Visit Antibes: Must-see Sites To Discover.
Located between Nice and Cannes, on the Mediterranean coast, Antibes Juan les Pins is one of the must-see cities of the French Riviera. Its beaches, marina, Picasso museum and jazz festival make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.
Antibes, city side.
Antibes, also known as Antibes Juan-les-Pins, is the second most populous city in Alpes-Maritimes after Nice.
This city between sea and mountains has all the qualities of a city where it is good to live.
It is by strolling on foot in the old Antibes that you can best discover its alleys, small squares and artisan workshops.
The Old Town and its Vauban ramparts testify to a rich military and historical past.
The Fort Carré, built in the 16th century, was redesigned in the 17th century by Vauban. This fortress overlooking the sea is now open to the public.
From his workshop perched on the ramparts, painter Nicolas de Staël could contemplate the port and the Fort Carré which separated France from the County of Nice until 1860.
Another classified monument, the Château des Grimaldi (15th and 16th centuries) houses the famous Picasso Museum. It was in 1946 that the curator of the castle proposed to the Spanish artist to settle there. Picasso only worked there for 3 months but he left the city with a hundred paintings, drawings and ceramics that now adorn the walls of the museum.
Antibes, seaside
The first marina city in Europe, Antibes has no less than 5 ports (Vauban, Galice, Crouton, Olivette and Salis). Moreover, Port Vauban is the largest marina in Europe!
The municipality has 25 km of coastline where pebble beaches and fine sandy beaches follow one another, to the delight of enthusiasts of leisure and water sports.
The Cap d'Antibes is a little corner of paradise to be discovered absolutely by taking the marked path that runs along the coast ("the smugglers' path"). It houses dream castles and villas; the famous Hotel Eden Roc is located at the tip of this cape.
The seaside district of Juan-les-Pins, located west of Cap d'Antibes, was created by an American billionaire and has welcomed illustrious personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald and Sidney Bechet.
Another place dedicated to the sea, Marineland Antibes is the largest marine zoo in Europe! This amusement park offers shows featuring stars such as killer whales, dolphins or sea lions...
Antibes, garden side.
With its Mediterranean climate, Antibes is also a flower-filled city. The Villa Thuret and its garden, created in 1856 by botanist Gustave Thuret, is a must-see. This 4-hectare botanical park open to the public is labeled as a "remarkable garden": it brings together a superb collection of exotic plants and trees. 3500 different species are represented there.
Managed by the National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA), the Thuret garden also houses several scientific research laboratories.
Another remarkable exotic botanical park is located at Villa Eilenroc, a public property open to visitors under certain conditions.
Antibes, cultural side
Antibes Juan-les-Pins enjoys international renown for its festival Jazz à Juan: since its creation in 1960, this summer festival has welcomed the biggest names in jazz.
A Sacred Art festival is also held in September-October in the Cathedral of Antibes.
In addition to these cultural events, the city has a very famous Picasso Museum. Over a hundred works by Picasso are presented there. The artist, who lived in Antibes between 1946 and 1947, donated numerous creations to the city.
The Peynet Museum of Humorous Drawing pays tribute to the creator of the lovers of Peynet: a visit that is most romantic!
Did you know?
Before Pablo Picasso and Raymond Peynet, Victor Hugo lived in this city founded by the Phocaeans 2500 years ago. He wrote the following words about it: "Everything here shines, everything blooms, everything sings. The sun, the woman, love are at home here."
