Biot

Between Antibes and the hills of the hinterland lies the picturesque village of Biot, just under half an hour's drive from our apartment in Cannes. Biot has been a centre of craft and applied art for centuries, and that living tradition makes it a surprising and atmospheric outing. Anyone who loves handcraft, history and art will find plenty here. The village combines an authentic medieval centre with world-famous glassblowing and a large art museum — a rich programme for such a small village.

The world-famous glassblowing

Biot is best known for its glass. The distinctive 'verre bullé' — glass with countless tiny air bubbles worked into it — originated here and grew into an internationally renowned product. In the glassworks at the foot of the village you can watch the glassblowers at work up close, as they shape the most graceful vases, glasses and carafes from glowing masses. It is a fascinating spectacle: the glowing furnace, the long blowpipes and the rhythmic turning of the glass. In the accompanying shops and the glass museum you get a fine impression of this living craft, and you can take home a unique souvenir.

A village with a long craft history

Before glass made its appearance, Biot was already known for centuries for its pottery. Thanks to the rich clay soil in the area, large jars and vessels — the so-called jarres — were made here that were traded all across the Mediterranean for storing olive oil and wine. That pottery tradition laid the foundation for the artisan spirit that characterises the village to this day. The history of Biot goes back to the Templars, who took the village under their care in the Middle Ages.

An authentic old centre

The historic village centre of Biot, set on a hill, is a delight to wander through. The atmospheric Place des Arcades, with its characteristic vaulted galleries, forms the beating heart of the village. Among the old stone houses you will find the studios of ceramists, painters, goldsmiths and other artisans — Biot is a living artists' community, not an open-air museum. Through the two old town gates you enter a maze of alleys, steps and squares where time seems to have stood still.

The Fernand Léger museum

On the edge of Biot lies the Musée National Fernand Léger, devoted to the well-known Cubist painter. The building immediately stands out for the enormous, colourful mosaics and stained-glass windows on the façade, which stand in the landscape like a giant work of art. Inside hangs a rich collection of Léger's work, charting his development as an artist from beginning to end. The museum forms a surprising, colourful addition to a day in Biot and is recommended even for those less drawn to modern art.

Walking and enjoying

Around the village lie pleasant walking paths through a varied landscape of pine trees, olive groves and Mediterranean vegetation. The quiet, green character of the surroundings forms a pleasant contrast with the bustle of the coast. On the terraces around the Place des Arcades you can settle down wonderfully for lunch or a refreshment, surrounded by the sounds of village life.

Practical

Biot lies right next to Antibes and combines excellently with a visit to the coast or to one of the nearby art villages in the surroundings. Allow half a day to discover the village, the glassworks and the museum at your leisure. The glass museum and workshops lie below near the through road, the old village on the hill — do take your time for both. Take a look at the apartment and the availability and plan your outing to this artisan gem.

Discover more: explore the surroundings of Cannes.