Are these the ugliest buildings on the French Riviera?
Locals on the island of Corsica are desperate for their picturesque coastline not to end up like the nearby Côte d'Azur - and when you see some of the architecture on the Riviera, you'll understand. Take a look.
You think the French Riviera is all picturesque coastlines with beautiful, pastel-coloured buildings?
Think again. In recent years and decades, high rises, shopping centers, unsightly hotels and some buildings that are more suited to the set of Star Wars have sprung up along the coast, often drawing the ire of the locals.
Here are some of the ugliest structures to avoid on your next trip to the Cote d’Azur.
Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes
Photo: Janet McKnight/Flickr
This convention center is the venue for the Cannes Film Festival, so you’d think it might be more aesthetically pleasing. If the architects were going for haphazard and confusing, they really nailed it.
Marina, Villeneuve-Loubet, Baie des Anges
Photo: Citizen59/Flickr
Were they trying to imitate the Egyptian pyramids? These strangely-shaped blocks of luxury apartment buildings, restaurants, and supermarkets have marred the otherwise beautiful bay of the Marina, Baie des Anges, near Cagnes Sur Mer.
The Polygone Riviera, Cagnes-sur-Mer
Photo: www.polygone-riviera.fr
If you want to feel like you’re in Disneyland rather than on the French Riviera, go here. This shopping center, opened in October of 2015, boasts 150 boutiques, 26 restaurants, casinos, and a cinema.
The Bubble Palace, Cannes
Photo: Niklas Morberg/Flickr
Although it's been the scene for many celebrity parties and fashion shows, this "bubble house" looks like it belongs in the Star Wars universe, not on the French Riviera. We do have a soft spot for it but once Mars has been colonized, Pierre Cardin's Bubble House needs to be moved brick by brick up to the red planet.
Odéan Tower, Monaco
Photo: The Pinnacle List
This 70-meter tall luxury apartment building is certainly not meant to be subtle. The tower will hold the most expensive penthouse apartment in the world, at €500 million.
The Palais des Congrès Acropolis, Nice
Photo: AFP
Naming this convention center after the ancient citadel in Greece was perhaps not the best move, as it only highlights how not beautiful or architecturally significant this one is.
JW Marriott Hotel, Cannes
This hotel and casino just looks a bit too Vegas for the French Riviera resort of Cannes. The purple fluorescent lights could probably be seen from miles out to sea. Although to be fair, are casinos ever pretty?
CGT Trade Union Building, Cannes
Photo: Google Maps
The architect must’ve gone on strike halfway through designing this union building.
This villa, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferret
Photo: Fulvio Spada/Flickr
We'd all love a villa on the French Riviera, but maybe not one that looks like this.
The hotels on Promenade des Anglais, Nice
Photo: Google Maps
This famous promenade in Nice has some beautiful hotels, and then it has some that look like this. Mais pourquoi??
Tell us the Riviera eyesores that we've missed out.
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You think the French Riviera is all picturesque coastlines with beautiful, pastel-coloured buildings?
Think again. In recent years and decades, high rises, shopping centers, unsightly hotels and some buildings that are more suited to the set of Star Wars have sprung up along the coast, often drawing the ire of the locals.
Here are some of the ugliest structures to avoid on your next trip to the Cote d’Azur.
Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes
Photo: Janet McKnight/Flickr
This convention center is the venue for the Cannes Film Festival, so you’d think it might be more aesthetically pleasing. If the architects were going for haphazard and confusing, they really nailed it.
Marina, Villeneuve-Loubet, Baie des Anges
Photo: Citizen59/Flickr
Were they trying to imitate the Egyptian pyramids? These strangely-shaped blocks of luxury apartment buildings, restaurants, and supermarkets have marred the otherwise beautiful bay of the Marina, Baie des Anges, near Cagnes Sur Mer.
The Polygone Riviera, Cagnes-sur-Mer
Photo: www.polygone-riviera.fr
If you want to feel like you’re in Disneyland rather than on the French Riviera, go here. This shopping center, opened in October of 2015, boasts 150 boutiques, 26 restaurants, casinos, and a cinema.
The Bubble Palace, Cannes
Photo: Niklas Morberg/Flickr
Although it's been the scene for many celebrity parties and fashion shows, this "bubble house" looks like it belongs in the Star Wars universe, not on the French Riviera. We do have a soft spot for it but once Mars has been colonized, Pierre Cardin's Bubble House needs to be moved brick by brick up to the red planet.
Odéan Tower, Monaco
Photo: The Pinnacle List
This 70-meter tall luxury apartment building is certainly not meant to be subtle. The tower will hold the most expensive penthouse apartment in the world, at €500 million.
The Palais des Congrès Acropolis, Nice
Photo: AFP
Naming this convention center after the ancient citadel in Greece was perhaps not the best move, as it only highlights how not beautiful or architecturally significant this one is.
JW Marriott Hotel, Cannes
This hotel and casino just looks a bit too Vegas for the French Riviera resort of Cannes. The purple fluorescent lights could probably be seen from miles out to sea. Although to be fair, are casinos ever pretty?
CGT Trade Union Building, Cannes
Photo: Google Maps
The architect must’ve gone on strike halfway through designing this union building.
This villa, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferret
Photo: Fulvio Spada/Flickr
We'd all love a villa on the French Riviera, but maybe not one that looks like this.
The hotels on Promenade des Anglais, Nice
Photo: Google Maps
This famous promenade in Nice has some beautiful hotels, and then it has some that look like this. Mais pourquoi??
Tell us the Riviera eyesores that we've missed out.
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