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World capital of perfume coiled in the heart of the hills bordering Cannes, the intoxicating city of Grasse is one of the most beautiful tourist sites in France. Situated between the sea and the mountains, the town of Grasse perched 300 metres above sea level is one of the most beautiful balconies on the Côte d'Azur. Its discreet charm, its old alleys, its dynamism, its intoxicating perfumes and its fabulous green setting make it an ideal destination for holidays in harmony with nature.

From Napoleon to Queen Victoria, many illustrious people have, through history, been seduced by the soul of Grasse. City of Art and History, its picturesque setting is worth a detour and undoubtedly invites you to relax in the calm of its old stones. Lose yourself in its beautifully preserved medieval city made of winding alleys, baroque chapels, oratories and old fountains. Take the time of a terrace café in the shade of its typically Provençal squares, do not miss its artists' galleries, its town hall (an old episcopal palace), its Saracen Tower over 30 meters high as well as its many private mansions and wealthy villas dating from the seventeenth century.

A real breath of fresh air in the middle of mountains, caves and forests, Grasse is above all popular for its fields of flowers that provide the vast majority of the scents found today in soaps, perfumes, powders, creams and toilet waters that flower in the most upscale boutiques. In all, 30 perfumeries would be supplied in Grasse, and during your stay, you will certainly have the opportunity to visit some of them for free, such as the Fragonard Perfumery, the Molinard Perfumery and the Galimard Factory-Museum. You will discover the different stages of making a perfume, from collecting flowers to bottling nectar, you will even have the opportunity to create your own perfume, for a unique souvenir of your stay in Grasse. True local pride, the flowers of the Grasse region have inspired many noses in the past : Eau Sauvage de Dior, Femme de Rochas, N°5 de Chanel, J'Adore l'Or de Dior, Very Irresistible de Givenchy... So many fragrances that smell the essences of Rose Centifolia, Jasmin, orange blossom, violet, Madonna lily or geranium growing in the fields of Grasse flowers. And to perfect your knowledge in this field, we advise you to visit the International Museum of Perfumery in downtown Grasse : in addition to its magnificent setting where you can discover the different manufacturing processes and the history of this ancestral art, the "MIP" has magnificent gardens where you will love to stroll. The city is also home to many museums that you can visit during your walks in downtown Grasse, such as the Villa-Musée Fragonard, located in the Hôtel de Villeneuve, and the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence, located in the former Hôtel de Cabris.

Side stroll, make a tour of the Bastide aux Violettes, the lavanderaie de Marie, the Domaine du Mac de l'Olivine or the Bastide Isnard for walks in flowers among roses, mimosa, lavender and jasmine that have contributed to the fame of the country of Grasse. For more sporting discoveries, take the direction of the Saint-Sauveur waterfall cave or the Trou du Curé cave for an introduction to speleology at more than 60 meters deep. Looking for a refreshing getaway ? Head for the Gorges du Loup. A favourite place for hiking to discover magnificent sunny waterfalls, the Rivière du Loup, treasure of the Côte d'Azur, is the perfect place to find a little freshness on hot summer days. You will be able to bathe there in a splendid green setting, to make water excursion, speleology, rafting or canyoning. Snow enthusiasts will be able to go in less than an hour to the heights of the Gréolières-les-Neiges and Audibergue-la-Moulière ski resorts, when trekking, mountain biking, via ferrata and climbing enthusiasts will go to the valleys of the Préalpes d'Azur Regional Nature Park. For the irrepressible desires of diving in the big blue, the beaches of Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Antibes and Cagnes-sur-Mer will lend themselves ideally to the practice of water sports (surfing, paddle, water skiing, sailing, jet-ski, towed buoys...) and to the parentheses of idleness on the warm sand bordering the Mediterranean.

Finally, it is unthinkable to come to Grasse without tasting its local specialities : fougassette, fassum, tapenade, chard pie, squash pie and croustis will be on the menu of all the good Grasse tables, to the delight of the gourmands.

More information about the region :

Préalpes d'Azur

Côte d'Azur

Route Napoléon

Provence

Activities and Events

Don't miss the perfumeries of Grasse and discover the manufacturing processes of this ancestral art.

Stroll on the Croisette, climb the steps of the festival palace.... In short, become the celebrity for a day!

From Cannes, embark for Saint Honorat, in the heart of the Lérins islands and discover fabulous landscapes.