La Côte d'Azur: Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat!

La Côte d'Azur

Port d'Antibes

Café in Antibes

The 4 day "Ascension" school holiday was spent on the French Rivera with the town of Antibes being our headquarters for the duration.  Founded as a Greek trading port in the 4th century BC,  Antibes is now a resort town and fishing port.  There is a colorful market most mornings on the Avenue de l'Admiral-Grasse whick runs along the seafront.  The nearby Château Grimaldi was built in the 12th century by the ruling family of Monaco and extensively rebuilt in the 16th century. We visited the Picasso Museum located in the chateau: a collection of Picasso's work representative of the short period of time spent in Antibes during his long painting career.

Cap d'Antibes

Château Grimaldi et Musée Picasso

 The second day we drove to the perfectly preserved medieval hilltown of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.  After walking the cobbled, winding streets we found a great place for lunch with a view over the countryside.

Restaurant in St. Paul-de-Vence

                                                                      

View of countryside from St. Paul-de-Vence

Boule court in St. Paul-de-Vence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

The third day we drove from Antibes along the Mediterrranean to the towns of Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat.  I was so happy to visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.   It is a magnificent site that I have wanted to see for many years.  Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi inherited a fabulous fortune from her father, Alphonse de Rothschild.  In 1912 her beautiful villa was completed where she assembled a huge collection of furniture, paintings and porcelain from 18th century France, her passion.  The 9 thematic gardens are also particularly beautiful and overlook the sea.

View from the Jardin Ephrussi

   

Porcelain Collection