabulous infinity pool carved right into seaside cliffs.  

         

 

        

 

4) Château de la Messardière

                

A 19th-century castle hotel,  perched on a quiet hillside overlooking the stunning Bay of Pampelonne, Château de la Messardière is a peaceful sanctuary where guests can bask in a home-away-from-home atmosphere while pulsing to the Saint-Tropez beat.  

Visitors can spend the day sunning at the hotel’s Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool and enjoy a sunny lunch at the poolside restaurant overlooking the bay and partake in the nightlife in the chic resort town of Saint Tropez, just minutes away. 

  

                  

     

       

 

5) La Réserve Ramatuelle

                  

You know you’ve arrived in the lap of French quintessential luxury when you first glimpse the La Réserve Ramatuelle Hotel’s stunning crescent-shaped roofline, nestled among fragrant lavender and pine trees. Located in the Côte d'Azur private La Réserve neighborhood near Saint-Tropez, this luxury accommodation offers guests a discreet, personal environment with enchanting views of the Mediterranean.

 

 

                  

          

 6) Hotel Belles Rives

 

Graciously poised above the sparkling shores of the French Riviera, Hotel Belles Rives is a legendary Art Deco mansion with sweeping sea views from rooms with impressive balconies.  Pure Mediterranean chic, guests can relax poolside, sun on the private beach, or engage in the many water sports just off the hotel’s pier. 




        

          

 

7) Althoff Villa Belrose, Saint Tropez

        

Located on the borderline between the sky and the sea, on one of the hills of Gassin, the Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose, a 5-star luxury hotel, is located on the Côte d’Azur, five minutes away from the bustling chic village of Saint Tropez.

 

               

 

        

8) Hôtel Muse Saint-Tropez, Ramatuelle

            

Encapsulating the laid-back glamor of the Riviera, MUSE Saint-Tropez is a bespoke retreat in the heart of an ecological and self-sustainable garden.

MUSE is a state of mind, a celebration of senses, tastes, and textures. Intentionally designed to evoke ultimate luxury and pleasure, nothing is left to chance at this boutique hotel in Saint-Tropez. All guest accommodations include private crystalline pools,  just a step outside of the luxury- appointed suites. 

         

 

        

 

9) Hôtel Tiara Yaktsa Côte d’Azur, Théoule-sur-Mer 

          

With the Esterel mountains as a backdrop, the pool at the Five Star Hôtel Tiara Yaktsa Côte d’Azur in the city of Théoule-Sur-Mer, offers enchanting views of the blue Mediterranean sea. Blurring the lines between the pool’s waters and the sea below, the views are among the most enchanting on the French Riviera. The former fishing port blends the deep blues of the Mediterranean with the crimson-colored cliffs, revealing a mesmerizing landscape of creeks, footpaths, and mountain passes. 

         

 

  

 

10) Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco

        

Sitting right at the heart of the action on Place du Casino, the iconic Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo offers guests an unparalleled experience, combining the magic of a legendary hotel with exceptional views of the Mediterranean. 

The ultimate in luxury, the mirror-like pool provides the perfect front-view seat to the unforgettably breathtaking scents and sights of the French Riviera. 


 






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