Monaco, "The Rock," is a tiny sovereign city-state on cliffs above the Mediterranean. Famous for Prince Rainier's marriage to Grace Kelly, it draws the elite to events like the Monaco Yacht Show, the Rose Ball, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Its history lives in the 1646 Chapel of Mercy, the Cathedral, the Belle Époque Casino by Charles Garnier, and the 16th-century Major Ramp. Modern towers and Renzo Piano's sea-built Mareterra district point to the future. Time seems to stand still here.

1955: And God Created Woman, Brigitte Bardot, and Saint-Tropez. The film's success made BB a myth and the village a legend. Royals, artists, writers, and stars soon flocked there. "Saint-Trop'" became the heart of laid-back chic, loved for its beaches, old port, narrow streets, Place des Lices pétanque, the Voiles regatta, Sénéquier coffee, and its iconic sandals. Trends change; Saint-Tropez endures as a way of life.

Marseille is bold, alive, and unmistakably southern. France's oldest city, it's a mix of aioli, pastis, and navettes, shaped by the mistral and watched over by the Bonne Mère (Notre-Dame de la Garde). In its neighborhoods, people debate politics, rap, and football. Feel its pulse at La Canebière, the Old Port, and Le Prado; visit the MuCEM, gaze at Château d'If, explore the Calanques, and see Le Corbusier's Radiant City. An ancient, ever-changing mosaic of cultures.