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Location, how to find
the Antibes holiday apartment, and information on local amenities |
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Antibes is very accessible by
air (Nice Airport 20k), rail (Antibes station is on the main line, with
direct connections to Paris, Calais, Italy etc) and road (A8 Autoroute). By rail There is a station near the centre of Antibes which is on the main coastal railway line, with frequent and direct trains to Nice, Cannes and further afield, eg Marseilles, Paris, Northern Italy etc.. One way to reach Antibes is to take your car with you on the train from Waterloo via Calais, if necessary overnight. By road Via the A8 (“La Provencale”) autoroute. If you are driving down from Calais, we recommend that you keep well clear of Paris and, if possible, allow two days as the distance is in the region of 750 miles (10/12 hours driving). Don’t forget that there are tolls on the excellent autoroutes. The route we recommend from Calais is A26 > Rheims > A4/A26 > Troyes > A5/A31 > Dijon > A31/A6/A46 > Lyon > A7 > Aix en Provence > A8 > Antibes. This will take you through the Marne Region, where the names of villages and towns are a constant reminder of the First World War, and then the beautiful and comparatively deserted Champagne and Burgundy regions of France, for long stretches of which during much of the year you will hardly see another car. By air
Via Nice Airport. There are frequent cheap flights by GO/Easyjet from UK airports. At Nice Airport you can either hire a car, take the bus to Antibes (immediately outside the entrance to Terminal 1, bus no. 200, direction Cannes) and alight at Place du Charles De Gaulle, Antibes (price 6 Euros and takes approximately 45 minutes) or get the train from Nice to Antibes (price 3.70 Euros), but this will entail taking a taxi from the Airport to Nice station and this will probably cost in the region of 30 Euros, despite the short distance. A useful tip is to have a one Euro coin with you when you arrive at Nice Airport since the baggage trolleys require this (you get it back). You can hire a car at Nice Airport in advance of your holiday. We have used Holiday Autos (tel 0870 400 0071) and NatWest Travel Services (tel 08705 502 270) for Hertz and Europcar. We recommend hiring a smaller car, which is easier to drive and park in the narrow streets of the Provencal villages and towns. Access
to the flat
Les Princes d'Orange is located in a quiet, sought after quarter of Antibes, fifteen minutes stroll from the historic Old Town, with its cathedral, chateau, delightful covered market and maze of narrow streets and small squares teeming with restaurants, shops and places of interest. Les Princes d’Orange is an exclusive private estate comprising two apartment blocks set in security-protected gardens in the pleasant and sought-after Antibes district of Saint Claude. Our flat is in Batiment B, which is the block nearest the road. The entrance to the block is on the side facing away from the road. Entrance and exit via the security gates at the one and only entrance to the estate in Avenue Lamartine are controlled either by using the portable remote sensor (there is one in the flat and a spare held by our local representative) or by tapping in the appropriate numbers in the consoles by the gates. The same numbers are used when going out through the gates. Parking
at the apartment There is ample parking space in the grounds of the apartment. This is a real bonus, as parking is at a premium in Antibes, especially during the holiday season.
TRANSPORT
AND GETTING AROUND AND ABOUT ANTIBES Local
buses If you do not feel like walking or driving, there are bus stops virtually outside the apartment which will take you into Place de Gaulle, the town centre, or in the other direction to a gigantic Carrefour hypermarket, both within five minutes. There are bus stops in
Chemin de Saint Claude, a hundred yards down the road from the junction with
Avenue Lamartine (name of stop: “Anthala”). A no. 6A bus will take you
in one direction to Carrefour (direction Les Semboules - five minutes) and
in the other to the town centre (Place De Gaulle, also five minutes). The
buses run every twenty minutes between c. 7.00 am and c.7.45 pm. The cost
one way is 1.10 Euros. The no. 200 bus service runs between Place De Gaulle, Antibes, and Nice Airport. There is a timetable for this bus service in the bookcase in the sitting room of the flat. Parking
in town We strongly recommend that you do not take your car into the Old Town, which is a maze of narrow streets and where parking is very difficult. There is a large car park which extends along the front at Port Vauban where you can generally find a space, especially at the Fort Carre end, although you will have to pay (on exit). Walking
into town The most direct way into
town from the flat is via Chemin de Saint Claude, Avenue Jules Grec and Boulevard
General Vautrin. If you want to reach Port Vauban, there is a short cut
under the railway line near the station (“Passage souterrain Saint Roch”)
which will take you from Boulevard General Vautrin to Avenue du 11 Novembre,
which runs alongside Port Vauban. There is a bridge over the railway line at
the station which will achieve the same objective. These short cuts through
the subway or over the railway bridge are good ways also to reach the Old
Town, via Avenue Liberation/Avenue de Verdun/Boulevard D’Aguillon. A very pleasant and quieter alternative to the Chemin de Saint Claude/Avenue Jules Grec route into town is to turn right outside Les Princes d’Orange and walk to the end of Avenue Lamartine, then left at the T-junction into Chemin du Puy and second right into Avenue Mas Ensoleille. This will give you attractive views of the Port and the Old Town en route and will bring you out into Boulevard General Vautrin. It is hillier than the Chemin de Saint Claude route. Rail There is a station near the centre of Antibes which is on the main coastal railway line, with frequent and direct trains to Nice, Cannes and further afield, eg Marseilles, Paris, Northern Italy etc.
