Sightseeing in Antibes - what to see. Complete travel guide

Antibes is a resort located not far away from Nice. This is an old and a beautiful town and a famous beach resort. Antibes combines medieval streets, azure seaside and an ancient fortress. These are also the first associations people name, when asked about this magnificent place.

The main symbol of Antibes is Fort Carre, which is located in the western side of the city. The fort was built in 1565 and has quite an uncommon shape for buildings of that period as it is made in the form of a four-point star. The fort was additionally strengthened in the 18th century according to the order of Louis XIV, who made this place his main military base. The fort was also chosen as the prison for Napoleon Bonaparte, who stayed here in 1794, waiting for his death penalty.

The so called Old City is the best place to watch numerous ancient buildings and see the most notable sights of Antibes - Chateau Grimaldi and Church of the Immaculate Conception. These building were created in the 12-13th centuries and stayed in almost perfect condition up to our days. The castle was significantly expanded in the 16th century and in 1925 it was decided to turn it into a museum dedicated to the history of the town. There is also one more interesting place in the old city of Antibes. It will be particularly interesting to shoppers as they will find many interesting things there. This place is one of the largest markets in whole France. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Sure, the first thing that tourists seek in Antibes remains the rest in wonderful beaches. Vast majority of beaches in this town are well-equipped and perfect for different water sports. The coastal zone is also full of bars, restaurants, taverns, and discos. Life here never stops and you will see these places full of tourists either in daytime or at night. Nearby the town there is also a huge entertainment park, where you can try different auctions, attend a botanic garden, or sit in one of several cozy restaurants. Tourists with kids should definitely visit “Marineland” zoo, where they will see dolphin show and get acquainted with underwater creatures. The zoo also has its own aqua park, where kids and adults can participate in different attractions.

The focus of many famous attractions is the Cap d'Antibes, this is an old lighthouse Group is located, as well as elegant old chapel. Today, it is a kind of museum, which stores very interesting Russian relics brought here during the Crimean War. Sightseeing tour of the Cape always involves a walk through the Thuret garden, which is also historic. It was founded in 1857, the founder of the garden is a famous French botanist and explorer Gustave Thuret. The area of this wonderful garden is about 5 hectares, its territory is represented by more than 3000 plants. 

Those fond of walks to historical places you should definitely check out the Grimaldi Castle, which has always been associated with the work of Pablo Picasso. This castle was built in the 12th century, and the earliest fortifications in its territory were built in the era of the Roman Empire. For hundreds of years the castle was rebuilt many times, and in the early 20th century came to a complete desolation. In 1925 the historic building was bought out by the government, and has been converted into a museum. In 1946, Pablo Picasso visited Antibes, and for a long time could not pick up a suitable premise for work. Then the city authorities offered him to convert a workshop part of and old castle into an art studio. Today, the castle also features the art museum dedicated to the works of Picasso. 

On the coast of Antibes is a preserved part of the medieval fortifications, including the Bastion Saint-André. Today this is a historic building that was built in 1698, transformed into an archaeological museum. This museum was founded in 1928 and originally held a small private collection of finds relating to the Halo-Roman era. The museum was officially opened in 1963 and today visitors can admire its valuable artefacts dating back more than 2500 years ago. 

Among the religious monuments of Antibes, one of the most popular is the Chapel of San Bernardino; it was built in the 16th century and is a striking monument in neo-Gothic style. It is difficult to find an equally beautiful chapel: its hall is decorated with cunning paintings, stucco’s and colourful stained-glass windows. In this chapel many interesting religious values are stored.