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10 Exciting Things to Do in Limoges

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Describing Antibes feels like poetry. The nice kind of poetry. Well, it could be that it has many beautiful things to do, surreal experience and warm people, but then again maybe we need to go to the city to experience why its description flows so beautifully! If you are looking for a little sun and sand, then the luxurious town of Antibes which lies between Cannes and Nice in the French Riviera is where you will have the fun! Get a feel of both old town and beach resort vibes as you look at the yachts and walk through rocks by the sea. 

There a couple of things you can do to have fun whether you visit the town for a short visit or a long one! 

1. Visit the Picasso Museum

Picasso’s Museum, which was first a castle, is a treasured part of Antibes. Dor de la Souchère invited the famous artist Pablo Picasso to his castle to set up a studio in 1946 where he developed many of his works in his six-month stay at the castle. When he left, he donated 23 paintings and 44 drawings. Over time, the museum has come to have in its possession 245 of Picasso’s paintings, drawings, and ceramics so you know it is interesting. The museum also houses sculptures by other famous artists. Many donations including those conferred by Jacqueline Picasso have been made to the museum over the years and have greatly enhanced the works of the museum. 

Charges for entry to the museum are 8 Euros. 

2. Get to see the Le Nomade 

The beautiful Le Nomade

This is a sight to behold! It was designed by Jaume Plensa, a Portuguese artiste; who put together different letters made of aluminum to make an eight-meter-high image of someone squatting and pensively looking out to the ocean. It is open on one side so you can walk in and take some photographs as well as have some thoughts, which was the whole idea behind the creation! You will get the intrinsic details of the image once you get close to it, it is very well done.

The place used to be a fortified tower that was destroyed in the 17th Century, then it became a shipyard. It looks even more fantastic in the evenings! 

3. La Garoupe Lighthouse 

La Goroupe lighthouse which is on top of a mountain offers you extraordinarily beautiful scenery. You can see Cannes to the east and Nice to the west; the lighthouse being the highest point in Antibes. To get there, you can stroll or drive and you will find a small café that serves delicious local foods, so you don’t have to worry about hunger pangs during the trip. It has a reach of about 60 KM for boats and100 KM for aircraft. The lighthouse considered one of the most powerful in the Mediterranean was rebuilt in 1948 after it was destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War. 

4. Walk along the Le Sentier Du Littoral, Cap d’Antibes 

This part of Antibes is a rocky beach. You, therefore, need very good shoes to be able to walk there and experience the beautiful scenic views. You will see the blue water, the rugged coast, flowers and if you love heights and rugged terrains, this will be a great adventure for you. You will also find restaurants at the start of the beach, which is at Plage De La Garoupe and stretches to the Villa Eilenroc. During the two-hour walk/, you will experience a magnificent view of both the rocks and the sea!

Get on to bus 2, and get off at La Fontane stop.  

5. Fort Carre  

Fort Carre was built on a rock and stands in the 16th century by King Henry II of France. It offers you a spectacular panoramic view of Antibes, Monaco, Nice, Southern Alps, the Mediterranean, and Italy enhanced by its height, it is 26 meters above sea level. The fort is shaped like a star and was originally used as a fort before it was converted into a military base. You can see it standing majestically from the harbor so it should not be hard to find. It was used by the small town of Antibes for defense against the neighboring country of Nice. The monumental fort is truly worth visiting as it is also surrounded by a vast garden of Mediterranean shrub! 

The historic monument was renovated by volunteers and opened its doors to the public in 1998. 

Parking is free and it will cost you 3 Euros to visit the place!

6. Take a stroll at the Sentier De Tire-Poil

Antibes has some of the best beach walking trails anywhere! This footpath will give you a very beautiful view of the sea! Get yourself a nice pair of shoes and a camera and you are ready to enjoy the scenery. Start on the east of Garoupe and a good day, you will see dolphins but you definitely will see the Chateau Garaoupe, then the Chateau de la Croe which was built in 1927 and you will also see Villa Eilenroc which was built around 1860. The track will end at the Avenue de la Tour Gandolphe. 

The trail was taken back from private villa owners at the beginning of the 20th Century by the city. Some legends say that the name was adapted from an omnipresent sea-wind, that messes with tourist’s hair!

7. Walk to the Old Town

The old town part of Antibes has narrow streets made of cobbled stones and leads to some of the most beautiful and iconic areas in Antibes. Some of them include the Musee d’Archeologie, which has a history of about 4, 000. Also get to see the Place du Safranier, the Cathédrale Notre Dame de la Platea d’Antibes, and the market among many other sites. The photographs you will capture in the old town will be magnificent.

8. Trails of past artistes 

You should get a guided tour around the place with various easels put up by artists who painted various views of Antibes. The easels have actuals paintings of the views so you will be looking at the view and its painting!

There are easels from artists like Pierre Bonnard, Marc Chagall, Delacroix who painted the Fortress, Raymond Peynet’s Lovers by the Ramparts, Jean Cocteau’s Rue Obscure, Pablo Picasso, among many others. You will also be taken to Renoir’s studio where his things were left untouched; his wheelchair, brushes, easel, and stretcher just as he left them. These easels are located in different parts therefore it is good to get someone familiar with the area to take you around. You will get a guide at the local tourist office in Antibes. 

9.   Enjoy watersports

Parasailing in Antibes
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Since you are in a harbor city, some water activity should be on your list of activities! Adventure lovers will also love this part of Antibes. You can do parasailing, snorkeling, diving, flyboarding, yachting, and even jet-skiing! There are places in Antibes including Plega de la Garoupe which hire out watersport equipment, SUP Yoga will give you a paddle pad Yoga class if you need one, Exocet Diving School, Cote Plongee Diving School, Paddle Evasion, Antibes Jet Passion, Go Kayak, and many more. Get your sunscreen, adventure spirit on and make sure to get information from the tourist office in all places where you can do your watersports. This will be fun!

10. Museum of the Postcards

Postcards are synonymous with travel and adventure and in Antibes, the Museum of Postcards will show the evolution of postcards as a form of communication. It illustrates how postcards were done from as early as the early 20th Century, before the mobile phone and the digital camera era. Here, you will see thousands of postcards from different times, different countries by different people. The facility has a permanent display as well as occasional temporary ones. 

You will pay 8 Euros for individuals and 4 Euros if you are part of a group for the guided tours in both French and English commentaries; it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 2 PM to 4 PM. 

Enjoy Antibes, it is a beautiful and serene city full of adventure and history!