TOURISTS ANSWERS:
So, what to do and where to go while in Antibes.
1. Beaches
The beaches in Antibes are very diverse. These are areas of yellow sand (where it is very crowded in the summer months), and long pebble beaches that stretch from Antibes to Nice, and a number of small rocky coves around Cape Cap, where you can go diving. Most of the sandy beaches have showers, toilets and food and drink stalls. For example, on La Salis beach They eat the best pan-bagnata (local dish, sandwich with olives, chopped green peppers, sweet red onions, radishes, basil and tomatoes).
2. Take a walk in the Old City
Start this walk in the harbor, which is divided into the Old and New Port Vauban, to admire the yachts and boats swaying on the azure waves. Then go through the Old Arch and follow the direction of the market with its dozens of shops with fruits and vegetables. You can also wander the pretty streets behind the market, or walk along the picturesque ramparts at the Promenade Amiral de Grasse, which offers wonderful sea views. 
Head south along the ramparts to the delightful Place du Safranier, a post-WWII commune. 
This place is famous because it was here that Nikos Kazantzakis wrote his novel "The Greek Zorba", and also the place attracts tourists with its first-class bistro "La Taverne du Safranier" (1 Place du Safranier), where they prepare the most delicious fish dishes in the city. 
A little to the south is the Museum of Archeology (Musée d "Archéologie on Bastion Saint-André), which contains 4000-year-old artifacts found in the Antibes area. 
After visiting the museum, you can wander along the narrow cobbled streets nearby, but be careful - it is very easy to get lost here.
3. Picasso Museum (Musée Picasso)
In 1946, Picasso settled in the Château Grimaldi castle and was so delighted with this place overlooking the sea that he later wrote a large number of works inspired by these landscapes. Thanks to the diligence of the artist's last passion, Jacqueline Roque, a museum was founded here, where some of his works are exhibited, and which was later supplemented with paintings on the theme of mythology and landscapes of the Mediterranean coast, as well as a wonderful collection of ceramics. For example, here you can see the works of the French artist Nicola de Stael, who lived and died in Antibes.
Museum opening hours: 15 June -15 September: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10: 00-12: 00 and 14: 00-18: 00/14 September -16 June: from Tuesday to Sunday 10: 00-18: 00
Entrance cost: 6 euros
4. Take a walk around Cap d'Antibes.
This is a promontory in the south of Antibes. The distance, say, from the Picasso Museum to this cape is about 5 km, you can easily walk along beautiful places, or you can rent a car or bicycle and get there, or take bus number 2 from the bus station in Antibes.
Why is this corner so famous? First of all, its nature is a wooded, hilly area, with luxurious villas, coastal cliffs and small alleys that lead nowhere. The pearl of the cape is the majestic Eden-Roc hotel. 
Visit here and the Musée Napoléonien (on Boulevard John F Kennedy), 
and the chic mid-19th century Villa Eilenroc, which hosts a classical music festival at the end of July. 
In winter, the entrance to the villa is free, in summer it costs only 2 euros. Next to the villa there are lush gardens, a rose garden, and from this place a beautiful view of the bay opens. By the way, on the way to the cape, visit the Catholic Church Eglise Notre Dame de la Garoupe on Chemin du Calvaire, which was built in 1926. 
This chapel was built in memory of the fishermen who died at sea. The nearby lighthouse is one of the most powerful on the coast - it can be seen 52 kilometers away.
This is an entertainment complex, an ideal place for a family holiday. There is a water park, a zoo, and several swimming pools where you can watch shows of dolphins, killer whales and seals. Dolphins swim in large aquariums at Marineland and can be watched for hours. There is also a zone where polar bears live, by the way, the only such place in Europe intended for polar bears to live in proper conditions. The territory of the "bear cub" is about 2200 m2 and is subdivided into 3 zones, with pools with sea and fresh water, special plants, rocks, waterfalls. 
There is also a "shark tunnel" - a 30-meter tunnel that runs under a huge aquarium containing almost 2 million liters of water. 
That is, you go, and fish, rays and sharks swim over you! Both creepy and beautiful! Visit the Naval Museum, a jewel of French maritime history. Another pleasant moment - here you can swim with dolphins (for 70 €, children at least 1.20 m tall) and even ... with sharks (for 60 € and children must be from 10 years old)!
As for the Aquasplash water park, there are all the joys of life, slides, pools, attractions. 
