
Les Gourmand'Eze Gastronomic Festival, Eze
Three days with a packed programme of show cooking, workshops, tastings, conferences, amateur contests and a lot more.
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
© PWilliamson
Discover this town full of arts and culture in the hills of Antibes
Biot is a lovely picturesque old town located up in the hills of Antibes. This medieval town is full of culture, history and art.
Founded by Celts, invaded by Romans, taken over by pirates, ruled by medieval knights and ravaged by the Black Death: the old town of Biot has a rich history spanning over 2,000 years.
Today, Biot is a charming town famous for its glassblowing, ceramics and pottery, as well as its shady cafés, jumble of medieval buildings and pretty hilltop views across the French Riviera. The village has the feel of an artist's colony, with lots of open workshops where you can go in and watch artistes create their pieces. Or just stroll through cobbled streets framed by stone archways and glimpses of the sea.
Lovely French bistros and restaurants line the old town and bars welcome guests in to try the local Provençal wines. Craft shops and galleries invite you to explore their produce and the historical stone buildings demonstrate the history and past of this village.
Biot has so much to explore, from the museums and galleries to the shops and workshops, you can spend days discovering and enjoying all that it has to offer. Being so conveniently located to the coast it makes for a wonderful place to stay or visit whilst on holiday in Antibes.
Every Tuesday Biot hosts its Provençal market. Fresh produce, crafts, knick-knacks and friendly stall hosts give you the true French market experience.
In September Biot also hosts the Italian market where you can enjoy all the Italian delicacies, delicious fresh produce and warm friendly atmosphere that comes from this neighbouring country.
Three days with a packed programme of show cooking, workshops, tastings, conferences, amateur contests and a lot more.
The wonderful Opéra de Nice venue, on the Promenade des Anglais in the old town of Nice, hosts some of the best classical music concerts in the French Riviera.
A date for the diary if you are planning a wedding. Here you will find a collection of marriage and wedding companies all under one roof.
This marathon takes place in the cooler autumn, starting in Nice and heading over a slightly varied route each year to the finish in the glamorous centre of Cannes.
The 'Carnaval de Nice' almost rivals Rio with its extravagant and colourful parades down the Promenade des Anglais.
The start of spring is celebrated every Sunday in May with a grand celebration in the Jardins de Cimiez.
Biot show signs of being occupied in the Prehistoric period. After this it was mainly ruled by tribes who were in conflict with the city of Antipolis (Antibes) throughout the ruling. Once it had been taken over by the Romans it remained pretty stable for five centuries. The Romans built a community, set up businesses and built monuments; some of which can still be seen in the town today.
After the Roman period and the Medieval age, about which much is not known, Biot was given to the Knight Templars by the Earl of Provence in 1209. The knights were either donated and purchased themselves the majority of the land and housing, meaning Biot became a united town once again.
When the Knight Templars crumbled, the town was given to the Saint John of Jerusalem and the Bishop of Grasse. It remained in their ownership until the French Revolution, when the village was raided by gangs and was riddled with the plague, causing destruction and devastation. The church was destroyed and in 1387 Biot was eventually abandoned as villagers fled and only criminals and gangs remained.
In 1470 King René recruited Italian families to inhabit the town once again and re-build it to what it once was. The families settled here and it slowly began to become prosperous and beautiful once again. It has stayed this way right up until today. The trade of the town has of course changed over the years from crops to pottery and from jar making to a technological community.
The pottery trade and agriculture remained an important focus for the trade in Biot until the 1960’s when the need for these things had declined. The opening of the glass factory in 1956 by Eloi Monod gave Biot a new wave of arts culture, and in 1970 the creation of the Sophia-Antipolis business park brought a different technological trade to the village, and The Nice-Sophia Antipolis University research centre is also now based in Biot.
With all this development came the creation of suburbs and with the suburbs came the arts. The glass factory is known for its wonderful bubble glass and you can explore the history and making of this beautiful glass artwork at the La Verrerie de Biot.
Biot is now a huge centre for arts and crafts with various galleries and museums as well as wonderful shops and studios.
The art lover has found heaven in Biot.
The most famous attraction is the Fernand Leger Museum at the bottom of the village, dedicated to the French Cubist artist. Here, even the building is a work of art, the giant murals on its face were initially intended for the exterior of the Hanover Stadium!
Also at the bottom of the village is the famous glassblowing workshop La Verriere de Biot, where Biot's famous 'bubble glass' was invented; you can even take a class.
Back in the village there's the History and Ceramic Museum, where you can learn about the town's history as an artist's colony from the 1600's and see the giant pots the town was so well known for.
Walk through the town, visiting jewellers, painters, ceramists, sculptors and many more art workshops to watch the wonderful pieces being made.
For those who love the Japanese art of Bonsai, there is a museum here for that too.
A few months before his death in 1955, artist Fernand Léger acquired a farmhouse at the foot of the village of Biot. It was here that his widow Nadia Leger, decided to create a museum to honour him and showcase his life's work.
Classified as a historic monument this 15th-century catholic church is located in the heart of the village of Biot.
