Hi friends, today I'm continuing my adventures in the south of France with one of the prettiest towns I've ever visited- Grasse.
Grasse is situated in the Côte d'Azur, about 19km north west of Cannes. It takes less than an hour to travel there by bus, and the fare is only a few euros so is an absolute must if you are travelling around the south of the country!
Grasse is known as the world's capital for perfume as it has had a successful perfume industry since the end of the 18th century. It is famously the birth place of Chanel No.5, created in 1921, as the formula was created from extracts of jasmine and May rose that were cultivated in and around Grasse.
It is also famously home of the famous perfumeries Galimard, Molinard and Fragonard which are all now open to the public for tours where you can witness the perfume making process first hand.
The perfumes from this region are also shipped around the south of France, with many shops in Cannes boasting hand made soaps with fragrances sourced from Grasse.
Fittingly, the town is the setting in the final chapters of the novel Perfume by Patrick Süskind. It also features in the film adaptation of the novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, starring Ben Whishaw. (As a side note I'd definitely recommend this film to anyone who likes freaky dark psychological thrillers).
The beautiful streets and back alleys contain a plethora of lovely little shops, continuing in the tradition of the famous town by selling artisanal soaps, perfumes and other cosmetics at very reasonable prices. Brilliant take home presents!
There are plenty of other quaint, pretty shops to explore while walking through the scenic streets.
I would definitely recommend a day trip to Grasse as it is a lovely place to spend a relaxing afternoon in beautiful and historic surroundings.
However, I think it's best to get there early in the morning to enjoy the town for a few hours, as there are some other incredible places to visit that are practically a stones throw away.
And the scenery along the way is just stunning...
But more on that next time 😊
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