Chateauneuf-Grasse Area Guide

The charming mediaeval hilltop village of Châteauneuf-Grasse and surrounding hills, favoured by many people looking to buy a primary or a secondary home in Provence, sits amid a galaxy of famous Provençal names – of towns and villages steeped in history, art, and romance.

People wanting to be on the Cote d‘Azur, but slightly away from the busier coastline value the area highly.

Chateauneuf is just 4 kms from Grasse the perfume capital of France, boasting 200 years and more of tirelessly pursuing perfection in of the art and craft of fragrance.

Also close by are Valbonne (only 9kms away), and Mougins (13kms away), which themselves have been primary or second home favourites in France to many expatriates and locals alike since the 19th century, all seeking and finding the superior quality of life they were looking for.

The name-dropping continues; Le Cannet is just 15kms away and Cannes 21kms away, Vallauris, famous for its pottery and for having been Picasso’s private project village, Juan les Pins and Antibes, Vence and the very famous Saint Paul de Vence, La Roquette and Roquefort-les-Pins are all nearby villages of great charm. The list goes on…. Tourettes-sur-Loup, Gourdon, Biot….

All of these are a short drive or easy cycle away from Chateauneuf (particularly using an e-bike), and all are very popular with people wishing to invest on the Cote d'Azur for all the obvious lifestyle reasons, but also because the market in this sought-after region is so historically stable.

The area is indeed a showcase of the South of France and famous Provence at its very best and Chateauneuf-Grasse is at the heart of it, ever popular, ever loved, and irresistible to many people wanting a private piece of the French Riviera with great views, and a lifestyle unmatched anywhere.

Highlights & Attractions

Golf Courses, Restaurants and Art Galleries

There are multiple famous and world class golf courses within 30 minutes, Michelin Starred as well as more affordable gourmet restaurants abound, walks, runs, cycle tracks, ski slopes - and fantastic history, and art. So many artists of renown have spent time and painted within a few kms of Chateauneuf, so the area is a treasure trove of artists past and present – Picasso, Degas, Renoir, Chagall and Bonnard – to name a few. And top galleries to match.

History

The history of Chateauneuf-Grasse can be traced back 2 500 years before Christ, but it’s more accessible history starts with the building of a church and a baptistery in the 5th century in Brusc just 2 kms down the hill – and a Castle built on the highest point by the Lords of Opio in the 12th century. There have been centuries of peace, centuries of turbulence, and centuries of pestilence and war, and the Old Town of Chateauneuf-Grasse speaks to the visitor of all this history.There is almost no commerce in the town to distract one from feeling its authenticity and the narrow mediaeval streets are quiet and almost entirely unspoilt. It is a gem.