Antibes (Provençal Occitan: Antíbol in classical norm or Antibo in Mistralian norm) is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France, on the Mediterranean Sea in the Côte d'Azur, located between Cannes and Nice. Integrated to Antibes Juan-les-Pins, the technological park of Sophia-Antipolis is located north east of the city.
Antibes is a busy town that is a favourite with holiday makers. There is much beauty to be seen in the old town with its fortifications along the coast, tiny lanes lined with lovely shops selling all sorts of curios, sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Today Antibes is affectionately called Antibes-Juan-les-Pins. The Juan-les-Pins part is the area that many tourists flock to as this is where the beaches and the nightlife can be found.
In 43 BC, Antibes (or Antipolis, as it was then called) was officially annexed by Rome and remained so for the next 500 years. The Romans turned Antipolis into the biggest town in the region and a main entry point into Gaul. Roman artefacts such as aqueducts, fortified walls and amphora can still be seen today.
When the Roman Empire fell apart in 476, various barbarian tribes took their turn at Antibes. The main result was destruction and a long period of instability. In the 10th century, Antibes found a protector in Seigneur Rodoart, who built extensive fortified walls around the town and a castle in which to live. For the next 200 years, the town experienced a period of renewal.
Antibes Juan-les-Pins is a town where sport is quite important. There are more than 27,000 enrolled sportsmen and women with permits in the 100 clubs and sporting facilities, as well as high-ranking sportsmen and women from French teams and the National Training Centre for basketball. Antibes Juan-les-Pins also closely guards its environment and the quality of life of its residents. On 25 May 1999, the town was the first in the department to sign the State Charter of the Environment, planning numerous projects to conserve the environment and respect the quality of life. Antibes Juan-les-Pins is optimistic about the future with a population comprising 25% of inhabitants under 25 years of age. The town continues to harmoniously develop in the areas of sport, economy and culture, respecting the environment and the well-being of residents.
There are 48 beaches along the 25km of coastline that surround Antibes and Juan les Pins. Each one has its own unique character and atmosphere. There are small family beaches where children can play, sporting beaches with all the popular water activities on offer and long beaches with fine golden sand, which are perfect for sunbathing. Most of the good beaches are private, but you are welcome to stay here if you rent a mattress for the day. The private beaches usually have restaurants on-site which serve up delicious fresh seafood. The main public beach is La Salis, on the edge of the Cap d’Antibes. Public beaches are very crowded during the summer months, so it's a worthwhile investment to pick a nice private beach and rent a mattress for the day.
This museum sits atop the Promenade Amiral de Grasse in the old Bastion St Andre, a 17th century fortress. The museum's collection focuses on the classical history of Antibes. Many artefacts, sculptures and amphorae found in local digs and shipwrecks from the harbour are displayed here. The views of the sea and mountains from the promenade are also spectacular
Housed in a 17th century stone fort and tower, this museum presents an interesting collection of Napoleonic memorabilia, paintings and naval models. Several wall paintings show historic moments in Napoleon's reign and there are also pieces of his clothing such as one of the hats he once wore. The view from the tower alone is worth the admission price
Chateau Grimaldi was once the home of the princes of Antibes when they ruled from 1385 to 1608. Today, this lovely castle houses one of the world's greatest Picasso collections. The great artist spent half of 1946 living and painting in the castle. When he departed, he gave the museum all the work he created while in residence: 24 paintings, 44 drawings, 32 lithographs, 11 oils on paper, 80 pieces of ceramics, 2 sculptures and 5 tapestries. It is truly a diverse and fascinating collection showing the many sides of Picasso's art
This small museum in the centre of town brings the contemporary history of Antibes to life through its exhibit of costumes, tools, photographs and other objects used by the local people. The museum presents important moments in the daily life of its people, beginning from the 20th century
The Exflora Park is a five hectare garden open to the public. Next to the large olive grove, there are different styles of mediterranean gardens, from ancient Rome to the exuberant Riviera of the 19th century. The main terrace is at the entrance to the park in the style of the Italian renaissance and from where visitors can view the entire garden. Fountains and ponds stretch along the terrace, making a waterway 500 m long. Antibes is renowned for rose production, and recognising this, rose bushes line the path leading to the sea. The luxuriance of the exotic garden and palm grove is reminiscent of the belle époque, when English gardeners succeeded in planting flowers that bloom in winter, the season when the aristocracy visited the Cote d'Azur. A liitle further on is the theatre de verdure, inspired by Italian gardens, and a panoramic viewpoint with a glorious view of the sea and the Iles des Lerins.
