What to see and do in Grasse, the perfume capital of the world?
Visit Grasse, a medieval « City of Art and History »? Great idea! Founded in the 7th century, Grasse is a typical Provençal town, with its delightful blend of Provençal and Genoese architecture, its squares and fountains, its narrow streets winding towards the fragrant plains, where roses, jasmine and olive trees grow… Not sure what to do in Grasse? You won’t be disappointed by the visual and gustatory pleasures of this colorful, fragrant city.
Although nicknamed « the perfume capital of the world », Grasse has much more to attract visitors than its fragrances. For visiting Grasse is like strolling through the galleries of a museum of the passing of time: the town center is packed with historic monuments and renovated 17th and 18th century buildings, which cohabit with 19th century townhouses and 20th century villas. Grasse is also a protected nature reserve covering a quarter of its territory, so what’s there to do in Grasse? We’ve put together a list of five things to do when you visit Grasse.
1. Grasse’s old quarter
Photo credit: Flickr – Antonio Cinotti
A promontory high above the sea, the old quarter is easy to walk through. Its narrow streets, typical of southern towns, are home to many historic buildings, including the town hall, its fountain and the 13th-century Notre-Dame cathedral. The Place aux Aires and its arcades are a great starting point for visiting Grasse. It’s a good idea to choose a market day (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday) to get into the popular atmosphere of the district. The yellow, orange and ochre hues of the buildings will delight your eyes as you stroll around.
2. Perfumeries in Grasse
Photo credit: Flickr – Ivan Matthieu
Discover how perfumes are made at the three perfume factories in Grasse’s old quarter. The Fragonard, Galimard and Molinard perfumeries are open for guided tours. A must-see in the city, you can learn how to make your own perfume, from picking the flowers to bottling them. The Galimard perfumery is the oldest of all, founded in 1747.
3. Visit Grasse’s museums
Musée International de la Parfumerie – Photo credit: Flickr – jean-louis Zimmermann
It would be a shame to visit Grasse without taking in its museums retracing the town’s history:
- The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence, housed in the Hôtel de Clapiers-Cabris, focuses on daily life in eastern Provence since prehistoric times, and on the decorative arts from the 17th century to the present day,
- The Fragonard Museum, a tribute to the Grasse painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806),
- The Musée International de la Parfumerie, 4,000 years of perfume history, discover the history of the perfume industry and the great perfume houses,
- The Musée Provençal du Costume et du Bijou, exploring the world of 18th-century women’s costume
4. Jasmine Festival
Photo credit: Flickr – Jean
For the past 70 years, at the beginning of August, Grasse has been breathing in jasmine for three days (August 4, 5 and 6, 2017) and flooding the entire city with this bewitchingly fragrant flower. According to tradition, a jasmine flower battle is organized in the street. As the jasmine flower is very fragile, locals use jasmine water to cool down. In the streets, a dozen or so highly decorated floral floats parade by, their passengers throwing multicolored flowers to the crowds. Numerous folk groups, brass bands and street performers also take part, making this a date not to be missed if you want to visit Grasse!
5. Market at Place aux Aires
How to get to Grasse? Where to stay in Grasse?
Grasse is 20 km north of Cannes, and can be reached by train or car. A tourist destination, especially in summer and on market days, Grasse offers hotels and apartments in and around the old town center. You can find a cheap hotel in Grasse by searching on this hotel comparator.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Grasse