Grasse, a commune on the French Riviera, is considered the world's capital of perfume - producing over two-thirds of France's natural aromas for both perfumes and for flavoring food.It lies inland from the south French coast about 30 minutes drive from Nice. Warm and sufficiently inland to be sheltered from the sea air, the countryside around the city is dominated by fields of flowers, including rose, jasmine, daffodil, carnation, tuberose, orange blossom, and violet.
People come here for the flowers with their delicate scents. They are grown in Grass thanks to its micro climate and three perfumeries - Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard - open their doors to the public and offer free tours that explain the processes of producing a perfume. It is possible to create your own perfume, eau de perfume or eau de toilette and participate in all stages of manufacture from picking flowers to bottling.
With temperatures ranging from 11C in January to 26C in July and August, the best time to visit Grass is in the summer when the scented flowers that make this place so distinctive are in full bloom. The annual Fête du Jasmin (Jasmine is used in most perfumes) is at the beginning of August when decorated floats drive through the town with people throwing flowers at the crowds - the 'flower battle' - and everyone is covered in the natural perfumes. There are also fireworks, free parties, folk music groups and street performers..
Visit the Gorges du Loup for breathtaking views and great villages. Investigate the winding network of narrow streets and visit the free Musee Fragonard and the Musee International de la Parfumerie with its scent garden on the top floor and many interesting exhibits, including perfume bottles from the days of ancient Egypt to the great couturiers of the 20th century. Take in the Cathedrale Notre Dame du Puy, founded in the 11th century, and containing works by Rubens and Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
To stay choose one of the following:
Campanile Grasse Chateauneuf, D 2085 Le Pre du Lac, 06740 Chateauneuf de Grasse, Grasse ££.Located between the sea and mountains in an area outside Grasse that actor and author Dirk Bogarde came to call home this hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms and coffee/tea makers with cable TV and free Wi-Fi internet access. The restaurant offers regional cuisine.Le Virginia M Vacances, 10 Traverse Dupont, 06130 Grasse £.Newly built this hotel has studios for two people, apartments for four (including four rooms for disabled guests). The apartments include a living room with sofa bed, a bedroom (except in studios), a standard equipped kitchenette, a bathroom and separate WC. All properties have a balcony or terrace.
The town is awash with restaurants but try one of these:
la fleur de lys, 2 avenue chiris, 06130 Grasse, for chef Sylvain Debray's inventive dishes like mussels and chorizo gratin with saffron, and duck breast with caramelized seasonal fruits and gingerbread crumble
Le Peche Gourmand, 8 Rue de l'Oratoire, 06130 Grasse, where Jean-Pierre and Philippe Coeffet Gourier offer the refined flavors of the region (crumbled goat cheese with candied tomatoes, con fit of lamb with sweet garlic) and a huge range of pastries (hazelnut shortbread with fig, cassis and violet flavored macaroons.) and more than 100 flavors of homemade ice cream (dark chocolate sorbet, glazed chestnuts, lemon with a mint coulis).
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