Grasse

Grasse, 'Perfume Capital of the World', is a popular town that tourists have visited for hundreds of years. Located some 300m above sea level the air is clearer in summer when the heat on the coast is intense. There are narrow winding streets and flights of ancient steps throughout the 17th and 18th century old town - 'vielle ville'. In Place aux Aires there is a daily market with flowers and food and the surrounding buildings have have hardly changed, apart from the modern shop fronts of course. A large fountain splashes in the centre of the flowers.

Down below in Place Godeau can be found the 10th & 11th century Notre Dame du Puy Cathedral, containing some extremely interesting paintings, and the 12th century 'Tour de Guet' by the Mairie, which was the Bishop's Palace.

As her local town and administrative centre, Winifred Fortescue would no doubt have been very familiar with the old town, daily food and flower market and the fish market - often mentioned in her books.

The Cannes - Grasse railway line was still in use in Lady Fortescue's time and re-opened on the 26th March 2005. Click here to see the page about the line or use the link at the bottom of this page.

The Chemins de Fer de Provence metre gauge railway used to pass through the olive groves at The Domaine. To learn more about this interesting line, still operating between Nice and Digne, click here or use the link at the bottom of the page.

Fragonard, Grasse

A corner of Fragonard

Fragonard Label

1932 J H Fragonard bi-centenary label

The historic perfume factory in the heart of the Old Town is one of the oldest in Grasse, the present premises have housed perfume making from 1782. In 1926 they took the name of Parfumerie Fragonard as a tribute to the famous painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

Open every day, Sundays and public holidays included, from 9 am to 6.30 pm (closed 12.30 pm to 2 pm November to January).

Visit Fragonard web site

Visit Grasse web site

Place aux Aires, Grasse

Place aux Aires - tour the town by donkey!

Flower Market, Place aux Aires, Grasse

Place aux Aires - the daily flower market

Old Fish Market, Grasse

The beautiful glass & metal cover of the old fish market

Central Grasse towards Bvd du Jeu de Ballon

Central Grasse towards Bvd du Jeu de Ballon

Rue de la Fontette, Grasse, 1936

Rue de la Fontette, Grasse. This postcard is franked 14th May 1936, about the time Lady Fortescue arrived in the area - at the top of the street is an advert for 'Pastilles Geraudel' by Jules Cheret

Jules Cheret Poster

Cheret was the father of the advertising poster. By the 1890’s, known as the Belle Epoque in France, he was so successful that he was said to have transformed the boulevards of Paris into the “Art Gallery of the Streets”. His young beauties became a fixture on the billboards of Paris, so much so that they became known as “Cherettes.” One of the most poetic was the floating beauty in this add for a cough drop. Cheret has cleverly placed her in a snowstorm with large flakes that subtly remind us of the product

1928 Grasse taxi company advert