The beach at Biot is covered in smooth stones rather than sand, with a huge stretch of beach that stretches all the way to Nice. You can rent paddleboards, kayaks and other water toys, or just swim in the calm waters and sunbathe.
In the evening, join the local crowd enjoying the long summer twilight with a picnic on the beach. If you're looking for a sandy beach then you should head down to Antibes or Juan les Pins, or travel past Nice to the stunning beaches at Villefranche and Cap D'ai, well worth the trip.
Plage de la Pierre au Tambour runs from the port all the way to Antibes and has a busy road and train line running behind it, neither of which you can hear much. If you stand facing the sea and look to your right you can see Antibes and its 16th century fort sticking out from the mainland.
Right beside the marina, Plage de la Batterie (also known as Plage Villeneuve-Loubet) is a pleasant pebble beach with plenty of activities on offer.
Palm trees, sparkling blue waves and soft white sand make Plage des Bouches du Loup feel like a tropical paradise.
Plage du Cros de Cagnes is the main stretch of beach in Cagnes-Sur-Mer, running the length of the lively row of restaurants and bars that line the seafront.
Saint-Laurent-du-Var has one of the best-equipped waterfronts in terms of barely having to leave the beach all day - everything is right here.
Plage de Carras is a well-equipped “handiplage”, which has facilities and lifeguards to enable people with disabilities to enter the water safely.
The French Riviera and Provence is known for its wonderful food and wine, and when staying in Biot this is no exception.
There are plenty of small French bistros with set menus that will serve the traditional Provençal dishes and pizzerias serving freshly made pizzas. If it's a French crépe you're after then we have heard that Auberge du Vieux Village at the entrance to the old village serves a wonderful range, they even do a pizza version, which is their speciality.
This restaurant in the village of Biot has a wonderful garden setting with a private pool, fountains and old trees with a magnificent view over the coastline. Provencal-inspired cuisine with a modern twist, the menu is renewed every month.
Located a few meters from the steep streets of the village of Biot, the restaurant is housed in an authentic pottery from the sixteenth century.
Biot hilltop village is just that, a village, and has little-to-no nightlife apart from a couple of small bars and cafés to drink wine under the stars.
Down on the coast you'll find the vibrant Casino Siesta on the beach which has DJ's and stays open late in the summer, but Biot is not exactly the focal point of nightlife on the Riviera.
Head to Antibes if you want to spend your night in an unpretentious bar, but if you want nightclubs, you'll need to head down the coast to Juan les Pins, Cannes, or to Nice and Monaco in the other direction.
Biot is an extremely interesting and culturally rich place to visit. With a variety of galleries, museums, workshops and shops there is plenty to enjoy and do. There are regular sightseeing tours form the tourist office where experienced guides will take you around this beautiful town. Alternatively you can download a free audio guide to your iPhone or smartphone via the App store or Android store and discover the town at your own pace.
Once you have experienced the culture of Biot, or if the summer heat proves too much, then you can head to the beautiful coast of Antibes. With wonderful beaches only a 10-minute drive away you can enjoy all the activities the sparkling ocean has to offer. Relax on the beach with its gradual sand rolling into the sea it's great for families, and children can splash around in the shallow waters.
If you fancy something more active why not head out into the blue ocean and enjoy some watersports. Wakeboarding, water-skiing and banana boating are among the few you can get wet and enjoy.
With children in tow Marineland waterpark is a must. A short drive from Biot this waterpark has aquariums and there are even some water rides – fun for kids and adults.
If you want to venture further along the coastline then you can hire a yacht or boat for the day. With its amazing ports housing some of the largest boats in Europe you can join in the elite and hop on board and enjoy the wonderful coast for the day. Take a luxurious day trip to the popular St Tropez, explore the lovely towns along the coast or simply anchor out in the ocean and enjoy the peaceful sound of the waves.
Biot has two golf courses very nearby. The 18-hole Biot Golf Course is one of the oldest courses on the Riviera, offering a flat, lovely, (if very short) course of some difficulty. It offers gorgeous views of the old village of Biot, as well as a friendly club which welcomes non-members with a good restaurant, club rental, lessons, driving range and pro-shop. In nearby Sophia Antipolis, you'll find Le Provençal Golf, a 9-hole architect-designed course offering narrow fairways and stunning views of the Alps.
The course of Biot Golf Club extends over 4511m, and has been designed so that it is suitable for players of all levels, but also to enhance the beauty of the site.
A challenging ride up a steep mountain pass to a summit of 963m, the Col de Vence is a classic cycling route of the Cote d’Azur. Starting from Nice along the Promenade des Anglais, follow the cycle path past the airport to Cagnes-Sur-Mer; you’ll know you’ve reached Cagnes-Sur-Mer when you come to a long stretch of seafront and a dangling rhinoceros (you’ll understand when you see it), turn right up Avenue General Leclerc - it’s the second road after the church.
This intense little loop packs quite a lot into a short ride, taking you up to the serenity of the high mountains and back down to the hustle of the seafront in just 30km.
La Grande Corniche is one of the classic cycle routes of the Riviera and this ride takes you from the heart of Nice all the way to Menton on the Italian border and back.