There is a row of shops in
Avenue Jules Grec about seven minutes walk from the flat. This includes a
good butcher and baker, a small Casino supermarket, a newsagent/tobacconist,
a pharmacy, a hair salon and an excellent (licensed) sandwich bar – “The
Green Milk” - where you can
order inexpensive snacks at lunch time. You can usually park in the road in
front (free). Most of the shops are closed between 12.30 and 3.30 pm and
all-day Monday (Lundi). A gigantic Carrefour
hypermarket is situated at the end of Chemin de Saint Claude – five
minutes by bus or car. There is ample parking. There is much more choice
than in most UK supermarkets, especially in food and wine. You will need a
one Euro coin to obtain a shopping trolley (you get it back when you replace
the trolley). We
recommend you visit the covered market in Place Massena near the cathedral
in the Old Town (“le vieille ville”) during your stay. Excellent for
cheeses, olives, fungi, flowers, fruit etc. The full market is open only on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Go in the morning. In town, we have found the small Champion supermarket in Avenue Pasteur to be excellent, including wine, cheese, meat, bread, fruit and vegetables. It is about fifteen minutes walk from the flat (but is also very close to the bus station). There is also an English supermarket, Geoffreys of London, in Boulevard D’Aguillon between Port Vauban and the Old Town. Banks
and Bureaux de Change French banks are generally open from 8.30 am to 12.00 noon and from 1.40 to 4.45 pm. You may occasionally experience difficulty in paying for things with an English credit card; you will certainly need identification (passport or driving license). There are plenty of Bureaux de Change in town. We have used Eurochange Antibes in Rue Georges Clemenceau in the Old Town.
WEATHERThe Riviera has a unique micro-climate which generally produces several hours of blue skies and warm sunshine a day, even in January. However, in the Winter, the early mornings and the evenings can be chilly and appropriate clothing should be taken. In July and August, it is very hot and care should be taken to avoid sunburn. In February it can sometimes be rainy.
There are several pleasant beaches within walking distance of the apartment (the nearest fifteen minutes). Plage de la
Gravette:
A pleasant little beach by the Old Town, the nearest to the flat and a 15/20
minute walk. Plage du Ponteil:
At the far end of the Old Town, with cafes on the front. You can go banana
boating, water skiing and hire pedallos at this beach during the main
holiday season. Plage de la Salis:
A bigger beach at the entrance to the Cap d’Antibes. There are sailing
boats for hire, plus wind surfing at the “Club de Vollaille d’Antibes”. Plage de la Garoupe:
Further down the Cap, a very pleasant beach with marvellous views of
the Riviera coast and the Alpes Maritime. Quiet off-season but with limited
access in the holiday season owing to the beach restaurants (which however
look very jolly). There are also extensive beaches at Juan-les-Pins on the other side of the Cap; these are designed to cater for younger holiday-makers, perhaps, and have lots of pleasant cafes and restaurants along the front. Port Vauban, the largest yacht
marina in Europe, and the beautiful and exclusive Cap d'Antibes, are also
within walking distance. The Old Town:
You should certainly visit “le vieil Antibes”, which is a maze of
picturesque old streets and little squares, with lots of interesting shops
and restaurants and places of historical interest such as the Cathedral and
Chateau Grimaldi (same family as at Monaco, though no longer in residence).
