Perched in the forested hills north of Cannes, Grasse is the de facto capital of the French perfume industry. Three world-acclaimed perfumers—Fragonard, Galimard, and Molinard—call this French Riviera town home, and the streets are dotted with perfumeries, perfume museums, and fragrance shops. Perfume is top of the agenda for day-trippers, whether peeking into the workshops, admiring the showrooms, or purchasing all manner of scent-infused products. However, driving up to the nearby mountain plateaus—where fields of wild lavender, rose, and jasmine bloom through the summer—is another of the top things to do in Grasse.
Grasse is famed for its fields of wild lavender, jasmine, and rose, and you should plan your trip when these flowers are in full bloom. The best time to see the lavender fields is between the end of June and mid-August, while jasmine season kicks off with the Fête du Jasmin (Jasmine Festival) the first weekend in August and runs to October. To see the roses, you’ll want to visit between May and mid-June, with the annual rose festival, ExpoRose, held in May.
Two of Grasse’s main perfumeries are easily reachable on foot from the old town. Fragonard—housed in an atmospheric, old-world yellow factory—is the most central, at the entrance to the old town. Mollinard, built by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower-acclaim, is about a 12-minute walk south of Fragonard. Gallimard, one of the oldest perfumeries in Europe, is further away; to reach it, you’ll need to rent a car or book a tour that goes there.
Perfumed out? Head to the Grotto of Saint-Cézaire, whose stalactite and stalagmite-encrusted caves are a 15-minute drive from the old town. Located 131 feet (40 meters) underground, it was discovered by accident in 1890 by a farmer digging his field. Be sure to bring warm layers.
