Excursions of Cannes

For a Half Day

Grasse: The world capital of the perfume industry for over three centuries, Grasse is situated just 16km (ten miles) from Cannes. Four of its 300 perfume factories and the Musee International de la Parfumerie, 8 place du Cours, are open to the public. August brings the Fete du Jasmin, with a carnival atmosphere and floats of flowers. Other attractions include the fascinating Musee d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence, 2 rue Mirabeau, Amiral de Grasse Museum and the 12th-century cathedral, which contains three Rubens. Rapide-Cote d’Azur buses to Grasse depart from the Cannes train station. The Grasse Tourist Office, Cours Honore-Cresp, provides further information.

For a Whole Day

Nice: 32km (20 miles) east along the coast, Nice is a museum Mecca. The Musee Matisse, 164 avenue des Arenes de Cimiez displays a rich collection of paintings and sculptures in the artist’s former home. The Musee National Message Biblique, avenue du Dr Menardhouses the enormous dreamscapes of Marc Chagall. Proud portraits of Napoleon and Josephine, religious art and Flemish and Germanic sculpture are displayed in the Musee d’Art et d’Histoire, 65 rue de France , located in the lush turn-of-the-century Palais Massena. The prestigious Musee d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain (MAMAC), Promenade des Arts displays French and American works from the 1960s to the present day. The New Museum of Asian Arts has just opened at 405 promenade des Anglais (.

There are direct SNCF trains and Rapide-Cote d’Azur buses to Nice, departing from Cannes train station. Nice Tourism, 5 Promenade des Anglais is open Monday-Saturday 0800-2000, Sunday 0900-1800 (June-September) and Monday-Saturday 0900-1800 (October-May).