This half-day ride takes you on a panoramic tour via four of the region’s famous sixteen “perched villages” - ancient towns built high amongst the mountains of the Alpes-Maritime. There is a fair bit of climbing involved in this ride, 1500m over just under 60km, but there are also plenty of long flowing descents where you can drink in the magnificent views of mountains in one direction and sea in the other. The biggest climb is the first one up to Aspremont, so once you’ve nailed that you can relax and take the rest nice and easy.
When Lance Armstrong describes a training route as “mythical” you know it’s not going to be easy…
In the winter months the terraces surrounding the village of Tourrettes-Sur-Soup are coloured purple, while the delicately scented air flatters the nostrils. Roughly 40 families still carry on the tradition that celebrates the 'Festival of Purple' (1st sunday in March) where the town is filled with Violet Victoria and Parma Violet.
The Notre-Dame des Fleurs stands on the site of an 11th century Benedictine Abbey. The building now houses the gallery Beaubourg which exhibits contemporary works of art.
This hike goes through land formally used for agriculture that now is only used for winter grazing, leaving its rich soil unused, due to the lack of a water source.
Nice’s flagship urban park covers 12 hectares in the heart of the city, just a few minutes walk from Promenade des Anglais. Promenade du Paillon used to be a very congested and rather ugly thoroughfare where the old bus station and multi storey car park were situated. It was demolished in 2011 and a 3 year development project took place to turn it into the oasis of green open space, safe play areas and impressive water features that we enjoy today.
This is the shortest and most easily accessible of the Sentier Littoral walks; making it easy to fit into a quiet afternoon when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Nice town.
Leave the old town of Villefranche-sur-mer and escape into the wooded hills as far down as Cap Ferrat. Take a tour of the old city via Rue Obscure, a shady path the winds its way through vaulted cellars from the old harbor.
Jet-ski, waterskiing, wakeboard, wakesurf, parachute, canoe and paddleboard, Glisse Paradise have it all!
Located on Carras beach in Nice, Jet Evasion rents licence-free jet skis & sea scooters.
They adapt to the overall level of the group so that everyone can spend an unforgettable day together whether you are a family of beginners or a group of experienced kayakers.
The beach front of Nice is the best place for watersports and situated at the heart of the city front is the company Nikaia Watersports.
Paddleboarding along the coast is a fun for the whole family!
The flavours of the Mediterranean have never been so well captured as in this classic Provencal villa, whose sun yellow facade, olive green shutters and azure swimming pool provide a warm welcome to those visiting this charming corner of Provence.
At Le Haut des Espinets you can chose from a fully equipped luxury apartment or a double room with a terrace and a sea view.
Located in the town of Vence, in a quiet residential area, charming villa set in grounds of 3600 m². Private salt water swimming pool (10m x 5m – Depth 110/170 cm – Alarm), outdoor shower (hot water), pool house (barbecue, oven, gas hob), terrace with garden furniture, deckchairs and dining table. Parking for 4 cars. 2 km shops. Beach 12km.
In Vence, 5 km from Saint-Paul,, in a residential area, beautiful contemporary villa located on a plot of 1000m2.
Just outside historic Vence and a short distance from magnificent Saint Paul de Vence, this beautiful and contemporary house on a generous private plot is very quietly located for exploring all the delights of this beautiful corner of the French Riviera. The villa is located in a beautiful natural setting with views of the mountains.
Les Bougainvilles has wonderful panoramic views towards the sea and is sited in beautifully tended terraced gardens with a large pool, just 5 minutes' drive from Vence. Secluded and calm, yet enticingly close to the bustle of the old town in Vence (3km), the glamorous Côte d'Azur coastline and historic Nice (25km).
Biot has a number of hotels, B&Bs and apart-hotels where you can stay and enjoy Biot and the surrounding areas.
In their charming hotel in Biot, you'll find all the peace and comfort you need for a relaxing stay. Les Arcades offers 12 uniquely decorated rooms, each with its own character, right in the heart of the medieval village.
There is a train station at Biot on the seafront, but be aware that Biot is actually a town of two parts: new Biot on the coast (where the train station is) and the old village up on the hill, which is almost certainly what you've come to see.
There is a bus (no.10) running between the train station and the old village, but check times before you go, particularly on Sundays when there's a very limited schedule. Many a grumpy tourist before you has been stuck with the 4km long hot walk in the sun up to the village! There's also a bus that passes through old Biot from Nice or Cannes (no.200), but be aware that it's much slower than the train.
From the airport to the city centre, they handle the rest. The Côte d’Azur's most trusted private transfers.
With an International fleet of jets and helicopters based across Europe it is quick and easy to get a private charter flight for business, pleasure or an airport transfer.
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
Created in 1976 this company has grown and has now transported well over 100,000 passengers. They have a fleet of 12 craft to meet client demands.
Chabe Transfers are a renowned luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the French Riviera.
Heli Securite offer transfers on a helicopter from the airport to your yacht or various destinations in and around the Cannes area, St Tropez and Monaco. In addition to this they also service all of the main French ski resorts from their base in Courchevel.
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