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An Englishman in Grasse


Grasse's king of confectioners
Joseph Nègre was the king of confectioners and the confectioner of kings in the nineteenth century
Sep 166 min read


Thorenc: Grasse's mountain resort
Thorenc became Grasse's mountain resort in the 1890s, and it still looks quite different from other villages.
Aug 246 min read


The Rise and Fall of Hotels in Grasse
Grasse's centre boasts only one hotel, compared twenty or more around the town in the Thirties
Jul 167 min read


Grasse’s own Villa Noailles
It may have the same name as the one in Hyeres, but our Noailles has a history of its own
Apr 196 min read


Grasse’s Fearless Street and two wartime episodes
There’s a narrow alley in Grasse with the odd name of rue Sans Peur ('Fearless Street').
Nov 7, 20244 min read


Avenue Thiers and the ‘English colony’ in Grasse
Building avenue Thiers extended Grasse east and catalysed the ‘English colony'.
Oct 25, 20244 min read


Oscar Niemeyer – a Super-Grasse which never was
The Altitude 500 swimming pool is the only part of Super-Grasse which was actually built.
Oct 3, 20243 min read


Alice de Rothschild at Villa Victoria and Waddesdon Manor
This huge villa was just Alice de Rothschild's winter 'cottage' away from her main home.
Jul 25, 20243 min read


Rue Tracastel: Grasse’s history in miniature
This street includes a magnificent moment during World War 2.
Jun 10, 20246 min read


Two remarkable buildings on the boulevard Jeu du Ballon
See the facades at numbers 6 and 15
May 15, 20244 min read


The mills of Les Ribes
There were once many mills in the Les Ribes area, west of the town and some can still be seen.
May 10, 20243 min read


Four hidden perfumeries
Four re-purposed buildings which were once perfumeries are hidden in plain sight.
Apr 28, 20244 min read


A spectacular relic of Grasse's days as a centre for rest-cures
Have you seen the 'Helios' building as you arrive in Grasse from Nice or Cannes?
Apr 27, 20242 min read


Grasse's company quarter
The Bon Marche quarter is Grasse's miniature equivalent of Bourneville and Eindhoven.
Apr 13, 20243 min read


Léon Le Bel: Grasse's 'go-to' architect
There's an extraordinary relic of Grasse's perfumeries in the 20s above the old town.
Apr 13, 20244 min read
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