Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Grasse, France

Grasse, located on the French Riviera, is recognized as the fragrance capital of France and offers a remarkable journey for those with a deep appreciation for perfumes.

The town features an international museum dedicated to the art of perfume-making, three perfumeries available for tours, and the opportunity to visit farms where aromatic flowers are cultivated for fragrance production.

While not engaged in crafting your own unique scent in laboratory spaces or acquiring exquisite soaps, you may explore the town’s art and costume museums or embark on a variety of day trips.

In a short span, you could find yourself relaxing on a Riviera beach, exploring underground caves, or enjoying breathtaking views from a hilltop village.

Let us delve into the most remarkable experiences in Grasse:

1. Musée International de la Parfumerie

As previously mentioned, Grasse is the birthplace of French perfume. Numerous raw materials for these fragrances are cultivated in local flower farms, benefiting from Grasse’s unique microclimate and abundant water resources. Jasmine, tuberose, May rose, violet, and orange blossom are among the flowers grown in this region.

The perfume museum showcases the expertise developed over centuries that contributes to the town’s fragrances. Here, one can trace the origins of the industry in Grasse and its historical ties to trade, including significant projects like the Siagne Canal. Additionally, visitors can engage their senses at the museum’s aromatic scent points.

An array of antique perfume bottles, crafted by renowned glassmaker René Lalique, is also on display.

2. Parfumerie Fragonard

Visit the Fragonard perfumery and outlet, where a complimentary tour takes you through the facilities, building upon insights gained at the perfume museum as you observe the distillation and bottling processes of fragrances.

Your journey concludes in a spacious emporium, where you may find it difficult to resist purchasing a product. For those seeking a deeper understanding of fragrances, an advance reservation for a “Perfumer’s Apprentice” workshop at Fragonard is also available.

This 90-minute course, guided by a qualified perfumer, explores the structure of perfume (base, head, and heart) and provides an opportunity to create your personalized scent in the laboratory.

3. Domaine de la Royrie

Grasse’s climate is also well-suited for olive cultivation, and historical sites abound alongside flower farms in the surrounding hills and plateaux.

The hillside Domaine de Royrie, an olive grove established in the 1400s by the monks of Lérins Abbey, offers insights into the history of these esteemed trees, soil maintenance practices, and the olive harvesting and pressing methods.

The estate features a vegetable garden and small houses where plantation workers lived during the 1700s.

At the conclusion of the tour, owner Lionel Brault conducts a tasting session, where participants can experience the intricate scents and flavors of their award-winning oils, akin to fine wine tasting.

4. Jean-Honoré Fragonard Villa-Museum

Distinct from the Fragonard Perfumerie, the Villa-Museum is a sophisticated 17th-century country house where artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard, originally from Grasse, resided during the early 1790s amidst the French Revolution.

Fragonard is celebrated for his expressive and sometimes playful late-rococo paintings centered on themes of love.

The estate boasts an exquisite house adorned with 13 of Fragonard’s paintings, and a garden framed by towering palm trees.

Within the villa, original drawings by the artist, along with replicas of the “Games of Love” series created for Madame du Barry, Maîtresse-en-Titre to Louis XV, can be appreciated.

5. Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence

Situated on Rue Mirabeau is a mansion with ochre walls built for the Marquis of Cabris, Jean-Paul de Clapiers, who was connected by marriage to Count Mirabeau, a key figure of the French Revolution.

Today, this elegant building hosts a regional museum showcasing art, ceramics, and archaeological collections.

The highlight of the museum is the beautiful Provençal faïence from renowned workshops in Marseille, Moustiers, Varages, and La Tour d’Aigues, predominantly from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The fine arts galleries feature works by Charles Nègre, who is recognized as a pioneer of photography in the mid-1800s.

6. Musée Provençal du Costume et du Bijou

In the neoclassical salons adjacent to the Fragonard Perfumerie, you will encounter exquisitely arranged exhibits of 18th-century regional attire.

Mannequins display dresses, skirts, bonnets, and shawls, reflecting the artistry and luxuriance of textiles, lace, and needlework prevalent in Provence during that era.

These garments are showcased within individual bell-jars, allowing visitors to view both the front and back of each piece.

The displays also contextualize the clothing, illustrating the opulence of the salon alongside the attire worn by staff in the kitchen.

A collection of jewelry and ornamental items, including belt buckles, is also displayed.

7. La Domaine de Manon

In this perfume capital, one prominent flower plantation invites visitors to explore.

Set against a backdrop of cypress trees, olive groves, and distant limestone mountains, the Domaine de Manon produces lavender, May roses, jasmine, and tuberose for fragrances used by Dior.

The farm also crafts its own rosewater and jams available for purchase.

It is important to note that the produce from Domaine de Manon is seasonal; thus, jasmine harvesting occurs from August to October, while early May to mid-June is dedicated to the cultivation of May rose, a signature scent in Grasse.

8. More Perfumeries

You may continue to explore Grasse’s distinguished perfume-makers with additional visits and tours.

