This tour takes you to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Gourdon, Grasse and Antibes – towns that shaped the region before the era of beaches and promenades. Stone streets, hilltop views and historic centres show a deeper, older side of the French Riviera beyond palm-lined boulevards.
Schedule
This day has fixed key points, but I do not follow a strict minute-by-minute schedule — much depends on weather, light and the pace of the group.
At this stage, the main stops are:
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
A walk through one of the most well-known artistic villages in Europe — galleries, views and quiet medieval streets.
Gourdon
A drive along one of the most scenic routes in the region, time in the village, viewpoints from over 700 metres above sea level, and a short natural surprise along the way.
Grasse
A walk through the old town, the Perfume Museum and the Fragonard Factory, learning about the perfume-making process and the history of perfumery.
Antibes
A walk through the old town, defensive walls and the seaside part of the city. Possibility to see the area around the Picasso Museum.
Flow of the day
The French Riviera in its current form is relatively young — it was only in the second half of the 19th century that it became a popular holiday destination. Before that, the region looked very different.
During this tour, I show places that laid the foundations of today’s Riviera. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a fortified hilltop village surrounded by walls, which for centuries attracted artists, including Marc Chagall and many creators connected with southern France.
We then head to Gourdon, known as the “pirate town”, dramatically located above a cliff. The view from 700 metres above sea level covers the entire French Riviera — in good weather, you can see the coastline, island outlines and distant mountain ranges to the north.
In the afternoon, we visit Grasse, one of the world’s oldest perfume centres. It is a must-see for anyone interested in fragrances — flowers, jasmine, roses, orange blossoms and dozens of other plants have shaped a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.
We finish the day in Antibes — a port city with massive defensive walls, an old town and a history that predates the modern Riviera by many centuries. It is also one of the places where Pablo Picasso worked; today his art can be seen at the Picasso Museum.
This is a calm day with short drives, many viewpoints and a lot of history that does not appear in typical guidebooks. A good choice for those who want to step away from the beaten paths and see the Riviera as it once was.
