All about Grasse (France): sights, photos and reviews

In this article we will tell you about one of the most picturesque and interesting towns of Provence - Grasse (France). The French call it Grasse, and in most Russian-language sources it is written Grass. Perhaps, one of our readers, he remembered the film "Perfume."

It is this city that bears the title of the perfume capital of France. This honorable status of a small town has been holding for several centuries and, apparently, no one is going to give it away. And this is despite the fact that in accordance with the current trends in the manufacture of perfumes production is concentrated on large chemical enterprises away from the city. Nevertheless, the flavors of the most famous spirits are carried exactly in Grasse (France). Here for the first time appeared the legendary Chanel No. 5.

Location:

The town of Grasse (France) is a very small resort in the department of the Alpes Maritimes. Its population is a little less than fifty thousand inhabitants. The modern city is on the slope of the mountain, at an altitude of 350 meters above sea level, 30 km from Nice and 16 km from Cannes.

Description

Grasse (France) is not accidentally called the city of history and art: it offers all guests to get acquainted with the unique architecture that combines the Genoese and Provencal styles. This alone gives the medieval city its uniqueness.

The pleasant atmosphere of Grass is complemented by picturesque streets, markets with aromas of local dishes, small areas, the famous cathedral, numerous architectural and historical monuments. It is in Grasse (France) that the most valuable raw materials for all world perfumery are produced: Rose Santipholi and Jasmine Grassa.

Italian settlers-artisans chose this town in the XVIII century. They were the first to establish in it the manufacture of leather gloves, which were soaked with fragrant substances. Thus, the future of the city was predetermined. Grass (France), whose photo you can see in this article, is buried in a sea of magnificent flowers. Their cultivation is favored by a special microclimate. Autumn here is fragrant with jasmine, in the summer the scent of lavender and roses is intoxicating, in the spring the air is filled with the delicate smell of mimosa.

Recreation

This resort became popular after he liked Polina Bonaparte. Following her, Queen Victoria bought real estate here, turning her into her winter residence.

Today vacation in Grasse (France) is an opportunity to receive a lot of positive impressions, after all the city is recognized as one of the most beautiful on the Cote d'Azur. In the opinion of all who have already visited here, the city today looks the way Patrick Syskind described it in the novel Perfume. At first glance, it may seem unprepossessing, many at first do not admit and thought about the acquisition of real estate here. But worth a stroll through the narrow medieval streets, look from the heights to the valley, go to local shops and shops, breathe the world's famous fragrances, as it becomes clear how unforgettable life and leisure in Grasse (France) can be.

There are no offices of large corporations in this city. But here are the three most famous perfume companies around the world, which produce very important ingredients for famous flavors. The historical center of Grasse is neat and very clean, in the tradition of tourist booklets with images of the delights of Provence.

The city enchants with its houses with shutters on the windows. Under their roofs there are white pigeons. In numerous shops you can buy colorful pasta. Grasse are squares with plane trees and numerous cafes, where traditional snails are served in creme brulee, and the menu is chalked on the boards on the streets.

An interesting fact: as a rule, the historical center of the European city is located on a hill. Usually the castle was built at altitude, and around it appeared settlements that today have become the outskirts of the historical center. With Grass everything happened differently. The city is really built on a hill, but to get to the historical center, it is not necessary to climb. On the contrary, you should descend from the modern freeway along the stone stairs.

What to see in Grasse (France)?

We are sure that the majority of the beautiful half of the tourists will immediately go to the city to study the perfume factories and museums that are open to them. There are also shops that sell finished products. For everyone here there are scented candles, incense, soap, body care products. You can even try to create your own fragrance, of course, under the guidance of an experienced employee of the Galimard factory.

Each street is delighted with neat little houses painted in terracotta color, ancient architecture, pretty chapels, graceful churches and fountains. Especially popular with tourists is a fountain in the form of a bottle of perfume.

Jasmine Festival

Every year at the beginning of August, the town hosts a traditional jasmine festival. It was first celebrated on August 4, 1946. Today this is a magnificent celebration. Platforms, decorated with snow-white flowers, swim through the city, and young girls in not very modest outfits throw in a crowd of armfuls of flowers. At this time, folk bands perform in Grasse, street performances are taking place, fireworks are lighting up the night sky over the city.

Grasse (France): attractions. International Museum of Perfumery

The area of the museum is 3.5 thousand square meters, which exhibited more than five thousand exhibits. But this is just a small part of the collection, since there are ten times as many different items in the store as are related to cosmetics, perfumes and their production.

The museum exposition is built on a chronological basis, it includes exhibits from five continents. Guests will be able not only to study the history of perfumery, which began about 3 thousand years ago, but also learn curious facts about the preparation of raw materials, the production of vials, the peculiarities of various types of cosmetics, the traditions of perfumers of different countries.

Notre-Dame-du-Puy

This cathedral was built in 1154, but its present appearance it received in the eighteenth century. Since 1244 the temple is the residence of the Catholic episcopate. In the cathedral there is a picture of Fragonard, who was born in this city, and three canvases by the great Rubens. The temple is decorated with stained glass and sculptures.

Villa Ivan Bunin

Perhaps, once the villa of Ivan Bunin, located in Grasse, will make a museum. But today it's just a house, on the door of which hangs a sign that says that it is home to the scientist-physicist G. Semenoff. Only the plaque of marble set on the road leading to the house indicates a different identity of the villa.

Villa Bunin called quite a pompous - "Belvedere." But despite the loud name, the building looks very modest. A minimalist white two-storey house with long windows and shutters made of white slats.

Reviews of tourists

Most of the travelers were fascinated by Grass (France). Reviews of the trip people leave enthusiastic. Magnificent nature, a huge amount of fragrant flowers, "toy" houses on narrow streets - all this creates the feeling that you are in a fairy tale.

Many liked cognitive excursions through the perfumery capital, which are conducted by experienced guides. They know about this city a lot of interesting historical facts.