Are you going away for the weekend and are looking for alternatives to the classic weekend-cites? Try the French Riviera – and find not only extravagance but also genuine treasures of the Mediterranean and spectacular nature scenes.

There are many popular cities along the Riviera: Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Monaco just to mention a few. Antibes and Juan-les-Pins are two cities grown together right between the two big shots Nice and Cannes. Combine culture in Antibes with shopping and trendy nightlife in Juan-les-Pins. Home to one of the largest jazz festivals, during the summer. In the west of the Riviera, just outside of Marseille you'll find Cassis – a genuine Mediterranean treasure. The harbour is so small that large cruise ships can't enter and there is an absence of the largest and most extreme yachts. The best (and cheapest) version of the local fish soup, bouillabaisse is found in the back streets of the harbour. Who said that a weekend at the Riviera has to be all sun and sea? You don't have to travel far to find one of the most spectacular nature scenes in France – the river and ravine Verdon. This is in fact the second largest ravine in the world, next to Grand Canyon in USA. The ravine is as deep as 700 metres in the most dramatic parts between the villages Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Follow the mountain-roads from Grasse to Castellane to get there. Have a look at member photos from France