The Back Country of the Côte d‘Azur
Grasse
We travel from Nice through the Parc de la Valmasque before arriving in Grasse, a small city considered the worlds capital of perfume. A guided tour of Fragonard’s Perfume Factory takes us through the history of perfume production.
In the narrow streets of Grasse you can breathe the real France, far from the major tourist flows of Cannes and Nice. This town has a very interesting architecture which reflects the splendor of old times when the Parfumerie made her one of the centers for Parisian and foreign aristocrats.
Gourdon
From Grasse, we climb into the mountains where we’ll discover Gourdon, a village perched at 2,770 feet, precariously sitting on a rocky spur above the River Loup. The air here is fresh and clean. A stroll through the village will allow us to discover many boutiques and marvel at the outstanding views over the Côte d’Azur.
A gentle drive down, through the Gorges du Loup ravine will take us to our next stop: A visit to the Florian Sweet Factory, where candy is made using only natural ingredients such as the flowers grown so abundantly in the region. Try one of the candied Tangerines, a pure delight! Perfect for those with a sweet tooth!
Tourettes-sur-Loup
Probably the least touched by tourism in the region, Tourettes-sur-Loup is a beautiful medieval village known for the cultivation of violets, a little flower with an intense aroma. The violets are used in confectionery, but also in perfumes. In March, in the middle of the flowering period, the village comes alive during the violet festival.
The picturesque streets of Tourrettes-sur-Loup with its stone staircases, have retained all their charm. The craft shops, especially those of the weavers, are a special attraction.
A few more kilometers driving to return to Nice inebriated from a day of stunning images and unforgettable scents.
