Antibes Things to Do Tips by Pavlik_NL

Antibes has an ancient harbour that has been formed by the natural crescent the rocks make, and leave a deep open space close to the coast. The Greeks founded here somewhere in the 4th century B.C. a trading post near the already excisting settlement of Ligurians. Even larger ships can go for anchor here and the harbour si therefore now-a-days a lifely scenery of boats coming in and out the whole day long. This sight is very pleasant from one of the high walls that surround the marina, or just a bench in the green park of the harbour itself.

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Through the gates in the wall that parts the port Vauban from the houses of the inner centre of Antibes, one enters a labyrinth of streets and alleys. Many cosy restaurants and cafe's have here their terraces and little shops sell the craziest things imaginable. From touristic garbage to culinair gadgets to get snails out of their shell. Antibes has a very nice centre that radiates still something of the old ancient medieval times as it is not as crowded like the same historical centre in Nice. Therefore it is especially pleasant for the more puritan tourists.

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Directly along the walls between the centre town's houses and the harbour is a long stretched square with many restaurants and cafe's. Going through the maze of alleys one eventually reaches either the Place de la Republic or the Place du Safranier. Most wonderful is the walk along the high fortifications of old Antibes: the boulevard that offers you splendid views along the coastline stretching to the East, with in the view Nice airport and the town itself.

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Along the boulevard (Amiral de Grasse) one no doubt will stand still near the old castle and wander around. Then, down the stairs one suddenly will find looking up at the bell tower and the baroque facade of the cathedral of Antibes. The wonderful soft colours and it's graceful forms are charming and in big contrast to the romanic strict styles of the bell tower. Especially in the evenings warm sunlight, the square is coming alive in colours, as well as young people gathering around.

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The old castle watchtower on the fortifications of Antibes old town did not change a lot from the way it must have looked in medieval times. However, the place surrounding it now has several rather modern statues and when we hear inside is a museum dedicated to Picasso that lived here a while on the Cote d'Azur, we understand why. The castle itself belonged to the Grimaldi family (of Monaco) until the 17th century.
Another interesting museum is a little bit further along the boulevard. The archeological museumshows all the findings from the various periods that Antibes went through: Ligurian, Greek, Roman and Medieval.

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Back in the narrow streets again we roam around "De Cours Masena", "Rue d'Horloge", "Rue de l'Orme" and "Rue de la Touraque". The streets are very colourful because of the many flowers in trunks and boxes. On the old marketsquare we see the hallways where products used to and still are sold. Alongside the town hall (Mairie) that shows proudly the French three colour.

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After world war II this part of town became known as the free quarter "Le Safranier". In it's centre the Place du Safranier with now-a-days many restaurants and cafe's (on the corner also a really good icecream salon). In a sideroad "Rue de Bas-Castellet" at number 8, the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzaki wrote his famous book "Zorba, the Greek". In the middle of the square one finds the traditional French war monument for all those who fell for the fatherland.

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Vauban was a master architect and builder in fortifications all over Europe in late medieval times. He created fortresses, castles, strongholds and defencelines like no-one before or after him did. This was one of his first fortresses formed in a carre starry shape with cannons being able to strike at all wind directions. Fort Carre was built to protect the Port Vauban (named after the master) against besieging enemies and pirates. The fort stood up against all, except the duke of Epernon and the oposing troops that were against Napoleon.

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