Antibes

Located between Nice and Cannes on the Cote d’Azur, Antibes is a famous resort on the French Riviera. With 25 km of coastline and one of the largest yacht marinas on the Cote d’Azur, it is perhaps no surprise that visitors flock to Antibes for their holidays.

Aside from the marina and beaches, Antibes has a number of art and history museums, a quaint historical town centre, and in July each year the Jazz in Juan International Jazz Festival is held, bringing jazz stars to the town.

Attractions

The Napoleonic Museum is situated near the site of an ancient coastal fortification, close to the beach where Napoleon landed on 1st March 1815. The museum houses a fine collection of paintings, sculptures, and relics from the Napoleonic era, with some of the highlights being a bust of Napoleon and a statue of him on horseback.

The Picasso Museum is built on the site of the ancient Greek town of Acropolis, which later became the medieval Chateau Grimaldi. It houses a number of the artist’s works produced during his year-long stay in Antibes.

The Archaeology Museum is located in a military fortification that overlooks the sea, and from its terrace offers visitors panoramic views of the old town and the bay. It has a large collection of exhibits detailing the history of the town in Greek and Roman times.

Fort Carré is built on a rock 26 metres above sea level, and before becoming a military fortification in medieval times, it was the site of a Roman temple dedicated to Mercury and later one of the first churches to be built in Antibes, Saint Michael’s Church. The fort’s gardens are a haven for a natural ecosystem of Mediterranean plant and animal species. Also worth a visit is Villa Eilenroc, built 30 metres above sea level and with spectacular views of the bay area. Its gardens house many Mediterranean plant varieties, and there is an eco-museum for visitors to wander around. Antibes is best known for its beaches, and there are a number of sand, pebble, and gravel beaches in the area, with a good selection of watersports on offer.

Shopping

There is a weekly town market that sells mostly second-hand goods. The Port Vauban market takes place annually and offers a selection of antiques. The town centre also has a number of boutiques that are particularly good for clothes shopping.

Nightlife and Eating Out

It is no surprise that Antibes has a high standard of seafood on offer, and one of the best restaurants is Café des Chineurs, which is frequented by both locals and tourists. For regional Provencal food, Le Jardin and La Table Ronde come recommended. International cuisine is also available, and L’Ancre de China for Oriental food and Le Brulot Pasta for Italian food are well worth a try.

The Boulevard d’Aguillon is the main bar street in town situated right on the coast, and becomes very busy in the summertime. In the town centre under a shop there is a Napoleonic-style absinthe bar that has remained untouched since the late 19th century; absinthe is a powerful liqueur produced from herbal extracts, and is not for the faint hearted.

Tourist Information

Airport

The closest international airport is Nice, which is served by a number of international and domestic airlines, both regular and low-cost. From Nice airport, a bus to Antibes will take around 45 minutes.

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