Antibes

Antibes was a Greek fortified town called Antopilis in the 5^th century BC and was later captured by the Romans.  Today, this gorgeous medieval fishing village offers remnants of its rich past in every corner of its charming old town.  It is now a delightful mix of the old and new offering an array of Provençal French restaurants as well as number of classy cafes and bars and.

The Old Town and covered market

Le VieilAntibes has managed to completely avoid tourist development and retained all the charisma and character from its past days.  This cobblestoned village contains a myriad of little streets and alleyways that you can wonder through and get lost within.  There are countless restaurants, cafes and bars as well as an amazing selection of delicatessens, patisseries and chocolatiers.  The contrast between this quaint old section of Antibes and the high tech commercial hub of Port Vabaun is quite dramatic.

The covered market place Marché Provençal is a lively event with locals selling anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to cheeses, breads, meat and fish.  It is open every morning, except Mondays, and definitely worth a visit.

Just down the road on the way to the arched gateway you will find Antibes Books, which is the largest independent English bookstore in Europe.  So if you are after a novel to wile away your time on the beach, a visit here will not leave you disappointed!

Port Vauban
The old port was the heart of the Antipolis when the Greeks occupied the area.  Today, Port Vabaun is the largest pleasure boat marina in Europe and a wonderful place to meander through and see a stunning array of state-of-the-art boats.  The recently added Large Yachts Jetty houses some of the greatest yachts from around the world.

The western edge of the Port includes 99 guaranteed spots for professional fisherman ensuring that the seafood on offer in this town is the freshest and tastiest in the Riviera.

Fort Carre
When walking through the arched gateway into the Old Town you may spot Fort Carre sitting in the hillside overlooking Port Vabaun.  This immense star-shaped fortress dates back to the 16^th century and was built on the site of Chapelle St. Laurent, which sat on the ruins of the Temple of Mercury.  While you can’t actually get into the fort, you can walk around it amongst the trees.

Beaches

The main beach at Antibes is Plage de la Gravette located right in front of Old Antibes.  Cross through the old gate at the end of the Yacht harbour and head towards the water.

There are many other beaches at Cap d’Antibes or along the 25km of coastline that connects Antibes to Juan-les-Pains.  The majority of these are private but it may be worth your while to rent a sun lounge for a day or half day so you can take advantage of some of the best spots.  Most of these private beaches have restaurants where you can find French Provençal cuisine and fresh seafood.

If paying to sit on a beach is not your thing then there are a number of public beaches where you can plant your own umbrella and enjoy a day in the sun.  However, in the height of summer these places get very crowded and you may want to get in early to guarantee yourself a good spot.

Museums
As with any city in the French Riviera, Antibes is rich in history and culture and has a number of excellent museums housing a multitude of cultural delights.

The Picasso Museum is perhaps the most famous and definitely not one to miss!  Located in the exact spot where Picasso lived on the sea front, this museum houses one of the world’s finest Picasso collections.

The Naval Museum of Napoleon is located in a 17^th century stone fort and tower and houses a collection of Napoleon memorabilia including paintings, navel models and even some pieces of clothing that he once wore.

The Archaeology Museum focuses on the traditional history of Antibes displaying many artifacts found in local digs and shipwrecks in the harbour.  La Tour Museum concentrates on the modern history of Antibes displaying costumes, tools and photographs used by the locals.

The Absinthe Museum/ Bar is not to be missed, even if you are not a fan of this strange green liqueur!  Located in a basement among the Roman foundations of the Old Town, here you will discover how it is made and why it has recently been legalised again, even after it was outlawed for health risks such as causing insanity and death!  There are very few places in the world where you can drink this mysterious liqueur and a glass at this bar will only cost you €4, not much more than your average beer in a tourist haunt.

Cap d’Antibes and the Garoupe Lighthouse

When visiting Antibes, a trip to Cap d’Antibes is a must.  The journey is to be done on foot and is not for the faint hearted.  Follow the sign posted path about 1km along the coastline up the Chemin de Calvaire from the Plage de la Salis.  The Cap is home to numerous rich and famous who have built stunning Chateaus worth millions.  You will also come across the famous ‘Eden Roc’ hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in the world and the hotel of choice for many stars.

On arrival at the Cap you will find a gorgeous leafy area offering panoramic views of the Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea.  The Garoupe Lighthouse is open to the public and visitors can climb to the top for an even better prospect.  Also located on the Cap is the Nôtre Dame des Amoureux,a charming little chapel housing statues and paintings, and an exceptional collection of ex-voto.