Road trip Le Bar sur Loup
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A road trip to do.
Grasse, the Cours Honoré Cresp, the view over the Bay of Cannes
Then, as we started our road trip in the morning, we will head to the market of Place aux Aires. This square was once considered the lung of the city with its eternal fountain and arcades. On the land register of 1433, it was called “Carriera aerarum”. It is on this square that the peasants threshed the grain.
Later, tanners settled on this square. They soaked and washed the hides in the large canal that at that time crossed this square. The tanners dried the hides and stored them in the cellars of the arcaded houses built around this square during the 16th century.
Later, merchants and artisans would take up residence in this square which would become the location of all markets and fairs as well as the flower market.
Grasse, Place aux Aires, old Grasse
We will continue with a stroll through the old center of this city of 50,000 inhabitants. It has kept all its old charm, as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries, with steep streets (e.g. Rue de l’Oratoire), narrow streets (e.g. Rue Droite), with staircases and vaulted passages (e.g. Rue Tracastel).
In this old town, I like to go to the “temple of fougassette” known to all Grasse residents since 1923: VENTURINI (1, rue Marcel Journet), which is one of the partners of “locations-06” and which will offer you a 10% discount on your purchases as such). I also like to treat myself by buying a salty chard tart at the bakery, a piece of porchetta, some salted olives and a pan-bagnat, … .
Grasse, the Princess Pauline garden
At noon, we will go for a picnic in the Princess Pauline garden located at 25, boulevard de la Reine Jeanne. It is an empire garden named after Pauline Borghese, younger sister of Napoleon Ist who loved this walk offering an exceptional panorama of the city of Grasse all the way to Cannes.
This place is bucolic, and when in the 20s this immense property was divided up, Edmond de Rotschild, heir to the estate, asked that 30 hectares be preserved as a garden. In this garden, we find terraces, olive trees, local plant species, etc.
Grasse, the Fragonard & Molinard perfumeries
Furthermore, under the leadership of “The Grasse Living Heritage Association”, “the know-how linked to Grasse perfumes” was included in the “UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage” on November 28, 2018.
We will choose to visit either the Parfumerie Fragonard or the Parfumerie Molinard”. Both are partners of “locations-06” and as such you will benefit from a 10% discount on your purchases.
Museums to visit in Grasse
I continue my road trip to Grasse via the International Perfume Museum, located at 2, boulevard du Jeu de Ballon, which is a unique museum in the world and is labeled Musée de France. It allows the public to understand the history and originality of the professions of the great perfume houses and industrialists of the Grasse region.
Finally, I personally have a soft spot for the Musée Provençal du Costume et du Bijoux located at 2, rue Ossola. I love visiting and re-visiting this private mansion, the former home of Mirabeau’s sister, which since 1997 has housed an exceptional collection belonging to Mrs. Hélène Costa (Parfumerie Fragonard). This collection is made up of Provençal costumes and jewelry from the 18th and 19th centuries. A real stroll through the past in Provence.
And in the evening, we’ll return to gîte de “locations-06 to recharge our batteries in the peaceful countryside of Pays de Grasse, sipping – in moderation, of course – the orange wine made by Thierry.
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Road trip Le Bar sur Loup
