Paddle Through History: Guided SUP Tour of Villefranche Bay｜France

Discover Villefranche-sur-Mer like never before — on foot and on the water.
This unique 2-hour guided tour combines the best of two worlds: a walk through one of the French Riviera's most charming historic towns, followed by a paddleboard adventure across one of the Mediterranean's most breathtaking bays.
Part 1 – The Historic Old Town on Foot
Your adventure begins at the Citadelle Saint-Elme, one of the finest examples of 16th-century bastioned fortress architecture in Europe — so well-designed that even Vauban fought to preserve it. From there, your guide leads you through the narrow cobblestone streets of Villefranche's old town, past the ornate Église Saint-Michel and its life-size Christ sculpted by a galley prisoner, and into the mysterious Rue Obscure — a centuries-old covered gallery that once served as a military patrol path.
You'll end the walking portion at the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, the fishermen's chapel beautifully decorated by artist Jean Cocteau, overlooking the picturesque harbour that was once the only maritime gateway of the Duchy of Savoy.
Part 2 – Paddleboard Along Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Then it's time to hit the water. You'll hop on a paddleboard and cross the stunning Villefranche bay — naturally sheltered from wind and waves by wooded hills — to glide along the coastline of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
From the water, your guide will point out the legendary Villa Nellcôte, where the Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main St. in 1971, the palatial Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild surrounded by its famous gardens, and a string of jaw-dropping private estates that have attracted the world's elite for over a century.
The bay is also a rich marine ecosystem — keep an eye out for octopus, mullet, sea urchins and the vibrant underwater flora of the Mediterranean.