The Praiano of the French Riviera

I know what you mean about beautiful Praiano, but don't know of a place on the French Riviera where the cliffs come right down to the sea. But then again, I haven't been along the entire coast.
Have you considered the Cinque Terre along the "Italian Riviera". Five beautiful Cliffside villages connected by train or ferry, seas permitting. Very touristy in summer, however.

Check out Cassis, which is a charming little seaside port a bit to the southeast of Marseille. It''s sort of a gateway to the Parc national des Calanques, which is a wild stretch of the coast with lots of lovely cliffs that form really picturesque coves and inlets for several miles. There are boats that you can take out to some of the coves, or even kayak or hike to them.

We were just there a few weeks ago, but the seas were a little rough and it wasn't yet quite warm enough for swimming. But I imagine if you're there during the summer, it's just the type of place you could find a quiet cove with cliffs and rocks for the kids to scramble on and jump off of. And the town has lots of nice restaurants, shops and other stuff you'd expect to find in a little coastal resort town.

France has some nice beaches (though not so much on the Riviera), but I cannot think of anyplace that might qualify as "the French Amalfi Coast."

I read your question and thought "Cassis"! But hubestur beat me to it.

You could say the area around St. Jean Cap Ferrat is a bit like a very high end version of the Amalfi, with more of a rocky coast and small inlets. But really, not quite the same as you are missing the really big cliffs. Similarly, close by, VilleFranche-sur-Mer doesn't have the charming cove, but does have that hilly village feel (around the corner, the Cap de Nice does have larger boulders, as well as the paths to explore around Cap Ferrat).

Thanks for all the good info. Maybe the only Praiano is Praiano?! I'll follow up and let you all know what we come up with.

"Maybe the only Praiano is Praiano?" No maybe about it. The only place I could think of that might suit is Cassis.