Queen Victoria recorded her visit to Grasse in 1891 in her own words in her diary. This post covers the first 12 days of her visit.

Donat Joseph Méro was a successful perfumer in Grasse who became Mayor of Cannes and built its infrastructure.

The Route Napoleon was conceived by a remarkable priest to promote tourism

Bunin wrote his masterpiece, which won the Nobel prize for Literature, while resident in Grasse

The huge Villa Victoria villa was just Alice de Rothschild's winter 'cottage' away from her main home.

Grasse is linked to Guy de Maupassant, but mostly posthumously

As the owner of Grasse's largest business 150 years ago, Léon Chiris was also an important national politician

Joseph Nègre was the king of confectioners and the confectioner of kings in the nineteenth century

One of the great pioneers of photography, Charles Nègre, was born and died in Grasse

A boy from Alsace came to Grasse in 1873 and made a successful living but was always treated as a foreigner.

The great impressionist spent the winter months of 1900 & 1901 in Magagnosc, in the commune of Grasse

Pauline Bonaparte only visited Grasse for a few months in all, and yet she is commemorated by a park and a statue.

Julia Child, the pioneer American ‘TV chef’ lived part time nearby and loved Grasse.

Dirk Bogarde lived in Grasse for nearly 20 years. He was a celebrated film star who became a well-known writer while he lived here.

Grasse's cathedral contains works by the great artist Rubens, but how did they get there?

H.G. Wells, the great English author, lived in Grasse from 1924 to 1933.

De Grasse was the 'arbiter' of the US War of Independence. Admiral Rodney wasn't there. Maybe...

General Gazan thrived under Napoleon but was ambivalent about his return.

Grasse had its own Vicar of Bray. Maximin Isnard came from a well-known family here.

There's an extraordinary relic of Grasse's perfumeries in the 20s above the old town.