Also, here you can look into Kid's Island. There is a lemur nursery, attractions for the little ones, a rope town, a pen with ponies and horses, as well as here you can draw faces for children in the nursery and ride along the old railway by train. 
In addition, golf lovers should go to another part of the complex - Adventure Golf. As the name implies, there are a wide variety of golf courses. 
Address: 306 Avenue Mozart
Entrance: Marineland - 39 € for adults and 31 € for children (3-12 years old), children under 3 - free of charge. Aquasplash- € 27 for adults and € 21 for children. Kid "s Island - € 13.50 for adults, € 10.50 for children. AdventureGolf - € 11 for adults and € 9 for children. Discounts for groups and families are available, as well as different combination tickets.
7. Botanical garden De la Vila Thuret (Jardin botaniquede la villa Thuret)
This is a botanical garden on an area of about 3.5 hectares in the territory of the Villa Thure. Today, the garden has about 2,500 trees and shrubs belonging to about 1,600 exotic species plants of the Mediterranean or countries and regions with hot climates, including South Africa, Australia, California, Chile and Mexico, as well as China, Japan, and New Zealand. Approximately 50 to 100 new species are planted here every year.
Address: 90 Chemin Gustave Raymond
Working hours: Summer: 8: 00-18: 00, winter: 8: 30-17: 30
Entrance: free
Is the answer helpful?
Than cities have always conquered me southern France- so this is some kind of special, completely indescribable charm that combines the mysteries of a rich past and a rich and very attractive present. Antibes is one of those popular resorts, which annually attract thousands of tourists, not only because of their fashionable status, but mainly because of their mild climate, magical nature and interesting sights. And there are plenty of them in Antibes.
The first thing, in my opinion, you need to look at in Antibes is, of course, its Old city... In addition to the old buildings, each of which deserves special attention, the cozy atmosphere of narrow old streets, and numerous shops, and, of course, the traditional market, where you can find almost everything, are attracted.
Not far from the old quarters there is a charming port Antibes, beckoning with snow-white sails of private ships and sparkling decks of expensive yachts. Here you can spend at least a couple of hours looking at all this splendor. 
And in the distance - the sea is blue ... The picture received from here is so magnificent that you just do not want to leave. Although it is definitely worth doing, because there are still a lot of interesting things and places in Antibes.
In particular, one can note the beautiful parks of the city, in the shade of which more than a dozen vacationers make a leisurely promenade, sit on benches, talking about something, or go jogging. Among the most famous parks, one can single out located not so far from the Port Exflora Park, attracting its guests with thoughtful landscape design and unusual beautiful plants... In addition, many are delighted with the garden at Eilenrock villas(Eilenroc). And Cape Antibes, to which you can walk with great pleasure, makes you freeze with delight, admiring the beauty spread around you.
But this, as they say, is the lyrics and general impressions. If you descend from heaven to earth and start listing certain objects that are worth seeing in Antibes, you can start with its architectural and historical sights.
One of the city's most iconic sites is undoubtedly the powerful lock built by a representative of the Grimaldi dynasty in the 12th century. Nowadays, another very attractive object for tourists is located within the walls of the castles, namely - Picasso Museum, presenting to its visitors not only the most famous canvases of the master himself, but also other popular artists of the mid-20th century (for example, Joan Miró and Max Ernst). The appearance of the museum itself here, in Antibes, is explained by the fact that the great artist spent a significant part of his life in this sunny region, and in the castle of Grimaldi he even had his own art studio, in which he worked for some time after the Second World War. In general, the place is interesting from all sides - both for history lovers and art connoisseurs, and, as a rule, does not leave anyone indifferent. It is located on Place Mariejol, it is open every day except Mondays and major holidays from 10.00 to 18.00 in the summer and from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00 in winter (from October to May). Entrance fee is 6 euros for adults and 3 for children.
By the way, fans of museums can also be advised Museum of the Navy and Napoleon located in the tower on the site of the former artillery battery (Batterie du Grillon, J. Kennedy) and tells about the development of the military power of the French state and the flight of the French emperor from the Elbe, as well as the local archaeological museum (fully called Museum of History and Archeology- Musee d'histoire et d'archeologie), located on the territory of the defensive bastion of Saint-André and telling about the rich, centuries-old past of the Antibes region.
It can also be fun to hike in Paine and Humorous Drawing Museum(Musee Peynet et du dessin humoristique) located on Place Nationale. There you can see many famous graphic drawings as well as works of sculpture, porcelain and unusual costumes.
