Great Things to Do Near Maison Belle
A day in Antibes
Explore the little streets of the Vieille Ville (old town) where you will discover the impressive cathedral as well as the covered marketplace, and the Picasso museum, housed in the Chateau Grimaldi. Pause for lunch in one of the many pavements cafés or restaurants. Then follow the coast road around the headland, to admire the fancy yachts in the marina as well as the more humble fishing boats with their nets piled up on the quay.
Discover Biot
Your local village is lovely to wander round, and its medieval centre has many interesting features and points of interest - be sure to ask for the informative map at the Tourist Office first. There are a good number of restaurants and cafés to choose from, and a weekly market is held every Tuesday with produce and craft stalls.
A day at the beach
There are several beaches to choose from in and around Antibes... the Plage du Fort Carré just to the east of the town is the nearest beach to the house, a long shingle beach with free parking and showers. If you prefer a sandy beach, or want to combine beach time with lunch or a stroll, head for one of the town beaches: Plage de la Gravette, Plage de Ponteil or Plage de la Salis. And just beyond Antibes, the Grande Plage at Juan-les-Pins is a lovely white sandy beach with numerous cafés and restaurants behind, and the nearby Plage du Pont Dulys offers various water sports.
Visit Biot's glassworks factory and museum
... to learn about the history of glassmaking there, with the chance to watch master glass-blowers at work. And of course the opportunity to buy a special souvenir or gift to take home.
Family fun
is close at hand (3.5km) at the Espace Marineland marine park, the Aquasplash water park, and the Far West theme park. Tackle one at a time, or buy a combined ticket for two or more attractions! Also nearby, Antibesland is a big evening amusement park with funfair rides.
Game set match!
Tennis courts are available for hire from the Tennis Club in Biot. Don't forget to bring your racquets!
The Fernard Léger museum
is also located in Biot, and is well worth a visit. Léger (1881-1955) was a painter who became a key figure in the Cubist movement, and this museum has a good collection of his work. The frontage is adorned with a huge colourful mural designed by the artist.
The Chèvre d'Or gardens
are spread over almost a hectare of land, just outside of Biot. Originally created in 1948, the gardens are Italianate in style with features such as olive and cypress trees, fountains, pebble terraces and mosaics. Colour abounds, in swathes of blue African lilies, wisteria and bougainvillea. Other areas to discover include a wildflower meadow, an Orangerie, and a pond topped with lotus flowers and waterlilies.
Treetop adventure courses
Great fun for kids (and adults!) who enjoy taking on a challenge and being outdoors. ‘Pitchoun Forest’ is a mini course especially geared up for children as young as 3 years old. Along the way there are nature-themed questions to answer and hidden animals to find. At ‘Canyon Forest’ in Villeneuve, older children and adults can tackle a larger scale adventure course. Rope swings, nets, log bridges, zip wires across the river etc!
St Paul de Vence
This lovely walled village is a very popular tourist spot, but deservedly so, packed with numerous cafés, boutiques and art galleries, and with a superb view of the surrounding countryside from atop the walls. Set just above the village, the Fondation Maeght is a modern art museum and garden housing many interesting paintings, sculptures, mobiles, and mosaics including works by artists such as Bonnard, Braque, Kandinsky, and Chagall.
Day out in Nice
Explore one of the oldest human settlements in Europe taking in the sights of the old quarter, Place Rossetti, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Place Massena which is the main square of the city. Held in the Cours Saleya, the daily morning Marché des Fleurs is a riot of colour and fragrances. Then why not stay on for a spot of lunch on a terrace restaurant in one of the picturesque squares. Being so close to the Italian border, the pizzas are very good but when in Nice, perhaps only a quintessential Salade Niçoise will do?
Musée Renoir
This museum dedicated to the work of Pierre-Auguste Renoir is only 10km away in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Once his family home, it had many famous visitors including fellow artists Rodin, Matisse and Modigliani. Extensively renovated in 2013 there are now additional spaces open to visitors and an extended collection of works on display, both sculptures and paintings.
Nice to Monaco
Enjoy breathtaking sea views from the winding hill road between Nice and Monaco, stopping at Eze - perhaps the most famous 'village perché' - and the Trophée d'Auguste at La Turbie, where the remains of a roman palace sit atop the hillside above the principality of Monaco.
Try a new water sport?
Various water sports can be practised nearby. Canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding are on offer in Antibes, as well as water skiing and wakeboarding. Kite surfing lessons are available from Port Galice d'Antibes near Juan-les-Pins. Or perhaps you have always wanted to try scuba diving - a diving school based at the Vieux Port de Golfe Juan offers tuition from 8 years up.
A trip to Cannes
...should start on the Promenade de la Croisette: a tree-lined avenue stretching along the Mediterranean coastline, and at the heart of all the city's action. The town's most famous hotels are to be found here, along with a great selection of designer shops and restaurants. Be sure to take in the Palais des Festivals, the hub of all the red-carpet action during the Cannes festival. Wander west of the Palais des Festivals to discover the real Cannes beneath the showbiz glitz and glamour. Stroll around the beautiful Vieux Port before following rue St-Antoine up to Le Suquet, Cannes' oldest district, for incredible views of the bay.
Mougins and its art heritage
Mougins has been considered home by many famous artists including Fernand Léger and Pablo Picasso who spent the last 12 years of his life living in the village. Picasso's studio was in the old village in a building that is now the tourist office, while the studio of Fernand Léger was above what is now the village wine shop. Today, there are many art galleries to explore in the narrow streets and the Musee d'Art Classique de Mougins should not be missed.
Anyone for golf?
Keen golfers will be delighted to discover several golf courses nearby. There is an 18 hole course at Biot, another 18 holes at Opio-Valbonne, and a 9 hole course at Villeneuve-Loubet. For a unique golfing experience, try out the Old Course at Mandelieu, the Côte d'Azur's oldest golf course and modelled on the famous course at St Andrews in Scotland.
