Explore the area
Close to Grasse, you can discover charming hilltop villages such as Cabris and Auribeau-sur-Siagne, in whose twisty cobbled streets time seems to have stood still. Or heady to trendy Valbonne, with its plethora of arty boutiques and restaurants.
Immediately to the north are the forested foothills of the Alps. Enjoy a scenic drive via the town of Gourdon and the village of La Bar sur Loup, and stop at the stunning waterfalls in the dramatic gorge created by the River Loup.
Shopping & markets
There are plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs and gifts in Grasse, especially if they are scented! The perfumeries and many boutiques around town sell all manner of fragrant products, especially perfume, soap and cosmetics. Also Provençal staples such as lavender and herbs, and colourful linens and fabrics.
A general market takes place in Grasse every day except Monday, and the surrounding villages such as Peymeinade will tend to have a smaller weekly market with fresh produce.
If you head to the Cours Honoré Cresp in the centre of Grasse any Wednesday morning throughout the year you will find an Antiques market.
Golf
The Grasse area is great for golfing, with four courses in its orbit: St Donat, Claux-Amic, La Grande Bastide and Golf d’Opio-Valbonne. They all welcome amateurs, but provide enough challenge and interest for experienced golfers. Very keen players could consider buying a Golf Pass in order to use several courses in a one or two week period.
Festivals
The ‘Fête du Jasmin’ held in Grasse in early August involves fireworks, live music and street performers, but its unique feature is the 'flower battle' where flowers are thrown onto the crowds from decorated floats processing through town and everyone gets soaked by the natural perfume of the flowers.
Another event revolving around the thriving flower growing industry is the Rose Festival held over a weekend in mid May, where growers from across the world gather in the streets and parks to compete for the prizes of most beautiful and sweetest-smelling rose.