In the style of Provencal gardens of the 18th century, there is a maze with sculpted hedges where you can amuse yourself for a while, wandering at will. Further on, Islamic gardens are featured, with an orange grove where the ground is patterned with terracotta irrigation pipes similar to those in the celebrated Seville Cathedral in Spain.
The vegetable gardens and orchards in the Arsat are planted in hollows as in Morocco, to protect them from the sun and maximise shadow and humidity. There is a representation of a Moroccan house with a square courtyard and pond within, with plants and ornamental pots. The kiosk, with its attractive blue varnished roof pays hommage to the painter MAJORELLE, creator of the beautiful blue garden in Marrakesh. This completes this part of the park.
In another area, the winter garden contains plants that flower in winter, such as mimosa and camellias, but naturally can only be seen at that time.
Villa Eilenroc was built on a rock in the middle of a virtual desert. The area was transformed into a glorious garden through the patience and talent of Jacques Greber, landscape architect and consultant to the Great Exhibition in New York in 1939. He was commissioned by Mr Beaumont to create this luxuriant park of 11 hectares. The gardens with all their luxuriant vegetation lie thirty metres above the sea with a view across the bay of the Cap. Planted with traditional mediterranean species such as marine and parasol pines, Alep and Canary pines, Cyprus, oaks, olive trees, arbutus, lavender, thyme, rosemary, eucalyptus, ficus, etc., as well as three km of pittosporum hedges, a whole part of the park has been created with plants found in the Antibes area in 1920.
In 1857, Gustave Thuret discovered the wonderful, unspoilt Cap d'Antibes and bought five hectares of land where he built a villa and began the creation of a glorious park. Bequeathed to the state by his heirs, the Jardin botanique de la Villa Thuret is now managed by the INRA (National Institute of Agronomic Research). The superb collection of trees and exotic plants, and the rich earth, provide many opportunities for learning, and the cross-fertilisation of plant species that grow on the mediterranean coast.
There are many yachting harbours for keen sailors.
-Port Vauban: The largest yachting harbour in Europe, with more than 2,000 moorings, can accommodate craft of more than 50 metres.This old port was the heart of the ancient Greek city of Antipolis and has a long and colourful history which includes Ligurians, Romans and Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. Today, it is the largest marina in Europe and is full of life. Local fishing boats are moored next to luxury yachts and the docks are lined with fresh fish stands. It's a great place to spend an afternoon watching the fishermen go about their daily lives.
Across the Bay of Angels from Nice lies the old port town of Antibes, which is one of the most distinctive places along the Côte d’Azur. Much of its charm lies in its little harbour, which is filled with fishing boats and pleasure yachts, and the old town, with its quaint buildings and marketplaces full of flowers. Unlike some of the bigger towns along the coast, Antibes has retained much of its original lifestyle as a fishing village. It is quiet and peaceful, and full of Mediterranean ambiance set against a backdrop of Roman artefacts. Yet just next door, in stark contrast, lies the ultra-rich enclave of Cap d’Antibes and the nightlife of Juan les Pins
If you are looking for high-class cultural theatre, you won’t be disappointed. The Theatre Antibea, Theatre des Heures Bleues and Café Theatre La Scene sur Mer all offer a variety of performances from orchestra music to dramatic plays. During the summer, the schedule is busy, but once the off-season sets in, things quiet down a lot.
Music of all types, from live jazz to DJs spinning techno, can be found in the bars and nightclubs around Antibes. There are also a number of festivals and special outdoor concerts during the summer which attract some of the biggest names in music. Jazz is still the specialty around here, and the Juan les Pins Jazz Festival is one of the best in the world.
This is the hub of nightlife in the Antibes area. The most fashionable nightclubs are here and open late to cater to the partying crowd.
Antibes and Juan les Pins host a number of interesting festivals, mainly during the summer months. There's not much in the way of traditional cultural festivals in Antibes; most of the festivals focus on music and contemporary activities.
Private shuttle bus services also operate from the airport directly to the town centre in Antibes. Check with the airport information desk for help. Taxis are available 24 hours from outside the Arrivals Hall of both terminals. Some of the nicer hotels in Antibes have their own shuttle pick up service and it is worth checking with your hotel to see if they offer this service when you book your room. To drive from the airport, you can simply take the autoroute A8 or one of the smaller roads, including the RN98 or RN7, which lead straight to Antibes.
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