Well, from the sights presented to us by modernity, I would definitely single out sculpture "Wanderer" that appeared on the picturesque coast of the city in 2007 and was created (believe it) from several hundred metal letters. 
The eight-meter figure of a man with his arms around his knees and looking into the sea, as it were, personifies a traveler who stops here and admires such beauty. Why is it made of letters? According to the author, they symbolize great amount knowledge and experience that this person has ... This is perhaps the most unusual and memorable sculpture that I have ever seen ...
If you prefer a walk near the walls of ancient buildings and the feeling of belonging to something higher, drive to Cape d'Antibes to lighthouse Garup(Garoupe). Next to this magnificent engineering structure is a nondescript but very famous chapel. Notre Dame de Garoupe, which keeps within its walls the most valuable church relics exported from Russia during the Crimean War. Here you can see the icon of the Mother of God and Child of the 16th century, an old wooden cross, an embroidered shroud of the Vorontsov family and much more. Real miracles are attributed to this place and the preserved holy relics, so it is not surprising that inside you can see many gifts brought by grateful believers. There are especially many offerings from sailors. 
Another attraction of the Cape D'Antibes is that it was founded in the middle of the 19th century. Thuret Botanical Garden providing an opportunity to admire many exotic plants. And if once no one believed in the idea of the founder of the botanical garden, now, walking in the sight of tall eucalyptus trees or overseas palms (in total, the botanical garden has about 3000 species exotic plants) you involuntarily respect this brave man who decided to take such a bold step and did such an incredible job.
Once on vacation in Antibes, you can not be limited only by its borders. After all, there are so many interesting things in the neighborhood. So, very close is a small town Grasse, known for the perfume factory located in it, inviting those who wish to go on excursions. In addition, it is very close to island of Saint Margaret with a fort of the era of Francis I towering on it (it was there, according to legend, that a prisoner in an "iron mask" lived).
Ancient Antipolis, and now the most "youth" city of the Riviera and the center of yachting - Antibes (Antibes) almost merged with the same old seaside town of Juan-les-Pins. It is believed that this city has preserved its historical identity as much as possible, although it has many clubs, restaurants, bars and discos.
Attractions and beaches
Its most striking sights include grimaldi castle(XII-XVI centuries) and located within its walls Picasso Museum, city cathedral(IX-XVI centuries) with a luxurious medieval altarpiece, fortifications of Vauban, Villa Tenar, fabulous provencal market at cours Massena and artisan market, flower park on 5 hectares of area and tree nursery(2 thousand species of trees), Napoleon Museum, Maritime museum and Peine Museum... The city has wonderful sandy beaches, it has its own dolphinarium and aquapark.
Longest beach in Antibes - La Salis lies on the picturesque Cap d'Antibes peninsula, in its eastern part, being also the quietest swimming place on French Riviera... And in the southern part of the peninsula, from the foot of the "Russian chapel" Chapelle de la Garoupe(open daily, from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.30 to 19.00) offers an excellent panorama of the forests and beaches of this area, as well as the green massif of the botanical garden Tourette park owned by the National Research Institute.
A little further south is the second public beach of the peninsula - La Garoupe and at the southern end of the Cap d'Antibes, on Avenue L.D. Beaumont, rises the grandiose Villa Eilenrock surrounded by a lush garden.
Several small sandy bays and harbors can be found along the western coast, but the main decoration of this area is Napoleon Museum(open Thursday to Saturday, mid-June to mid-September, 10 am to 6 pm; mid-September to mid-June, 10 am to 4:30 pm; entry € 3) at the end of J.-F.-Kennedy Avenue.
The southernmost tip of the peninsula is occupied by the area around the legendary Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, often called the "Bay of Millionaires".
Around the city
Juan-les-Pins located less than 2 kilometers from the center of Antibes. This town flourished between the two world wars, when many movie stars flocked here in the summer, including Charlie Chaplin, Maurice Chevalier and Lillian Harvey. Although today Juan-les-Pins is not as famous as Antibes, many elements of its former glory have been preserved here, including the casino, sandy shores, the famous Art Deco Hotel Provencal and the Jardin de Pineda pine grove, often referred to simply as La Pineda, which still hosts the Jazz a Juan international jazz festival.
8 km to the north lies a beautiful village Bjo www.biot.fr with the museum of the French painter and sculptor Fernand Léger.
