The old town of Grasse is up in the hills behind Cannes and Antibes. In my opinion it should be put on your do not miss list. Grasse is situated on the border of the Cote d'Azur and Provence. It is famous for it's perfume factory tours but the old town is a gem.

It is famous for it's perfume factory tours but the old town is a gem. There are tiny streets that wind around between old buildings and up and down narrow steps. Some pass through arched tunnels and sometimes open onto large squares with cafes. A walk through old Grasse is a joy for the eyes and ears, as well as for your nose. Flowery and perfume scents are changed by food and fish.

All great perfume companies such as Chanel, Sabatini, Dolce & Gabanna order their essence from companies in Grasse. They just name the product after changing it a little bit. The perfume 'factories' that produce the real thing are called 'usine'. Fragonard and Molinard are the most popular and they run tours through their laboratories. In the right season the tours visit their flower fields.

The Parfumerie Fragonard's perfume factory tour is very popular (www.fragonard.com). You will find it at 20 blvd. Fragonard, 06130 Grasse. Even if you do not use or buy perfume you will find it interesting how they extract the essence from the lavender grown in the nearby hills. There is no pressure to buy any of their products. They make other products like soap as will as a range of perfumes. The tour is free. There are two other large perfume factory tours you can visit. Molinard (www.molinard.com - 60, boulevard Victor Hugo, 06130 Grasse) and Galimard (www.galimard.com - 73 route de Cammes, 06131 Grasse).

You can also visit the International Perfume Museum in Grasse. It presents the history of perfume production over the years. It also covers the different functions perfume has been used for, some are not what you expect.

Grasse has two local museums. The Musee d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence covers Provence art and history. The Musee Provecnal du Costume et du Bijou restores and displays the dresses and jewelry that belongs to this region. Both are situated in the old town of Grasse and are definitely worth a visit. There is a third museum the Grasse naval museum based around the life of a famous local admiral. Check opening times as I have tried.

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