An Introduction to Grasse & the Cote D'Azur / French Riviera.

Grasse - the town of a hundred sights and scents

 

Grasse & Surrounding Areas:

 

The Bastide is located in Grasse, on the French Riviera / Cote D'Azur, a town long affiliated with the perfume industry since the late 18th century. Located only 15 kms from Cannes and a 30 minute drive from Nice's international airport, as you approach the town the famous terracotta rooftops peak out from lush, green terraced hills at an altitude of 300-400m. Wander through ancient streets and winding alleys that still waft with the aromas of lavender and jasmine or make your way to the town's 'Pointe du vue (viewing point) and take in the breathtaking view over the town and surrounding hills. Notable tourist attractions are the 10th century Notre Dame du Puy Cathedral (that houses works by Ruebens), the "Tour du Guet" watchtower and Place aux Aires - the old market square with it's three tiered fountain. There's plenty to visit for perfume lovers - Galimard and Fragonard both have displays and gift shops in the centre of town whilst the International Perfume Museum takes you on a fascinating journey in the history evolution of techniques used to produce perfume over hundreds of years. There is a museum that displays a terrific collection of paintings by the artist Jean-Honore Fragonard (1732-1806).

 

One of the many perfumeries located throughout Grasse.

 

Nearby villages worth visiting are Plascassier, which was where Edith Piaf lived up to her death in October 1963 and the celebrated Amercian TV chef Julia Child built a house which she regularly visited, entertaining the culinary likes of Jim Beard and M.F.K Fisher. Only 12kms from Grasse is the charming village of Valbonne (meaning 'Good Valley). Believed to have settlements dating back as far as the Iron age, this ancient gem retains much of it's 16th century charm and the central square 'Place des Arcades', is a compulsory spot to stop by for some delicious French cuisine and feel the warm breeze of history that echoes around the old buildings.  Many restaurants surround the square and hide in the back streets; kids play in the square while parents dine. Friday market is a draw from all over the area; even bigger is the monthly antique/bric a brac market ob the first Sunday of each month.

Other close villages include:  Le Rouret, home of Clos St Pierre Restaurant - a classic Provencal village, where an international group play boules on Friday mornings.  St Paul, the legendary artists village on top of the hill above Nice.  Mougins with its vieux village and mass of restaurants, now enhanced by the newly opened Musee D'Art Mougins.  Cabris with its great views over the coast.

Gourdon, the castellated village high above Grasse, whence you seem to be able to see almost to Africa.

The French Riviera / Cote D'Azur

 

 

 

Sizzling sun, super yachts, artists, film festivals, gorges, mountains, caves and of course, the Mediterranean sea. Visitors could be forgiven for feeling slightly overwelmed on thinking where to start when it comes to seeking the ultimate French Riviera experience. The sheer diversity of the area is itself one of the great delights. For those who want to sip chilled Rose and dine with the rich and famous overlooking marinas and beaches there are ample towns and cities along the sun drenched coasts that each have their own charm and beauties.

 

Monaco - The land of the high flyers and of course, the Grand Prix.

 

Monaco is probably one of the most famous - a tax free haven for high flying business people and celebrities, and of course home to it's own very own royal family, the Grimaldi's, with their impressive palace. If it is a slightly quiter and humble visit you're after, there are a plethora of sleepy hill top towns further inland, many of which attracted artists and writers such as Picasso, Van Gough, Aldous Huxley, Auguste Renoir and Matisse during the 19th and 20th centuries, many of whom, were drawn by the rich colours, clear light and inspiring landscapes.

 

Europe's answer to the Grand Canyon - Gorge Du Verdon

 

For individuals with a thirst for adventure, the Gorge du Verdon is a 25km river canyon that cuts through the limestone mass at up to 700m deep in places. The gorge is considered to be the largest in Europe and the town of Castellane is a good starting point and worth a visit in it's own right. Back towards to the coast, Cannes draws flocks of crowds from the entertainment world with the Cannes film festival each May. The draw of Cannes is not limited to springtime however, the many casinos that adorn the city tempt those who enjoy a gamble and the floating-hotel sized super yachts can be admired all year round from the Marina. The Cote D'Azur / French Riviera area is geneally ackowledge to stretch even as far as Marseille. Formally, France's black sheep - the city is now considered a chic and up-and-coming place to be. Although some more cosmopolitan parts of the city should still be avoid, 'Le Vieux-Port' (old port) is a wonderful place to enjoy a glass of wine and enjoy the famous 'Bouillabasse' dish - a traditional fish stew of the region, now considered quite a delicacy. Whatever your appetite, this remarkable region in the south of France will leave your stomach replete but with a hunger to explore more.

 

Marseille - France's latest 'most chic' city.

 

Welcome to Bastide St Mathieu!

Welcome to the Bastide St Mathieu blog!

 

France still continues to disregard it's Neanderthal economic system but the world still wants to visit the Cote D'Azur and this is a glorious place for Weddings.  It is a neutral hub for brides and grooms and the place where hundreds of thousands of ex-pat French want to return for their own celebrations.  Why do couples come here to be married?  The weather is predictable, the sun shines on the lavender banks, olive groves and rose covered colonnades of the Bastide.  Transport communications bring your guests into Nice with one of the best schedules in Europe.  The Cote D'Azur has all the enticements but a few kilometers back from the coast it is still the relaxed world of the Provence hills.  The great restaurants, more Michelin stars per head of population than anywhere else in the world, apart from the little Berkshire village of Bray; the beaches of Antibes, Juan les Pins. St Tropez; the villages perchées Cabris, St Paul, Vence, Mougins, Valbonne. The wines of our nearby Provence vineyards (forget the over-sold and publicised Domaines with high prices; find the vineyards domestiques….such as our favourite Domaine de Valcolombe in Villecroze, recently bought by Philippe Grammont, who knows what he is doing having been marketing boss for Veuve Cliquot).

Lavendar in the gardens of Bastide St Mathieu

Demand for 2014 and even 2015 is already very strong and 8 weekends are already taken or committed more than a year in advance.  This year the Cannes Film Festival had to shelter from a prolonged rainstorm, but now the sun is out and the white bridal roses adorn the terraces of the Bastide. We are ready for the summer visitors looking for boutique south of France hotels.  We will be more a house party than an hotel……everyone meets at breakfast whenever they want; everyone knows where to find their own drinks and has the run of the whole place.    Wedding couples don’t want to overpay but they seek reliable quality, style and heritage……the Cote D’Azur has attracted couples for many generations. Its traditions are now attracting couples from far wider than W. Europe….Russia, Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore as well as the traditional travellers from North America.

White Roses at wedding venue Bastide St Mathieu

Maybe what brings the whole community on the Cote d’Azur together more than anything else is contempt for the current French Government and its determination to make it as hard as possible for entrepreneurs to employ people. If we has a property this size in most parts of Europe, we would employ 4 + people. Here we are so tied up with administration and the sheer impossibility of ever parting company with employees, that the only way forward is to use sub-contractors. President Hollande and his crew are systematically killing the golden goose. Unemployment balloons and the reaction is to put the thumb screws on potential employers……1789 happened when the ancien regime could not reform itself because of too many vested interests; unreconstructed old style socialism is now the ancien regime in France.