Antibes is one of the most popular resort towns of the Côte d'Azur, located on the Cape Garoupe of the Mediterranean Sea between Cannes and Nice with a population of over 80 thousand inhabitants.
Ancient Antipolis, and now the most advanced city of the Côte d'Azur and the center of yachting, Antibes has practically merged with the same old seaside town of Juan-les-Pins.
The resort town of Antibes has the largest (in terms of total tonnage) yacht port on the entire French Riviera. The port was built in the 60s of the XX century on the site of the Roman harbor.
In fact, this is not one, but as many as five ports - Vauban, Galis, Cruton, Olivette, Salis. Together with Cap d "Antibes" and the town of Juan-les-Pins, it forms a single administrative unit.
The most luxurious yachts of those that approach the Côte d'Azur moor in the port of Antibes, but their owners are not inclined to advertise themselves and their property.
In addition, there is a very profitable perfumery industry in Antibes, with a well-established and competitive production, as well as the fish processing industry, but it has significantly decreased over the past decades, plus there is a railway station in the city.
History of the city of Antibes
Around the 6th century BC, Greek travelers discovered a cozy bay and founded the city of Antipolis on its shores (the city located opposite). It was understood - on the contrary, across the bay, from Nicaea ( Nice).
Antipolis was created as a colony of Massalia (current Marseilles). During Roman rule, the city was the most important point on the route from Rome to Gaul. For a long time, he was the only fortified locality on the coast from Marseille to Italy.
In the II century, an episcopal see was established in the city, after which it began to be called Antigul, and over time - Antibes. V the middle ages the city belonged to Savoy, and since 1481 - to the state of France.
Attractions and beaches of Antibes
The most striking and memorable sights of Antibes include grimaldi castle(Chateau Grimaldi) and the Picasso Museum located within its walls, the city cathedral with a chic medieval altarpiece, the fortifications of Vauban, Villa Tenar(Villa Thenard), a 5-hectare flower park and a tree nursery (2000 species of trees), the Napoleon Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Peine Museum.
The resort town of Antibes has a large number of luxurious sandy beaches, both free and commercial, and also has its own dolphinarium and water park. The largest beach in Antibes is considered La Salis, which is located on the territory of the picturesque Cap d'Antibes peninsula, in its eastern part, being at the same time the quietest place for swimming on French Riviera .
As for the southern part of the peninsula, from the foot of the "Russian chapel" Chapelle de La Garoupe, there is an amazing panoramic view of the forests and beaches of the area, as well as the green massif of the Tourettes park botanical garden, owned by the National Research Institute.
A little further south is the peninsula's second largest public beach, La Garoupe, and at the southern end of Cap d'Antibes, on L.D. Beaumont Avenue, rises the grandiose Villa Eilenrock surrounded by a lush garden.
Several small sandy bays and harbors can be found along the perimeter of the western coast, but the main decoration of this area is the Museum Napoleon Bonaparte(opening hours: Thursday-Saturday, June-September 10.00-18.00; September-June 10.00-16.30; entrance - 4 euros), located at the end of J. F. Kennedy Avenue.
The southernmost tip of the peninsula is occupied by the area around the legendary Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, often called the "Bay of Millionaires".
Cape Antibes
Antibes is a famous resort on the Cote d'Azur. Located between Nice and Cannes at Cape Garoupe. The resort also includes the Cape Antibes and the Juan-les-Pins quarter. It is the second largest after Nice. The largest yacht port is located here, as well as a number of attractions that are worthy of everyone's attention.
How to get from the airport to Antibes
There is no direct flight from the airport. You can get there by bus from the airport to the railway station and go by train to Antibes. Travel time will be 12-21 minutes (depending on the type of train), the cost is 1-6 euros (depending on the type of ticket).
The most convenient option would be to rent a car and go to Antibes on your own, because the resort has free parking, which we will indicate below.
Public transport Antibes
The Envibus bus runs around the resort and its surroundings.
A ticket can be bought from both the driver and the bus station or from a special machine.
The price varies:
- at the bus station - 1 euro;
- from the driver - € 1.50.
Family ticket - 5 euros. Tickets are valid for 3 hours. For children under 6 years old, travel is free when accompanied by an adult.
Free Parking Antibes
In Antibes, you can park your car free of charge. The names, capacities and addresses can be found on the map.
