Antibes 

25 minutes by train from Nice, it’s a Medieval fortified village with a lot of greenery in between. Subtly decorated with thin metallic spirals that make the design of the streetlamps – it's Picasso’s choice for placing his Art Studio on the French Riviera. And not by coincidence! Antibes is the heart of deep romanticism between extreme, raw forces. The conglomeration of rock houses, in contrast with fragile, climbing plants and flowers. Tight streets and imposing constructions. Straight lines completed by curvatures in architecture. The freedom of the Sea contrasting the defending walls of the Fortress that once was. Nature and the construction of man. It may be these hidden paradoxes that sparked something in Picasso when he made his choice. There are faded colors on the buildings. That is, perhaps, what makes this tension even more effective. It exudes coldness but it lights up warmness and enchantment. Its numerous arches symbolize strength, connection, and support, “lightness and openness within density”, encourage feelings of transcendence. Their streets were never meant for cars nor speed. It slows down the time with the beatings of your heart. Besides, instead of big chains and big names of shops, here you can find little, original French boutiques with artworks, antiquities, books, clothing, and rare pieces of furniture. The entire atmosphere emanates an authentic blueprint of Past Decades. There is also that allure when walking its allies, it gives somewhat of a labyrinth feeling. The streets are different by detail. Somehow adding to the tension again. The brightest colors throughout the town are represented by the flowers. Quite a nice note to splash vibrancy and vitality. A breath of delicacy in between the roughness of the rocky shores. 

One memorable, must-do is having a nice dinner at Vieil Antibes Cosy, where you can book a table right into the sea, gently tickling your feet with every wave, while indulging in delicacies. 

Founded in 4^th century BC by the Greeks, "Antipolis” was the border between French and Savoy Territories. That’s why it needed to be heavily fortified. A place of confluence, where a lot happened. Fort Carré was later built, in 16^th century, by Henri de Mandon, and then finished up by Marquis de Vauban, a French military engineer. 

Antibes didn’t inspire only Picasso, but painters such as Renoir, John Lavery, Monet and cartoonist Raymond Peynet. Movies were filmed here, a great part about it is that you can have an insight in different historical periods like 1956 (“And God created woman...”) and of course, from the eras captured by the painters mentioned above.  

One of our most beloved recommendations to visit here is the Botanical Garden “Villa Thuret” which holds an impressive collection of palm trees and gives you a feeling of an exotic forest. Except, of course with lawn instead of the glade. 

Because of the Jazz à Juan Festival, every year in July, Antibes hosts a gathering of musicians, celebrities, passionate people, tourists, and locals, all in the common space of music and socializing. 

https://www.jazzajuan.com/en-us/home.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9jOROUqCy8 Antibes on the French Riviera  

Èze 

There is only one entrance in the village. The idea behind the tight streets comes from slowing down the attacks in the war times. The alleys keep an ascending rhythm. They were designed for the donkey steps, this making the first method that people used to bring water uphill. On the blazonry of the village, you find a bird and a bone which symbolizes a Pheonix, the bird that is reborn out of its own ashes. It may be a clue about how hard it was for the village to thrive over the years. The figs are one of the most representative species of the South of France, along with the olive, Mimosa tree, palm tree, Cyprus, Rose, Lavander, Jasmine and common along the entire French Coast, climbing (very often flowery) plants. The views in Èze are absolutely marvelous, almost too spectacular to be true. Other facets progressively reveal their beauty to you, as you walk the path closer to the clouds. There's this “inner beauty” formed between the symbiosis of nature with human’s establishments and also the exterior beauty of the landscape. Seeing how harmoniously mountains descend at the sea level to touch its margins, to meet its element, to merge. Same happens inside of us. Two opposing forces from within come together creating inner harmony and peace.  

One nice impression that we wanted to share with you is this alley from the picture, with porcelain and flowers. What thoughts do they inspire in you? Do you feel the exquisite combination of fine details, which sparkle feelings of aristocracy and culture? Of a subtle understanding of life and what beauty truly is, for each of us? Sparks come all along from the art that is present at every turn.

A continuum exposition of paintings, ceramics, antiquities, that is impossible not to leave a deep impression on the imprint of the memory. We recommend you that at least for the days that you belong in this magic, to interfere with what French Coast is here to provide, in an unapologetic, out of the ordinary way. Stepping courageously into the present moment and trying to let as many stimuli as possible to play with your attention and enrich your experience. Smelling a flower, kissing the sun back, touching the old rocks of the fortress, comprehending space in a different manner due to its streets and constitution, architecture and even altitude. It’s a completely new feeling enwrapping you. Constant fascination. 

And talking about fascination, Èze didn’t miss holding space for a massive name, such as Friedrich Nietzsche. One funny association that we’ve formed between the place and the name is that it is one of the toughest walks to take on the French Riviera while Nietzsche preaches in his philosophies about the willingness to take the hardest roads in life. And not only that, but the air is purer and the views from up there are worth all the effort. Here, he wrote some parts of “Thus Spake Zarathustra”, that he considered to be his “magnum opus”, meaning the most valuable of his works. We will leave you with the roundelay poem of the book: 

“O man, take care! 

 What does the deep midnight declare? 

 "I was asleep— 

 From a deep dream I woke and swear:— 

 The world is deep, 

 Deeper than day had been aware. 

 Deep is its woe— 

 Joy—deeper yet than agony: 

 Woe implores: Go! 

 But all joy wants eternity— 

 Wants deep, wants deep eternity." 

The medieval village of Eze, France - French Riviera