If you are visiting us in Antibes and have a car, a day out in St Tropez is always something worth contemplating. The history of the city is ancient. From a small harbour circa 599 BC, it became a larger fortified city in the 15th Century under the rule of Count René I. However, the city only started to become fashionable towards the end of the 19th Century when Guy de Maupassant and Paul Signac decided to moor in the harbour on board of their yacht. St Tropez acquired inter

(Version française en bas de page) “Fort Carré” means squared fort. Indeed, in the 16thcentury, four arrow-shaped bastions were added to the preexisting tower and chapel. One century later, Vauban, who built the fortifications around the city, modified the fort and improved its strength. In 1794 during the French Revolution, Napoleon was imprisoned there for ten days. Finally, during the 19thcentury, “Fort Carré” was widely used as a sentry and defense post against the County

(Version française en bas de page) Away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, there is a precious place called “Parc Exflora”. Built in the 1990s over 5 hectares, this park showcases the main types of Mediterranean gardens from Roman times to the present day. It is ideally situated by the sea between Golfe-Juan and Juan-les-Pins, a 30min walk to Antibes’ centre. It is free and open every day until 21:30 in summer and 17:00 in winter. So if you want to relax, enjoy na

(Version française en bas de page) Everyone knows about his eponymous street which links Place Charles de Gaulle to the train station, but who is Robert Soleau? He was elected the mayor of Antibes in 1884 and remained in office for 17 years. However, the reason why this man born in northern France came to Antibes is unknown. We don’t even know of a house he lived in, he seems to only have stayed in a hotel in rue Thuret. Nevertheless, Soleau made two crucial decisions for the

(Version française en bas de page) Lavender is often associated with the Provence region. Indeed, the plant was utilised here as early as the Middle Ages for the making of perfumes and medicines. However, it was first named 'Lavendula' by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753. In the next century, the cultivation of lavender started to expand and since then, the plant has been largely used to make essential oil. Many perfumeries are located in the area of Grasse, 20 km from

(Version française en bas de page) In the heart of Antibes, adjoining the vibrant rue de la République, is a large square with a marble column in its centre. There are some inscriptions on the monument and one reads: “The column was erected on the 31st of May 1818”. Another one begins with: “ In August and Septembre 1815…” and it tells us about a glorious episode of Antibes’ history. Indeed, the residents of Antibes refused to surrender to Napoleon who was coming back from

(Version française en bas de page) Unsurprisingly, fish has always been an important part of Antibes. During the Roman Empire, Antipolis was a place renown for the preparation of brine. The reputation of its “garum” was excellent. This sauce made of fermented fish was extremely popular in those times. That’s certainly true, nevertheless I would rather enjoy a sea bream fillet at L’Altro! Indeed, Antibes is the perfect place to enjoy delicious fish. Many restaurants have a wid

(Version française en bas de page) Melons, oranges, lemons, limes, apples, pineapples… the variety and quality of fruit that can be found at “Marché Provençal” is astounding. But did you know that some cultivars originate from Antibes? The Honeydew melon was first grown in South East France in the 15th century and was called “White Antibes”. In the 1910s, it was introduced in the USA and it is now cultivated and sold all over the world. Although not as famous as the Honeydew

(Version française en bas de page) Antibes has always had magnetism- attracting visitors from all over the world throughout the course of history. Originally a Greek colony known as Antipolis in the 5th century BC, Antibes later became a part of the Roman Empire in 43 BC, remaining an important Gallic trading point for five centuries. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Antibes continued to receive attention from the likes of Louis XI who took the city under his wing; the