Antibes beaches
Attractive private beach Plage Keller located in a cozy bay at Cape Garup. Its clear turquoise water and white sand are the key to Have a good mood and a relaxing holiday. From the unpleasant neighborhood with jellyfish, vacationers are protected by floating nets.
On the beach, you can rent not only umbrellas, sun loungers and other accessories, but also rent a place on a pontoon far from the coast. The cost of a seat on it or on the first line of the beach is 28 €, and on areas more distant from the sea 25 €. For a towel and the use of other beach services, you must pay an amount of 6 € or more.
Plage du Fort Carré- one of the most visited in Antibes, the free pebble beach Plage du Fort Carré is located in the eastern part of the city between the sea coast and the road to Villeneuve-Loubet and to the Marineland amusement park. With a length of several kilometers, its greatest width in the area of Fort Carré is about 100 m.
There are several entertainment options near the beach, including a café with a dance hall and a casino. Good transport accessibility is one of the advantages of the beach, but at the same time, the proximity to the highway is a source of increased danger.
There is a wonderful private beach on the shores of Garoupe Bay La Baie Dorée... This place is usually in a very calm state of the sea, which is one of its obvious advantages.
Sitting on a sun lounger rented for 25 €, you can comfortably enjoy the enchanting views of the Mediterranean Cote d'Azur. There is a restaurant next to the beach with delicious cuisine and exotic cocktails. While experienced instructors teach children the basics of swimming, adults can learn the basics of diving in the clear sea, and then use the services of a masseuse.
Very beautiful public sandy beach La Gravette ( Plage de la Gravette) is located in the historic center of the city, but you can only walk to it from Verdun Avenue.
Considerable width of the coastal strip, gentle entry into the water, shallow sea depth, cleanliness and reliable operation rescue services guarantees a safe and fun holiday during the swimming season. The beach is ideal for families with young children, as it is far from busy highways and at the same time there are many cafes, shops and entertainment centers in Old Antibes near it.
Another wonderful city beach is located between the old town and Cape Antibes. Plage du Ponteil... This stretch of coast offers wonderful views of the walls of Antibes, the quarters of the old town and the Cape of Antibes.
The beach is located at a safe distance from the noisy city streets, so it is also good for families. The southern part of the beach at Cape Antibes is the widest and most comfortable for swimming in the sea. All types are prohibited on the beach aquatic species sports, although there is a yacht school next to it. Along with the obligatory beach infrastructure, there are several cafes and mobile food outlets nearby.
Holidays and festivals
Every year Antibes hosts holidays and festivals that are well worth a visit.
Mardi gras
The national holiday Mardi Gras can definitely be considered an analogue of the Russian Shrovetide. It takes place on the Tuesday before Lent, 47 days before Easter Sunday. According to pagan tradition, this day marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring.
An indispensable attribute of the holiday is a carnival procession with an elected king and queen at the head, a ritual with the burning of a scarecrow, puppet shows and sports fun.
Festival Femin'arte
In the first month of spring, on the eve of March 8, Le Tribunal Theater becomes the center of the Women and the Arts Festival. Competitive screenings of drama performances and humorous shows are held on the theater stage for 3 weeks. At the concert venues, the audience will meet with famous musicians, singers and unexpected discoveries of new names.
In the city media library. Albert Camus these days hosts literary meetings with writers, photo exhibitions and a comic book festival. The creation of visual art masters, who use modern computer technologies and tools in their works, has become a breeze of the new time.
Festival international de bridge
In 2018, the Festival international de bridge will be held in Antibes for the 68th time. For 10 days from April 27 to May 6 at the Palais des Congrès in Juan-les-Pins, the strongest players gather for this card game.
The Antibes Festival, along with competitions in Monaco, Avignon and Cannes, is part of the Festivals du soleil, the largest card tour on the French Riviera. Within its framework, games are held in several stages between professional players among men, women and in mixed doubles. Any tourist who wishes can become a participant in the open tournament of the festival.
Voiles d'Antibes
The Voiles d'Antibes classic yacht festival opens the sports season at sea in early June. The first time this grandiose event, organized by professional yachtsmen M. Carett, T. Peel, F. Cova, took place in 1995 in Antibes. 13 years later, the main events unfold on the esplanade of Saint-Jaume and in the harbor of the port of Vauban.
