Grasse, France

The city of Grasse is located in southeastern France, is a suburb of Nice and is 20 km from the Mediterranean coast. Its population is about 50 thousand people. In Grasse nature is unique: the mimosa blooms on the hills in January and February and is a symbol of the Riviera, roses and lavender bloom in spring and summer, jasmine - in autumn. All these plants intoxicate with their fragrance. That is why, at the end of the 18th century, Grasse became the centre of the French perfume industry. Most of France's natural fragrances were produced here. The city of Grasse is called the 'perfume capital of the world'. Today, almost every shop in the city sells perfumes and eau de parfum. The perfumery firms Molinar and Fragonard have their headquarters here. The International Museum of Perfumery in Grasse offers a narrative about the history of perfumery and a beautiful collection of perfume bottles from around the world, as well as its own roof garden with aromatic plants.

The artist and engraver Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) was born in Grasse. The villa where he lived after the Revolution of 1790 has been turned into the Fragonard Museum. Some of his drawings and copies of wall panels are kept here, as well as works by his son Alexandre Evariste.

Place de l'Eure, on the highest point of the town, is a centre for the promotion of dried fruit and herbs. Around it are ancient galleries and characteristic houses with exquisite wrought-iron balconies. At the opposite end of town is the church of the St. Our Lady of Puy, whose construction began in the 12th century. Here is a rare work with a religious subject by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, as well as three paintings by Rubens and a triptych (three icons joined together on a common theme) from the 16th century by Brea (1450-1523), a French artist also born in this part of France. One of France's greatest singers, Edith Piaf (1915-1963) died in the Villa Plascassier near Grasse.

Gourdon Gourdon is a picturesque village on a hill north of the town of Grasse. Its population is about 420 people. The biggest landmark in the village is the castle built by Louis VIII of Lombardy in the 13th century. It rises on a steep cliff and the view from here is dizzying. Only the castle gardens are now open to visitors. On the main terrace is the 17th-century figural garden designed by André Le Notre, gardener to Louis XIV, who made some of the gardens of Versailles. Impressive are the beautifully shaped various geometric and other figures of green shrubs. There is also an herb garden around the ancient sundial and a rock garden with alpine flowers. It was here in Gourdon that Prince Renie of Monaco and his future wife , the actress Grace Kelly met.

Mougins Pablo Picasso spent the last 12 years of his life in Mougins, south of Grasse. The Museum of Photography houses a collection of photographs of Picasso taken by Lartigue, Doiano and Villiers-famous French photographers. Interesting to visit is the Moulin de Mougins, a former mill converted into a beautiful restaurant.

Valoris Valoris is a town inland but close to Grasse and Caen. Its population is 27 thousand. Picasso worked in the Madura pottery studio, which still offers high quality pottery at a good price. Picasso painted his famous composition "War and Peace" in the chapel of the 16th century Renaissance castle. It includes three stages: peace, war and friendship between nations. This chapel is also known as the "Temple of Peace".The bronze sculpture "Man with Sheep", rising in the Place Paul Ansard, was a gift from Picasso to the city. In 1815, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, fleeing from the island of Elba, stayed near Valoris.

Biot Biot is a charming old town located near Grasse, 4 km from the coast. Its population is about 9 thousand people. Glassmaking replaced the manufacture of earthenware here in the 18th century. The town of Biot has a charming old quarter, and the famous glass factory can be explored by tourists. The 1960 Fernand Léger National Museum is outside the town and was specially built for his own collection. The outside is decorated with magnificent ceramic panels and mosaics. Fernand Léger (1881-1955) was a French painter, sculptor and film director. To the delight and amusement of children, Biot is home to a huge water theme park with whales and dolphins called Water World.