Market Day in Antibes

I'm back on track after being without my computer for a month, and continuing with posts about my recent trip to France. My week on the fabulous Côte d’Azur was coming to an end and the last daytrip on this portion of our itinerary took us to Antibes. First settled as a Greek trading post named Antipolis, this ancient town is 20 kilometers west of Nice on the Mediterranean coast.

Antibes, France

It was a Saturday so our first stop in Antibes was the weekly brocante (antique or bric-a-brac) market on Place Général de Gaulle, the city’s main square. Everything from china and glassware to jewellery and designer accessories was for sale.

From the brocante market we walked towards the seafront. The view of the city’s 16th century ramparts became a favourite of 19th and 20th century artists lured south by the region’s sunlight and scenery. This route along the promenade has been dubbed The Painters’ Trail and copies of paintings are displayed in the locations that inspired them.

Huile sur toile, Henri-Edmond Cross (1908)

Pêche de Nuit à Antibes, Night Fishing at Antibes
Pablo Picasso (1939)

Upon reaching the Old Town of Antibes we strolled through the shaded pedestrian lanes of Le Safranier, a quiet neighbourhood perfumed with jasmine and overgrown with vibrant bougainvillea blooms.

Next we made our way to the city’s popular food market, Le Marché Provencal. This lively emporium of fresh produce, fragrant cheese and glistening olives is open from 6am to 1pm daily (except Mondays from September 1st to May 31st).

Browsing the market’s tempting food stalls proved to be the perfect appetizer for lunch. I ordered a Croque-Monsieur, the classic French grilled sandwich made with Gruyere cheese, ham and béchamel sauce. Délicieux!

After a bit of window shopping we gathered for the highlight of the day, a tour of the Picasso Museum, but I’ll save that visit for next time.

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Picasso Museum, Antibes