Within the framework of the festival, the first regatta of the season takes place in which yachts of three classes participate: launched before 1950, before 1976 and new ships, but built of wood "in the spirit of tradition". At least 80 yachts and about 1,000 athletes arrive to participate in the competition every year. The Voiles d'Antibes festival program also includes free concerts and exhibitions of marine painters.
Feast of Saint-Pierre
For three days, from June 29 to July 1, the inhabitants of Antibes oar and on a grand scale celebrate the celebrations in honor of the heavenly patron saint of fishermen and sailors, St. Pierre. The center of the celebrations these days is the site near the bastion of St. Jaume, quarters of the Old Town and the Bay of Juan-les-Pins.
A large number of concerts, fairs and art exhibitions are always timed to these days, but the main events unfold on the water. The holiday begins with a parade of boats decorated with lanterns, and then the carnival procession continues through the streets of the city. An obligatory part of the holiday was rowing and water skiing competitions, as well as a traditional ritual with flower wreaths on the waves of the sea.
Jazz a Juan
One of the most significant musical events in Antibes, the annual Jazz a Juan jazz festival takes place in the city at the height of the tourist season in mid-July. The show was first organized by Sidney Bechet in 1960, and since that time the "Pine Forest Festival" has gained worldwide fame.
The main events of the festival take place in the Juan-les-Pins quarter in the western part of Antibes. Numerous concerts featuring worldwide famous stars jazz are held in open areas, streets and squares, in nightclubs and restaurants. Evening meetings of Jazz on the Beach musicians on the seashore in the heart of the famous Pinède Gould became a creative laboratory for professionals.
Festival d'art sacré
At the end of September, under the arches Cathedral Antibes and the Chapels of St. Bernardine every year classical music concerts of the D'art sacré Church Art Festival take place. For several days, musicians and soloists have performed works by J.S.Bach, A. Vivaldi, L. van Beethoven, W. A. Mozart, D. Cimarosa, F. Poulenc.
The organizing committee of the festival, headed by artistic director F. Depetris, always strives to include in concert program all forms of sacred music: classical and contemporary works for orchestra, organ, lyric and chamber compositions and even Corsican polyphony.
Sights
Grimaldi castle
The Grimaldi Castle (Le château de Grimaldi et le musée Picasso) is built on a low hill where the Temple of Mercury was located in Antiquity. The oldest part of it is the castle tower, erected in the 11th century. Fragments of an ancient structure can still be found in the masonry of its walls. The dimensions of the tower base are 6.5x6.5 m, and the height of the entire structure is 25 m.
The original owners of the castle were the aristocratic Grasse family and in the Middle Ages it was the seat of a bishop. Since 1385, the castle passed into the ownership of the Grimaldi family, who owned it for several centuries. The architectural appearance of the castle acquired its modern appearance after several rebuildings in the 15th and 17th centuries.
In 1608, King Henry IV purchased the castle from the Grimaldi family and soon it became the seat of the provincial governor. In subsequent years, it housed the city hall, and then, until 1924, the garrison barracks were located here.
On the initiative of R. Dor de la Suce, the Grimaldi Castle was acquired by the Municipality of Antibes in 1925. In 1966, the Museum of P. Picasso was opened there, who lived and worked in the castle in 1946-1947. The museum collection contains more than 240 works by the artist, paintings by A. Modeliani, F. Leger, P. Picabia and sculptures by J. Riche and D. Miro.
Thuret Botanical Garden
The Thuret Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de la Villa Thuret) at Cape Antibes was founded by the French diplomat and botanist Gustave Thuret in 1857. Not long before that, he acquired here land plot an area of 4 hectares on which he intended to conduct experiments with the acclimatization of exotic plants.
Initially, the scientist's idea did not meet with understanding and among the townspeople he received the nickname "crazy botanist", but after magnificent exotic palm trees, eucalyptus and rare plants deserved fame came to G. Thure from Africa, Chile, Mexico. In recognition of his services, a bust of the founder of the garden is installed in the garden.
Today, about 1,600 species of trees, shrubs and plant flowers from remote corners of the world have been planted along the shady alleys of the garden. Every year, several dozen new exhibits appear in the botanical collection, most of which grow in the open air. The park also houses a large rose garden with rare varieties of roses, and the Villa Thuret, built on its territory, contains an extensive herbarium.
Lighthouse Garup
One of the most powerful lighthouses on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the Garoupe lighthouse (Phare de la Garoupe) is located on the Garoupe plateau of Cape Antibes. The height of its tower is 29 m, but taking into account the size of the rock, the optics of the lighthouse is located at a height of 103 m.
