Tour 2 : Secret Villages

Let yourself be enchanted by Antibes, the sun-kissed jewel of the French Riviera. From the Saint-Jaume Bastion, admire the majestic Nomade sculpture before wandering through the old town — a maze of flower-lined lanes, artists’ studios, and historical treasures like the Picasso Museum. Discover the quiet charm of Le Safranier, a poetic little neighborhood in the heart of Antibes, then follow the scents and colors of the Provençal market on Cours Masséna. End your stroll on Place Nationale and Place De Gaulle, where art, warmth, and Mediterranean sweetness come together beautifully.

Established in 1926 in a former 18th-century tannery, the Fragonard perfumery has kept alive the art of fragrance in Grasse. Fully renovated in 2013, it offers a fascinating visit into the secrets of traditional perfumery, from raw essences to delicate flacons.
Founded by Eugène Fuchs in tribute to Jean-Honoré Fragonard, painter to King Louis XV and native of Grasse, the house celebrates history, beauty, and French craftsmanship.
Here, it may well be the only place in the world where the word “factory” evokes poetry.
And for travellers with Mario Tours – Happy French Riviera, a negotiated 5 % discount on factory prices completes this sensory experience.

Between sea and hills, Grasse breathes light and refinement.
In the air float the essences of rose, jasmine and tuberose, like an eternal promise.
Listed as a City of Art and History and inscribed on the UNESCO list, it embodies the very soul of perfume.
In 1614, the young King of France and Navarre, Louis XIII, recognized here the guild of glove-makers and perfumers, sealing the destiny of a city devoted to elegance.
Since then, every lane, every breath, every workshop tells the same story — that of an art born from nature and time. Grasse, more than a city — an emotion to breathe.

At 760 meters above sea level, Gourdon rises like a breath between the mountains and the Mediterranean.
The Gorges du Loup open at its feet, and the gaze drifts to the sea, where the light melts into the horizon.
In the calm of its flower-lined lanes, time seems to stand still: the warmth of the stone under your hand, the echo of footsteps on the cobblestones, the scent of honey and lavender floating in the air.
Around the château, the gardens designed by Le Nôtre still whisper the grandeur of another century.
You will travel along winding roads where Provence reveals itself slowly, between rocks, winds, and light — to this hilltop village, both vertiginous and serene.

Located along the Gorges du Loup circuit, La Lavanderaie de Marie offers breathtaking panoramas between sea and mountains that have long inspired painters and writers.
Here, time seems to slow down — the air is filled with lavender, rosemary, and thyme, and every breeze whispers of Mediterranean Provence.
A place to wander, to feel, to discover — and to breathe in pure beauty.

Born from the meeting of sea and mountains, the Gorges du Loup offer a rare and striking diversity of landscapes. Classified as a Natura 2000 zone, this protected site shelters exceptional biodiversity. The Loup carves its spectacular path between limestone cliffs, shaped over millennia into deep and majestic gorges.
Aboard your e-panoramic vehicle, you’ll discover part of this natural wonder, diving into a mineral and vegetal world — a true journey through geological time.
The sedimentary and limestone rocks that form this massif date from the Upper Triassic to the Cretaceous, between 80 and 220 million years ago — silent witnesses of eternal nature.

Amid lush vegetation, the road through the Gorges du Loup reveals a breathtaking sight: the waterfalls and the famous Saut du Loup.
The large natural basin, carved by water and ice over millennia, fascinates with its depth and swirling power. In spring, when the torrent is at its strongest, the roar of the water echoes through the rocks, revealing nature’s untamed force.

Perched on its rocky spur between sea and mountains, Tourrettes-sur-Loup embodies the true spirit of Provence. Its cobbled streets, vaulted passageways and stone houses exude charm and serenity, surrounded by a landscape bathed in southern light.
Nicknamed the “City of Violets”, it celebrates each spring with a joyful festival dedicated to this delicate flower.
Along the Grand’Rue, artists and craftsmen bring Provençal tradition to life through jewelry, pottery and paintings. Between nature, heritage and art de vivre, Tourrettes-sur-Loup is a must-see stop in the Nice hinterland, a village suspended between sky and sea.

A true haven of art and history, Saint-Paul-de-Vence stands among the most beautiful villages on the French Riviera. Protected by 16th-century ramparts built under King Francis I, the village reveals its treasures at every turn — fountains, bastions, artists’ studios, and timeless stone houses.
On the legendary boules square, beneath century-old plane trees, one can still imagine Yves Montand and Lino Ventura competing in spirited games. Around it, the Café de la Place and the famous Colombe d’Or keep alive the spirit of great 20th-century artists — Matisse, Chagall, Picasso, Braque, Léger…
Following the ramparts to the Nice Gate, the view opens onto vineyards, olive groves, and the Mediterranean.
Blending art, heritage, and the Provençal way of life, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is more than a village — it’s a feeling, a place to fall in love with.