Grasse and Antibes

We drove up to Grasse about 20 kms north of Cannes.    A city famous for its perfumeries, it sprawls up over great heights with many tall tenement type houses in the centre.      We visited the Fragonard Museum and had a really interesting tour learning about the history of perfume in Grasse.    In the 16th Century Grasse was a famous for its tanneries.   The tanners used the natural perfume essences of the region to get rid of the odour of tanning.     Grasse, remains the world capital of perfumery with knowledge passed from generation to generation in a still labour intensive process which retains quality.     I ran out of arms to try all the samples so we both emerged reeking of violets, roses, bergamot and lavender to name but a few - poor Jeff! 

Fragonard Museum

Grasse

Grasse side streets

The city itself had a slightly run down feel to it...

Drove back towards the coast and into Antibes - a delightful bustling little port with a mainly pebbly beach on the outskirts.       The old fort made famous by Monet in 1888 looks over a splendid harbour currently being refurbished with adjacent state of the art underground car parking.

Antibes harbour and old fort

We walked around the city ramparts

View towards Nice from Antibes city ramparts 

Just found lost parking ticket - phew!