The light of 500 W lamps is visible on the sea within a radius of 60 km from Cape Antibes, and from the air the signals of the lighthouse are discernible from a distance of 100 km. The weight of the lens and the entire motorized optical mechanism is 2.5 tons, but it can be easily operated manually.
The original Garup Lighthouse was built in 1830, but suffered extensive damage during World War II in August 1944. The restoration of the historical monument was carried out in the post-war period in 1948.
Bastion Saint-André
The Bastion de Saint-André et le Musée d'Archéologie was built as part of a large system of fortifications to protect the seaport of Antibes in 1693-1710. Its project was developed by the outstanding military engineer S. de Vauban, and the architect A. Nike oversaw the construction progress.
After the annexation of the County of Nice to France in 1861 and the development of artillery, the Saint-André bastion lost its military importance and could no longer perform its former functions. In 1963, it was decided to place a museum of the region's archeology in the Saint-André bastion.
In the halls of the museum, visitors get acquainted with the finds made during archaeological expeditions on land and on the seabed. Numerous ceramics, fragments of statues, a bust of Dionysus, coins of Antipolis have been preserved since ancient times. Part of the exhibition, which includes models of ships, tells about the history of navigation in the Mediterranean.
Hundreds of exhibits tell about Everyday life townspeople and inhabitants of the suburbs of Antibes in the Gallo-Roman era and the Middle Ages. The museum has recreated the interiors of ancient temples, workshops, shops and houses of wealthy residents.
Military Fort Carré
The military fort Carré (Le Fort Carré) was built in the 16th century. near Antibes on the Saint-Roche peninsula at the direction of King Henry II. His task was to protect the troubled border of France with the Duchy of Savoy.
First of all, according to the project of the architect J. de Saint-Remy, the Saint-Laurent tower was erected. It was surrounded by a 23 m wide courtyard and by the walls of a square fort. In 1553-1585, the defensive fortifications were strengthened by the construction of 4 narrowing bastions at the corners of the old fortress with the placement of 21 cannons. In the 1680s, Fort Carré was again fortified according to the design of the engineer S. de Vauban.
The funds invested in the construction were not in vain. Fort Carré successfully defended the seaside town in 1746-1747 during a battle with the English fleet and the Austro-Sardinian troops. After 1860, it almost lost its military significance, but continued to be used first as a barracks, and since 1920 it housed a military school, sports schools, regional center education.
In 1975-1985, the Carré Fort was restored by members of the Le Club du Vieux Manoir Historical Society. Since 1997, its bastions have been open to tourists, inside which an exhibition hall has been created.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (La cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Platea) was built in Antibes on the site of the ancient temple of Diana and Minevra. In 1224 it was destroyed by the Saracens, but was rebuilt a year later. It was also badly damaged during the War of the Austrian Succession in 1746. The facade of the temple acquired its modern look during the reconstruction carried out in the 19th century.
In the interior of the cathedral, carved doors are of particular value, on which figures of the heavenly patrons of Antibes - St. Roch and St. Sebastian. In the altar of the temple, created by the artist Louis Brea in 1515, a sculpture of the Virgin of the Rosary has been preserved. Under the vaults of the cathedral there is also an old font of the 18th century, several tombstones and an organ installed here in 1860 by master Jung.
Amusement park marinaland
The Marineland theme park opened in Antibes in 1970. One of the largest oceanariums with a dolphinarium in Europe, Kid's Island amusement park, a mini-golf course and Aquasplash water park are located on an area of 31 hectares.
On Kid's Island, vacationers are happy to do the most desperate things: they climb to dizzying heights on the Ferris wheel, quickly slide down a roller coaster or make a crazy jump from a tall bungee.
The park's aquarium contains 4 killer whales, whose life can be observed through a transparent wall 64 m long. Behind the walls of the shark tunnel, the most formidable sea predators live - sharks and manta rays. The water arena regularly hosts unforgettable shows with bottlenose dolphins, sea lions and black seals for visitors to the park.
The amazing world of coral reefs is represented in the tropical aquarium. The park is also home to polar bears and seabirds, including penguins, flamingos and pelicans.
Villa Eilenrock
A symbol of luxury and pleasure, the Villa et jardin Eilenroc was built in 1860-1867 by the architect C. Garnier for the former governor of the Dutch East Indies H. H. Louden. Its original name is an anagram of the name of the wife of the first owner of the villa - Lady Cornelia.
