Grasse

Grasse, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, is internationally recognised as the historic capital of perfumery. This reputation stems from the traditional cultivation of roses, jasmine and orange blossom, grown on the surrounding hillsides since the 17th century. Several perfume houses, including Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard, offer workshop tours and explain the history of fragrance production. The International Perfume Museum traces this heritage through collections dedicated to extraction techniques and olfactory history. The old town, with its narrow lanes and ochre-fronted houses, is centred around Notre-Dame-du-Puy Cathedral and offers views over the Provençal countryside and, on clear days, towards the Mediterranean. Grasse enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate well suited to flower cultivation, and its elevated position, roughly fifteen kilometres from Cannes, makes it a convenient base for exploring the hinterland behind Nice while remaining close to the coast. The town retains an architectural heritage shaped by centuries of activity linked first to tanning and later to the perfume trade.