Antibes, the main superyacht marina in the south of France, Juan-les-Pins, a popular jetsetter resort, and between them Cap d'Antibes, a peninsula surrounded by beaches, to which residents and visitors of both cities flock, and a seemingly endless parade of wealthy villas. This is part of the Cote d'Azur between Nice and Cannes, which, after decades of rule by the aforementioned two cities and Saint Tropez on the tourist map, is once again gaining a reputation as an elegant haven for the wealthiest.
An interesting fact
Sun, beaches and the smell of endless summer
The twenty-five kilometers of coastline that surrounds Antibes and Juan-les-Pins stretches just 48 beaches. All the coastline in Antibes is public, so we can choose any beach without restrictions. Families prefer to enjoy the quiet Plage du Peilon near the old part of Antibes. The two main beaches in Antibes, Plage du Ponteil and Plage de Salis, they become overcrowded in the summer months, so it is best to choose a place in the early morning hours.
He is more lonely Garoupa bay on the Cap d'Antibes peninsula, where the beaches are private and anyone who is willing to pay to lie in comfortable deckchairs and with a lounge bar nearby, in addition to splashing in the warm sea, will also be able to spot some celebrities hiding from the public eye in their villas on the peninsula. Restaurant César on the beach, Plage Keller offers delicious Provençal dishes served on a terrace right by the sea. When we get tired of the yellow sand and crowds on the beaches, we can go to the nearby one Marineland Water Park, where there is a huge range of activities, from going down water slides to watching polar bears, penguins and spectacular dolphin shows.
Bars & Hotels
The infamous absinthe
The drink, which was adored by artists and which may have caused an ear to fly off in history, has its own museum in Antibes. One of the bars next to the covered market is known for the notorious and in some places even prohibited drink called absinthe.
Absinthe bar, which, in addition to the rich range of absinthe on display, also offers some museum specimens of the drink and is therefore also called a museum, is located in the cellars under the olive shop and its interior, which resembles a cave, well illustrates the atmosphere in the bars where absinthe was drunk at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The walls are decorated with old posters, and the rows of glasses are illuminated with a special green color reminiscent of the green fairy, as the drink is often called. The bar is extremely popular among younger visitors to Antibes, because in many countries of the world the drink, which was first given to French soldiers as a medicine against malaria, cannot be bought. In the evenings, the bar becomes loud and crowded, as concerts are often held there.
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A hotel for celebrities
Just where do the biggest stars hide during the Can Festival? V hotel Hotel du Cap – Eden Roc, which reigns high on the cliff at the end of the Cap d'Antibes peninsula. Gradič was built in 1870 by the founder of the newspaper Le Figaro. Its placement in nature is breathtaking even without the additional value of the fact that it was and remains one of the best hotels on the Cote d'Azur and in the world. F. Scott Fitzgerald described the Hôtel des Étrangers in his work Gentle Night based on 'Cap'.
From Marlene Dietrich, through the honeymooners of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, to today's megastars such as Brad and Angelina, Madonna, Mick Jagger and Johnny Depp, the list of famous guests is endless. But fame has its price: 5 euros if we want the image of ice, ironing a linen shirt will "dry" the guest's wallet for about 50 euros, and we can treat ourselves to a massage for 180 euros.
Shopping
A walk between the stalls and antiques
Typical Mediterranean products such as olives, cheeses, tapenades, fresh fruits and vegetablesbut, they are not only delicious and healthy, a walk between the stands where they are sold is always an interesting experience. The largest indoor market is located on the Cours Masséna. After one hour in the afternoon, the vendors withdraw, the tables around the market are covered by waiters and the restaurants begin to invite guests to culinary delights. If shopping is not enough for us, we can stay at the market in the afternoon, as it turns into art products market, where painters, ceramic makers, sculptors and carvers present their works.
She is also interesting antiques market, which on different days at different locations in the old part of the city invites visitors to browse through things they most likely don't need, but it's hard to resist. Every year at the end of April in Pré-aux-Pêcheurs, just a stone's throw from the Port Vauban marina, also hosts one of France's largest antiques fair Salon Antiquité Brocante, which is visited by serious collectors from all over Europe. The arts and crafts market is open from mid-June to September every day of the week except Mondays from 3pm to midnight and from October to mid-June on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 3pm onwards.
Art
Inspiration from artists
All three parts are full of stories from the golden times that happened in the first half of the twentieth century. Pablo Picasso he painted the sea from his art studio in Antibes. Coco Chanel banned from entering the casino in Juan-les-Pins in a bathing suit, Marc Chagall and he sketched in one of the bathing huts at Cap d'Antibes.
A good number of artists who depicted the Mediterranean town and its surroundings fell in love with Antibes. So that their works and the memory of their creation would not sink into oblivion, the city had racks erected with reproductions of the original works in places that inspired them so much that they immortalized their impressions. In many places we will notice that the composition has not changed much. The tourist information center in Antibes has a map that takes us to these points, which are often shady corners with a wonderful view of Antibes and the Mediterranean landscape.
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Pablo Picasso
In the summer of 1946, they Pablo Picasso and his then chosen by Françoise Gilot left Paris and went to the south of France. Picasso's friend showed the artist Château Grimaldi, a Roman fort, which was built on the ruins of the Greek settlement of Antipolis. In 1385, it came into the hands of the Principality of Monaco, which is why it has kept its name to this day Grimaldi. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became a museum, and since at the time of Picasso's visit the museum curator was struggling to fill the room forts, he invited Picasso to create a studio in it.
Picasso spent only half a year in Antibes, but this was his incredibly creative period. All his works, which he created in Antibes, 24 pictures, among them also the famous La Joie de Vivre, 44 drawings, 32 lithographs, 11 oils, 80 ceramics, two sculptures and five tapestries, he donated to the museum. The museum was renamed to Picasso Museum and in addition to his works, the museum also exhibits photos of Picasso during his creation.
Events
Jazz à Juan
In addition to the boat fair, Antibes is also a mecca for jazz lovers. Jazz à Juan is one of the most important jazz music festivals in the world. From its beginnings in 1960, when they organized the first musical meeting in honor of jazz legend Sidney Bechet, who loved Antibes, until today, the biggest names of different jazz styles become a big jazz family on warm summer nights. This year's festival will take place between July 11 and 20.
For lovers of old sailboats
Med June 4 and 8 will come at their expense lovers of old sailboats, because under the name Voiles d'Antibes – Trophée Panerai the best vintage sailboats compete in a special regatta. Vintage (built before 1950), classic (built before 1976) and yachts that competed in the America's Cup regatta between 1958 and 1987 are still beautiful beauties, a source of pride for their owners and memories or envy for many visitors.
Hint
Marina Port Vauban
The largest marina for megayachts in Europe it is Port Vauban with more than two thousand moorings, and even the largest yachts over a hundred meters long can anchor there. The natural harbor, which was already used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and was also used by crusaders for their marches to the Holy Land, is today full of the most prestigious yachts and superyachts - toys that are used by Middle Eastern oil princes, Russian oligarchs and American computer geniuses . Since 2012, the average price for a mooring in the Port Vauban marina is between one million and 1.4 million euros.
Between April 23 and 26, Port Vauban was particularly lively, as the marina held the Antibes Yacht Show. Before the start of the summer season, the exhibition of new models and services in the world of yachts is the most important meeting of professionals and boat enthusiasts in the Mediterranean.
