LOCATION
The apartment is ideally located right in the centre of the picturesque village of Theoule sur Mer. It is within walking distance of the beach, the boulangerie, other shops and restaurants and a bus stop (all about 5 to 7 minutes on foot). Being truly central,** you can dine out in the evenings, and sample the local wines, and just stroll back to the apartment.
Although very central, it is in a quiet location, in a luxurious residence, with swimming pool and sun lounging area, which enjoys beautiful views over the Bay of Cannes and the Iles de Lerins.
It is also very close (about 5 minutes on foot) to the start of the 45km of walking trails and 100km marked mountain biking and equestrian trails (100km) of the Esterel plateau, with its forests and red rocks contrasting with the blue of the mediterranean. A true nature-lover's paradise!
THE RESIDENCE
It is a small development, with a luxurious and leisurely ambiance, and impeccably maintained gardens.
There is a magnificent view from the front of the residence, looking right over the clear blue of the bay of Cannes. This is where the swimming pool, with its large lounging area is situated. The sun loungers are very comfortable, and the parasols provide excellent shade. No need to go to the beach unless you really want to!
THE APARTMENT
The living room is air conditioned with a very comfortable sofa, a small table for dining. There is a sliding door to the bedroom.
The bedroom also has air conditioning and sliding doors leading out to the small terrace which enjoys a view of the forest and the hills. It has a TV, double bed and storage cupboards..
The modern fitted kitchen has a full oven and a four plate hob, a large sink and drainer, and a washing machine. The window over the sink looks out to the forest and the hills.
The bathroom has a shower, toilet and wash hand basin all in pretty pastel colours. It has fitted pull out laundry baskets under the wash hand basin.
The entrance hall has wall mounted drawers for shoes and sandals, and there is a wardrobe and storage area just off it.
The apartment terrace has a view of the forest and the hills. There is furniture for eating and lounging on the terrace. There is also a pull out awning which provides welcome shade when the sun is at its peak.
The apartment is 25sq m, and the terrace is 7sqm.
THEOULE AND SURROUNDING AREA
Theoule is a largely undiscovered gem of the Riviera. It is very laid back, ideal for those looking for a relaxing holiday. There are no high rise developments and it retains its original village charm. You can stroll along the harbour area, admiring the views. There is a promenade along by the beach and the sea, dotted with restaurants, from gourmet style to small family run pizzerias. It is one of the few places on the Riviera where it is possible to have a relaxing apero on the beach or right beside it, without having to book in advance, or pay a fortune.
There are several beaches. My favourite is L’Aiguille , where the forest sweeps right down to the sea. It gets sunshine right up to 9pm in the height of summer. The quality of the water is excellent for swimming, and snorkeling is a pleasure.
The main street has a small Casino, a pharmacy and the usual small souvenir and artisan shops, gourmet delicatessen etc. It leads up to the lovely main square ( more restaurants) with the bus stop and ATM machine. Also in the square, is our local boulangerie, "Les Delices De Theoule" . Staff here are very friendly, it has an outside eating area, with great coffee and sandwiches, and does take away salads and plats du jour.
Just about two minutes beyond the square, you are at the start of the hiking trails in the Esterel Hills. I like to do the relatively easy walk to La Figuerette, in the morning, have a coffee on the pier, and then get the ferry boat back to Theoule ( though there is also a free shuttle bus that runs in the summer).
The ferry also does four daily trips to Cannes in the summer, and is a very convenient way to head there for a day strolling around the markets or the Rue d”Antibes.
The local buses runs to Mandelieu , la Napoule and Cannes, or to Las Trayas in the opposite direction. There is a large shopping centre ( Centre Commercial ) in Mandelieu, with a Geant Casino, Decathlon etc.
There is a train station in Theoule, but it is almost a kilometre out of the town. For most purposes, I use the bus, but if I want to travel further afield to Antibes, Nice, Monaco or in the other direction to St. Raphael, it can be very handy. You can also take the bus to Cannes, and continue on by train, as the terminus of our local bus, the 22, is just opposite the train station at Cannes.
NOTES:
Booking is from Saturday to Saturday in high season,
* WALKING/CYCLING In the ESTEREL If this is your main interest in coming to Theoule, please note that the months of May, June, September and October are probably more suitable as it is generally sunny, but not too hot (18 to 22 degrees) . However, you can cycle/walk in the summer, provided you get up early. You can always snooze in the shade at midday, you are on your holidays after all! .
* You may notice that I have stressed several times, how central this apartment is in Theoule, and how everything is accessible on foot. This is because Theoule area extends for several kilometres.. e.g properties in the port of La Figueirette, 7km away, or up in the hills can be described (accurately) as being in Theoule. However, you will need a car to drive to the shops, restaurants, bars or beaches. Paid parking is available, but can be difficult to find in the summer months, not to mention the difficulties if you want to have a glass of wine with dinner!
