Château de Grimaldi

Antibes—allow at least half a day for exploring this waterfront fortress. Fort Carré, not to be confused with the Château de Grimaldi, is closed to the public and located on the south entrance of town. The fort guards the waters of Antibes, which is home to thousands of yachts berthed in the modern Port Vauban Yacht Harbor. The rectangular towers and battlements of the Château de Grimaldi can be seen beyond the fort, within the ramparts of the medieval village. At the heart of the village, the château commands some of the town’s best views and now houses some of Picasso’s work in the Musée Picasso. Picasso resided at the château just after the war in 1946 and, in appreciation of his stay, left much of his work to the town. Spacious and uncluttered, open, bright rooms in the château admirably display his work and photographs of the master when he resided here in addition to contemporary works by Léger, Magnelli, and Max Ernst. Entry to the museum also gives you some of Antibes’ most beautiful views of the Mediterranean framed through the thick medieval walls. (Closed Mon.) The town with its cobbled streets is charming.