Valbonne is an incredibly charming village near Nice in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France.
May 14-30, 2025
Valbonne (“the good valley”) is home to Sophia-Antipolis, where Alex will be working starting on July. It has an old town center built on a checkerboard urban plan (streets intersect at right angles) dating from the early 16th century. It is perfectly restored and maintained and a delight to visit.
The door to my tiny AirBnB apartment, right in the middle of the village.
The Renaissance arcaded square
Valbonne is less than 30 minutes by car from Nice, Cannes, Antibes, and definitely worth a visit when you’re in Côte d’Azur. It’s full of good restaurants and charming stores selling cheese, chocolate, fashion, decor, antiques and more.
For someone spending many days here like me, there are plenty of trails to explore around the village while listening to French lessons on the phone.