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Perseid Meteor Shower Offers a Starry Night on the French Riviera

Every August, the sky stages its most glamorous show: the Perseid meteor shower. This year (2025), the spectacle will peak on the night of August 12–13, with as many as 100 meteors per hour expected to streak across the summer sky. (Update: The night of August 12-13 has made history as the warmest evening ever recorded on the French Riviera.)

Perseids are bright, fast-moving meteors (like shooting stars), and some will punch through even moderate light pollution, but to gain the best view on the French Riviera head away from the coast into the hills. The darker the area, the more you’ll see.

In the South of France, stargazers have a choice of viewing spots.

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Côte d’Azur

On the Côte d’Azur, escape the city lights and head inland by at least 20 to 30 minutes to the Col de Vence for example, a popular spot for amateur astronomers.

Further east, the Plateau de Caussols, near the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, offers panoramic horizons and a direct view toward the Perseus constellation.

The Calanques National Park near Cassis is beautiful and offers cliff-top vantage points.

Provence

In Provence, one of the most popular destinations for star-gazing is the Cévennes National Park (which is a certified ‘International Dark Sky Reserve’, so seeing the meteor shower is almost guaranteed!).

Other spots in Provence include Valensole or the hills above Sault.

When will the Perseids be more visible?

The meteor shower is expected to be easiest to view between midnight and dawn.

Due to the full moon being so bright, just days earlier, it means it may actually be better to view the Perseids on the evenings after the peak, when the moonlight isn’t as strong! (So good news if you missed it on the 12th. Experts say the 14th may be even better!)

Insider Tip: You don’t need a telescope! But you do need patience. It can take your eyes at least 20 minutes to adapt to the dark. Look north/northeast, turn your back to the coast.

Jenni Baxter
Jenni Baxterhttps://www.rivieraedition.com
Jenni is a co-founder and editor of Riviera Edition. She has been based in Antibes for over 10 years, and has been visiting the Côte d’Azur since she was a student. As a celebrity journalist for international magazines, she has watched hundreds of movies at the Cannes Film Festival, interviewed stars at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and watched the Monaco Grand Prix from all the key angles. Jenni has also lived in South Africa, London and Australia... and co-wrote The Expat Confessions. She is happiest paddle boarding on the Med with her 3 daughters, or sipping rooibos in the African bush. Contact jennibaxter@gmail.com

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