Nice Excursions
Antibes © Gilbert Bochenek
Antibes
Antibes is a pleasant excursion a few miles east of Cannes. It
has one of the best markets on the coast and an excellent Picasso
museum in its ancient seafront castle, the 16th century
Château Grimaldi. Picasso was lent a room in the castle to
use as a studio in 1946. Several extremely prolific months followed
before he moved to Vallauris, leaving all his Antibes output to
what is now the Musée Picasso. Although Picasso donated
other works later, most of the collection dates from this one
period. The best known work is
Ulysses and his Sirens.
There are also works here by some of Picasso's contemporaries,
including Nicholas de Stael. Picasso himself is the subject of some
of his paintings. Alongside the castle is a cathedral which dates
from Medieval times; only the choir and apse survive from the
original Romanesque building, the nave and magnificent facade are
Baroque. Nearby is a market which is open every morning over the
summer and overflows with local produce.
Website: www.antibes-juanlespins.com;
Opening time: Musée Picasso open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm (June to September); rest of year 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm.;
Admission: €6 entry to Musée Picasso
