The South of France has long been a place of artistic inspiration and music history. From Picasso, Matisse, and Van Gogh to some of the biggest names in rock and pop, the allure of sun, space (and tax breaks) drew legends like Jagger, Richards, Gilmour, and Waters. No wonder it became a recording haven, producing some of the most famous albums of all time.
The South of France wasn’t just an escape for artists—it became a recording haven. Super Bear Studios and Miraval Studios played host to some of the most iconic albums ever made, offering bands like Pink Floyd, Queen, and Wham! a space to create away from industry distractions. These hidden-away studios captured the spirit of some of the biggest names in music history, long before Miraval became known for its wine.
The Hidden Studios of the South of France: Super Bear & Miraval
The South of France wasn’t just an escape for artists—it became a recording haven. While the region is known for its beaches, villas, and vineyards, it also housed two of the most intriguing, under-the-radar recording studios of the rock and pop era: Super Bear Studios and Miraval Studios.
It was actually Super Bear that started my interest in this topic. I was looking at the producing credits for one of the Pink Floyd albums and saw the mention, “recorded at Super Bear Studios”. Only with the advent of [time on my hands] the Internet could I fund out where it was.
These weren’t your average London or L.A. studios. Super Bear was a residential studio, meaning artists could live on-site while recording, surrounded by the peace and isolation of the hills above Nice. It became a secret creative hub for some of the most legendary rock and pop albums of the ‘70s and ‘80s, hosting artists like Pink Floyd, Queen, and Kate Bush.
I have considered visiting the site to soak up some history but there is pretty much nothing to see.
Then there’s Miraval Studios, a place with its own rock-star-to-Hollywood evolution. Originally built in the Château de Miraval, a stunning 18th-century estate in Provence, it was founded by jazz pianist Jacques Loussier in 1977. The studio became a magnet for Pink Floyd, Wham!, and later The Cranberries and Sting, drawn in by its secluded setting and cutting-edge facilities. In more recent years, it was snapped up by Brad Pitt, restored, and relaunched as both a world-class recording studio and a luxury wine estate.
While neither Super Bear nor Miraval were the household names of Abbey Road or Electric Lady, they played a crucial role in shaping some of the most famous albums recorded in France. If you’ve ever driven through the South of France and imagined the echoes of classic songs drifting through the hills—you might not be wrong.
Six Classic Albums recorded in the South of France
- Exile on Main Street – The Rolling Stones
- The Wall – Pink Floyd
- Jazz – Queen
- Lionheart – Kate Bush
- Make it Big – Wham!
- A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead
This is the story of six classic albums, and their famous South of France recording locations.
Exile on Main Street – Villa Nellcôte
If you’re wondering which Rolling Stones album was recorded in France, Exile on Main Street is the answer.
In the spring of 1971, The Rolling Stones fled to France in tax exile and made rock history. Exile on Main Street isn’t just one of the greatest albums recorded in France—it’s one of the greatest albums, full stop. Scattered across Provence, the band lived in various rented villas, but it was Keith Richards’ Villa Nellcôte that became the centre of their chaotic exile.
Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor moved to Grasse, whilst Charlie Watts took up residence in Thorais, near Arles. Mick rented a place in the old town on Biot, between Cannes and Nice, but it was Keith who took up residence at Villa Nellecote between Beaulieu- Sur-Mer and Villefranche-sur-mer, just along the coast between Nice and Monaco, turning this Belle Epoque mansion into a debauched recording den that played host to musicians, hangers-on, and questionable characters drifting through its gates as the band pieced together what became a ragged, blues-soaked masterpiece.
This time of tax exile and creative inspiration has been written about at length. I suggest you read these two articles for more on the legendary recordings. Exile In Paradise: The Rolling Stones’ French Villa Of Excess and The Stones and the true story of Exile on Main St.
You can’t visit the villa itself, but you can get your picture outside the gates. Read about my ‘pilgrimage‘ for more photos and maps so you can find it.
Did you know? Pictures for the album’s back cover were taken on Main Street in Los Angeles. See LA’s Top Rock n’ Roll Landmarks for more details.
