Beyond the Riviera
Grasse: the back story
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Copyleft · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Grasse: the back story
Grasse, in the hills behind Cannes, is the home of French perfume-making. Its old town climbs around the cathedral and the keep, and its perfume houses (Fragonard, Galimard and others) open their doors to visitors.
The perfumers
Fragonard has its factory and shop in Grasse; Galimard, which gives 1747 as its founding date, runs perfume workshops.
The old town
Steep lanes around the cathedral and the medieval keep.
Book a perfume workshop ahead in high season.
Getting there
By train or coach from Cannes, or by car; Mougins is on the way.
Our advice: make your own scent in the morning, lunch in Mougins on the way back.
Why it's on our list
- The perfumers
- The old town
- Getting there
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Grasse: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Grasse: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Palais des Festivals14 kmCar or taxi 29 min
- Musée Picasso, Antibes19 kmCar or taxi 37 min
- Nice Côte d’Azur Airport23 kmCar or taxi 45 min
- Promenade des Anglais27 kmCar or taxi 52 min
- Cours Saleya (Vieux Nice)29 kmCar or taxi 54 min
- Musée Matisse29 kmCar or taxi 55 min
- Villa Ephrussi33 kmCar or taxi 61 min
- Èze village36 kmCar or taxi 67 min
Main railway stations
- Cannes14 kmCar or taxi 29 min
- Antibes18 kmCar or taxi 35 min
- Nice Saint-Augustin (airport)23 kmCar or taxi 45 min
- Nice-Ville28 kmCar or taxi 52 min