Grasse
The perfume capital

Renowned as the world’s perfume capital since the 17th century, the French commune of Grasse is one of the must-visit places on your trip to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. If you’re passionate about art and history, a visit to this small medieval town will be a joy to share with family and friends. What’s more, it enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, ideal for recharging your batteries, as evidenced by the many fields of shimmering flowers that surround it.

Mobile home rental near Grasse

Les Pêcheurs 4-star Var campsite is a 45-minute drive from Grasse via the A8 freeway, making it an ideal base for visiting the city. This is where the essences used to create prestigious perfumes are produced. Gallimard and Fragonard open the doors of their factories for you to discover the secrets of perfumery.

Tourism in Grasse

The first thing to visit when you come to Grasse are the tourist perfume factories that are its pride and joy. Back in the Middle Ages, Grasse was one of the leading centres for leather tanning, and was famous for this activity. But the strong smell of leather, due to the tanning techniques used at the time, didn’t appeal too much to wealthy customers who wore it on their person, especially in the form of gloves. Galimard, a tanner from Grasse, came up with the idea of perfuming his gloves with rosewater or spice baths, which immediately appealed to his customers, including Catherine de Médicis. Soon, the perfume industry supplanted the leather industry, making the city the perfume capital of the world.

So, if you’ve always wanted to know how perfume is made, a visit to the perfume factories of Grasse is an opportunity to satisfy your curiosity. Especially since free tours are offered by the great names in perfume, such as Galimard, Fragonard, Molinard etc., to help you discover the secrets of making this elixir, from distillation to the final product. There’s also the chance to “concoct” your own eau de toilette with the help of the experts on hand, and don’t forget to bring back a few bottles for your loved ones in the souvenir stores.

But Grasse is not just the city of perfume. It’s also a town of art and history, especially with the label of the same name awarded by the French Ministry of Culture to towns that promote their heritage. You can hire an official guide to explain the history of the various monuments and buildings, or simply set off on your own to discover the town’s historic squares and sites. Among the sights to see are the Musée de la Marine, the Musée International de la Parfumerie, the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence, the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-du-Puy de Grasse, the Eglise de Plascassier and the Eglise du Plan de Grasse.

After visiting the city, you might also like to find an outdoor activity. The region has no shortage of places to go hiking, mountain biking or even horseback riding. There’s also the Réserve Biologique des Monts d’Azur and the Parc Naturel Régional des Préalpes d’Azur to get up close and personal with nature. You can also play golf, canyoneer, climb, fish and even ski at the nearby resorts of Gréolières-Les-Neiges and Audibergue-La Moulière.