When designing the villa, the architect chose the neoclassical style. On the west side, a wide grand staircase with side flowerpots leads to the entrance of the villa. The facade of the villa is decorated with columns in the Ionian style, rusticated walls and a balustrade over the eaves of the building.
For a long time, Villa Eilenrock was privately owned. The guests of its owners were often crowned persons: the kings of Belgium Leopold and Egypt, Farouk, stayed in it. Since 1988, according to the will of the last owner, E. Beaumont, the villa has been owned by the city, and a small eco-museum has been opened in its halls.
Villa Eilenrock is surrounded by wonderful gardens and parks covering an area of about 11 hectares. There are 3.7 km of walking paths in the olive groves. In 2011, a Garden of Fragrances was created near the entrance to the rose garden, where hundreds of species of roses are grown.
Church of Notre Dame de la Garoupe
The Church of Notre Dame de la Garoupe is located in one of the most picturesque areas of the city on the Cape of Antibes, near the Garoupe lighthouse. The oldest part of the temple in the form of a tower was built in the 15th century. The basilica building itself consists of two asymmetrical naves.
The main nave of the Notre Dame de La Garde is decorated in 1952-1953 with a fresco by the artist J.A. Clergue, the subject of which was the historical visit of Pope Gregory XI to Antibes in 1376. The altar of the temple is decorated with choirs created by the sculptor J. Dollé. The secondary nave of Notre Dame de Bon Port was added to the church after 1520. Its walls were painted by the artist E. Collin, who painted a huge fresco in 1948.
The church's reliquary contains over 250 votive objects. A significant part of them are models of ships donated to the temple and the heavenly patron of sailors by parishioners. It also contains several Orthodox shrines, taken from Sevastopol by captain Bartalomeo Ober. Since the mid-19th century, the church has been decorated with the 16th icon "Theotokos with the Child" and a wooden cross, a shroud with an embroidered pattern, which belonged to the family of Count Vorontsov.
A small chapel attached to the church was consecrated in the name of the mother of the Roman emperor Constantine St. Elena. According to legend, she visited Antipolis in about 300.
History of Antibes
The first urban settlement on the site of modern Antibes was founded by ancient Greek colonists from Marsalia (Marseille) in the 6th century. BC NS. Lying on the shore of the bay opposite Nicea (Nice), the city was named Antipolis.
During the domination of the Roman Empire, it became the most important transit point on the Aurelia road leading from the coast to Galia and for a long time was the only well-fortified city between Marsalia and the Italian border.
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. Antibes becomes the center of the bishopric, whose rulers are constantly at war with the Saracens. In 1481, Provence joins France, and Antibes becomes a border city on the borders with the Duchy of Savoy.
In the XVI century. the city was in the area of hostilities between neighboring countries and for some time was lost to France. During the wars of religion at the end of this century, Antibes again found itself in a war zone, but the most significant destruction was caused by fire and a 57-day siege by the troops of Austria and Savoy in 1746.
In the vicinity of Antibes at the beginning of the XIX century. An important event for European history happened: in 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte, who had fled from the island of Elba, landed on the beach of Golfe-Juan and from here began his new campaign to Paris.
For several centuries, the main occupation of the inhabitants of the borderland Antibes was fishing, the production of fish sauces and the cultivation of tobacco, but after the annexation of the County of Nice in 1860, in the history of the city began new stage... With the disappearance of the state border near Antibes, the threat of foreign invasion has diminished, and the creative elite and the "powers that be" were finally able to appreciate the nature and climate of this region.
Gaining momentum at the end of the XIX century. the resort boom on the Cote d'Azur has not spared Antibes either. The first resort was founded on the western outskirts of the city in Juan-les-Pins in 1882.
The rapid development of Antibes as an elite holiday destination began in the 20th century. after the First World War. Constructed at the expense of F. Gould, the heir to the American railway tycoon D. Gould, villas, hotels and mansions formed the basis of the new economy.
The city and its surroundings have become a coveted vacation spot for artists, writers, wealthy businessmen and successful politicians. Luxury and comfort are still the hallmark of the prestigious resort, where Ch. Chaplin, F.S. Fitzgerald, the Kennedy family, M. Dietrich, P. Picasso and many crowned persons lived and rested.
Updated: 10.05.2018