Free walking tours in Grasse and what to see

Must-sees

Grasse spreads across the hills behind Cannes and has been linked to perfume for centuries, first through the tanneries that scented gloves and then through the growing of flowers such as the May rose, jasmine and tuberose. The perfume-related skills of the Pays de Grasse are inscribed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The International Perfume Museum traces that history with bottles, stills and toiletries, and its gardens, on the outskirts, show the plants used by the industry.

The old town is a maze of sloping streets, stairways and vaulted passages. It is worth reaching Place aux Aires, with its arcades, and climbing to the cathedral of Notre-Dame-du-Puy, of medieval origin, which holds three paintings attributed to Rubens and his workshop and a Washing of the Feet painted by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, born in the town. The Villa-Musée Fragonard is devoted to his work and family. The great historic perfumeries open their factories to the public with production tours and a shop.

Free tours and guided visits

Civitatis has no free walking tours in Grasse. What it lists is a perfume workshop at one of the town’s historic perfumeries, where you learn to recognise notes and create your own fragrance with a perfumer’s help. It is a hands-on activity that goes well with the factory visits. If you are staying in Cannes or Nice, Grasse also features on day trips around the Côte d’Azur and the hill villages.

How long to spend

A full day covers the essentials: in the morning the old town, the cathedral and the perfume museum; in the afternoon, a factory visit or the perfume workshop. If you also want to see the museum gardens or a flower field, add another half day. In May, when the centifolia rose blooms, the surrounding landscape is at its best, and jasmine is picked at the end of summer.

Where to stay

Staying in the historic centre lets you explore it on foot, although the steep streets make arriving by car with luggage tricky. In the surrounding hills there are guesthouses and villas with gardens, peaceful but a car is essential. Many travellers prefer to stay in Cannes, about half an hour away by train, and come up to Grasse on a day trip.