Pink Floyd The Wall – Super Bear & Chateau Miraval
In 1978 the members of Pink Floyd left the UK to avoid paying high taxes. Recorded between two legendary studios in the South of France, The Wall became one of Pink Floyd’s most iconic works, capturing the band’s creative tension and ambition.
The Wall became the band’s second greatest album, staying atop the US album charts for 15 weeks.
Located in Berre-les-Alpes, just outside Nice, Super Bear was a private residential recording studio that became a popular location for the band and their future solo efforts. It was a popular spot for bands, offering state of the art recording facilities, a tennis court, swimming pool and home comforts.
The studio operated between 1978 and 1986 when a forest fire devastated the buildings. The brand ‘Super Bear’ had been resurrected an independent dance music label, but is no more.
Miraval Studio was used for Roger’s vocals and a few piano parts.
Miraval Castle, Miraval, 83570 Correns, France (map)
Queen Jazz – Super Bear
Another great album recorded at Super Bear Studios, a legendary recording space in the South of France. The band booked in after David Gilmour completed his (so-so) debut album, drawn by its secluded setting and cutting-edge facilities. The initial recordings for their seventh album took place at Berre Les Alpes, before moving onto Mountain Studios in Montruex. Freddie loved the Swiss recording studio enough to purchase it outright for the band.
Their time in the South of France delivered an album with some of their most iconic hits, including Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race and Don’t Stop me Now.
Kate Bush Lionheart – Super Bear
The late Seventies must have been an incredible time to be working at Super Bear. Probably influenced by mentor David Gilmour, Kate Bush recorded her second album at the studio.
Kate loved recording in France. Aged only 20, she found the experience of recording abroad quite inspirational,
“[Recording in France] was an amazing experience. I mean it’s the first time I’ve ever recorded out of the country. And the environment was really quite phenomenal, I mean it was just so beautiful, it was so unlike anything I’d seen for a long while.” Kate Bush Encyclopaedia
The album cover was shot by Gered Mankowitz an acclaimed rock photographer whose other album covers included ABC’s Look of Love, and possibly the most iconic picture of Jimi Hendrix.
Make It Big – Miraval
For their second album, Wham! escaped to the South of France, recording at Miraval Studios, a space that had already played host to legendary sessions by Pink Floyd. Written and recorded across a 6 week period in the summer of 1984, the time was clearly well spent.
Make it Big really did make them big. The album spawned a number of global hits including Wake me Up Before you Go-Go, Everythign She Wants and Freedom.
The album closer, Careless Whisper was originally recorded at Muscle Shoals in Alabama, later rerecorded and produced in Sarm West by George.
A Moon Shaped Pool – La Fabrique Saint-Rémy de Provence
Showing that not all classic albums were recorded in the Seventies, Radiohead recorded their ninth studio album at this new studio North West of Marseille.
The album, focusing on climate change. group think heartbreak went on to garner Mercury and Grammy nominations.
The reclusive band had a difficult time during the album recording so we won’t get much more information about their time at La Fabrique. The album did provide some classic Radiohead tracks including Burn the Witch and my favourite, Daydreaming.
La Fabrique studio is available for commercial bookings.
454 Petite route Jardins, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, South of France (map)
Bonus – albums that could have been recorded in the South of France
No Line on the Horizon – Bono’s House Èze Sur Mer
In 2008, a passing fan heard U2 music blasting from a nearby villa. This was Bono’s villa in Eze Sur Mer. The songs were work in progress for the band’s forthcoming album ‘No Line on the Horizon.’ Bono and fellow band members Larry and the Edge have neighbouring villas looking out across the sea. Adam lives further away in Grasse.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Chateau d’Herouville
Elton John’s seventh album should have been recorded in Jamaica. But problems with ‘the locals’ lead to the rapid retreat to France, and the writing go ‘Jamaica Jerk Off.
In later years, Elton lived in the South of France, famously recording two music videos and a documentary on the Cote D’Azur. (see Top movies set in the South of France.)
With Brad Pitt’s relaunch of Miraval, could we see a new generation of classic albums recorded in the south of France?