Galimard, the oldest perfume manufacturer in Grasse, has been operational since 1747, having previously supplied perfumes and ointments to the French royal court.

Visitors have the opportunity to observe the laboratories and receive an informative overview of extraction processes before visiting the shop filled with fragrances, colognes, and soaps.

Molinard, established in 1849, is the second-oldest perfume house, with its headquarters designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Workshops are available for those interested in creating their unique fragrance, alongside a collection of antique labels and bottles designed particularly by Baccarat and Lalique.

9. Gorges du Loup

Heading 15 minutes north, the landscape transforms into a dramatic scene featuring towering limestone cliffs and a canyon adorned with three waterfalls.

Your exploration of the Gorges du Loup can be tailored to your preferences; for instance, you may drive through the winding D6 and D3 roads, tracing the route of the Loup River from panoramic viewpoints.

A visitor center offers access to a metallic walkway that showcases stunning views of one of the waterfalls and the enchanting turquoise pools.

Additionally, for the adventurous spirit, “canyoning” is available, where participants don wetsuits and helmets to navigate through the valley, climb rocks, slide down cascades, and plunge into crystal-clear pools.

10. Gourdon

When approaching Gourdon from the south, it appears almost implausible that a village could be situated so high on such a diminutive perch, aptly earning the nickname “Nid d’Aigle” (Eagle’s Nest).

This charming stone village consists of just a couple of streets, yet the vistas from 700 meters above the Loup Valley are breathtaking.

The château, dating back to the 1100s, is currently inaccessible; however, visitors can enjoy a serene moment in the parterre, designed by André Le Nôtre, famed for his work at Versailles.

Gourdon is best visited in the early morning, as its immense popularity tends to attract throngs of tourists by the afternoon.

11. Les Grottes de Saint-Cézaire

A 20-minute scenic drive west of Grasse leads you to a vast network of underground chambers, discovered by a vintner in 1888. Although only approximately 300 meters are accessible to the public, it suffices to marvel at the impressive stalactites, soda straws, and aragonite formations.

Moreover, during the hot summer months in Provence, the opportunity to retreat 40 meters underground, where consistent temperatures are around 15°C, is particularly refreshing. Visitors will encounter many intriguing features along a 200-meter path, including a stalactite that spans 1.5 meters, formed over a period of 150,000 years, and a seemingly bottomless chasm at the cave’s deepest point.

A knowledgeable guide will also entertain visitors with a musical performance utilizing stalactites.

12. Fondation Maeght

In the early 1960s, art dealer Aimé Maeght brought together prominent modern artists to develop an immersive exhibition space on a wooded hillside near Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

The museum was designed by Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert, while artists contributed various elements: visitors can wander through a labyrinth crafted by Joan Miró, observe mural mosaics created by Chagall and Pierre Tal Coat, admire stained glass windows designed by Georges Braque, and appreciate a sculptural fountain by Pol Bury.

Additionally, an extensive collection of artworks by Calder, Kandinsky, Fernand Léger, and Miró, exceeding 12,000 pieces, can be explored.

13. Fête du Jasmin

Grasse celebrates its profound connection to the jasmine flower during the annual Jasmine Festival, held on the first weekend of August.

The festival commences with fireworks on Friday night, culminating in a vibrant flower parade on Saturday evening, where “Miss Grasse” and her “princesses” delight attendees by tossing flowers and spraying jasmine water from one of 12 elaborately decorated floats.

Street performers, brass bands, and folk dancers add to the joyous atmosphere.

14. Cannes

Located just 15 kilometers south of Grasse lies a glamorous city imbued with the allure of cinema and Riviera opulence.

Visitors can stroll along La Croisette, flanked by luxurious fashion boutiques on one side and the pristine sands of one of the Riviera’s most exclusive beaches on the other.

In the distance, the glassy facade of the Palais des Arts stands as the venue for the renowned Cannes Film Festival.

Walk the celebrated red carpet, which has welcomed numerous celebrities, before retreating into the labyrinthine streets of Le Suquet, Cannes’s historic district.

The hills surrounding Cannes are dotted with sumptuous villas, including Villa Domergue, where the Film Festival jury convenes to critique the films.

15. Local Gastronomy

Although Grasse is a small town, the surrounding region offers a selection of delicacies unique to this segment of Provence.

One such treat is Fougassette, a delectable brioche infused with local orange blossom, making it a delightful accompaniment to coffee or hot chocolate.

A notable dish featured in Grasse’s finest restaurants is Fassum, which comprises cabbage leaves stuffed with a mixture of bacon, pork, and green vegetables.

Another local specialty is artichauts à la barigoule, a slow-cooked casserole that showcases artichoke hearts, shallots, lemons, and bacon.

Both dishes pair beautifully with a rosé from Côtes de Provence.

During Christmas, Grasse offers a pumpkin pie, enriched with vanilla essence and orange blossom water, finished with a decorative lattice pastry.