The French Riviera is the summer playground of the rich and famous

From Bardot to the Beckhams, the French Riviera has long been the fashionable summer resort of choice among the rich, famous and famously rich.

Also known as the Côte d'Azur (Azure Coast), this glitzy stretch of Mediterranean coast takes in the towns of Cannes, Nice, Monaco and St-Tropez.

Prime time for celebrity-spotting is during the prestigious Cannes film festival in May, when the global film industry elite descends in a whirlwind of publicity and photo opportunity.

The wealth sparkles year-round however - mega-yachts bob offshore in the harbours of one-time fishing villages - while inland is an equally glittering world of luxury villas, chic restaurants and exclusive nightclubs.

Everyone can look like a star in this golden Mediterranean light - if you don't fancy your chances as a blagger, just don your largest sunglasses and soak up the glamour.

The French Riviera enjoys approximately 300 sunny days a year. June to August are the hottest months but even in winter the temperature hovers around 20°C. The Rivieria is less than three hours from Paris by high-speed rail. There are also regular flights into the busy international airport in Nice.