We suggest you extend your walk to include the Rampe des Saleurs and the
Promenade Amiral de Grasse along the front, which will give you fine views
across the Baie des Anges towards Nice and beyond. Round the Cap:
The Cap d’Antibes is definitely to be visited, being one of the most
charming (and exclusive) places in the South of France. Park at the Plages
de la Garoupe and walk round the Cap on the coastal path as far as Port de
l’Olivette or Plage des Ondes and thence back across the Cap to the Plages
de la Garoupe, via Chemin des Ondes, Boulevard Francis Meilland and
Boulevard de la Garoupe (or you can work out other routes). There are marvellous views
of the coast as far as Italy and the Alpes Maritimes on the one side of the
Cap and of the Isles de Lerins and the Massif de l’Esterel on the other.
Will take at least an hour and a half. Wear sensible shoes, as some of the
path is over rocks. To the Phare de la
Garoupe: Park at the Port de la Salis at the entrance to the Cap
d’Antibes and walk up the Chemin du Calvaire, past the stations of the
cross, to the old Chapelle and Phare de la Garoupe (the lighthouse), whence
you will have panoramic views of the “Blue Coast” as far as Cap Ferrat,
of the highlands of Haut Provence, of the coastal range of the Alps and of
the mysterious and very ancient Massif de l’Esterel. During the Summer months,
you can sometimes climb to the top of the “phare”, whence the view is
even more breathtaking (there is no charge but you are invited to make a
donation). Also during the season, there is an open-air café outside the
lighthouse. The history of the chapel is fascinating (St Helena is alleged
to have prayed there in the fifth century) and services are still held there
on Sundays at 11.00 am. Walk back down to the
coastal road (on either side of the Cap) through the Bois Notre Dame de la
Garoupe (a pleasant woodland park). Allow at least an hour and wear sensible
shoes, as the Chemin du Calvaire is stony. This is probably the most magical
of all the walks in Antibes. Port Vauban and the Vieux Port: We understand this is the biggest yacht harbour in Europe and one can spend a very interesting hour or two just wandering along the jetties and gazing in wonder at the many and varied billionaires’ yachts! Round the Fort Carre: Park at the far end of the car park at Port Vauban and take the footpath round the Fort Carre (or Fort Vauban), an impressive seventeenth century fortress which dominates the view to the Northern side of Antibes. Allow an hour.
Night-life
is mainly centred on Juan les Pins, the twin town of Antibes, on the other
side of the Cap. There are plenty of restaurants and clubs there. There are
also many, many restaurants and cafes in Antibes. No doubt you will make
your own delightful discoveries. Some
restaurants we feel we can recommend in the Old Town are Café des Chineurs,
Chez Georgio, Broulio, Le Village and Michelangelos. L’Ancre de Chine and
L’Elephant Bleu in Boulevard D’Aguillon in the Old Town are good for
Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese food. You can
have very good, freshly cooked and cheap pizzas delivered to the flat by the
Mister Pizza takeaway situated at the town end of Avenue Jules Grec. They
are enormous! There is an English pub (The Blue Lady) and an Irish pub (The
Hop Sack), both in Boulevard D’Aguillon. If you are more adventurous, and willing to go further afield, you may find the Michelin Red Guide useful; there should be a copy in the flat. If you are prepared to really splash out, you could dine at the famous Eden Roc Restaurant at the Hotel du Cap on the Cap d’Antibes, frequented by people like Ernest Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and Somerset Maugham in the 1930s, set in beautiful grounds with wonderful views along the coast and with exquisite service.
CULTURAL
EVENTS AND CHURCH SERVICES You will find details of the many concerts, exhibitions and other cultural events and religious services on the Cote d’Azur in the English language publications available on the Riviera. English language films are shown on Tuesday evenings at the Cinema Cazino in town. The Office de Tourisme is in Place de Gaulle in the centre of town. Lovers of Jazz will delight in the festivals held at Juan Les Pins and Nice, usually in July and early August. The Flower Festival held annually in Nice is
also a huge attraction. Religious services (French language of course) are held at the Cathedral at 9.00 am, 11.00 am and 1.00 pm on Sundays. There are Sunday services also at the Chapelle de la Garoupe on the Cap d’Antibes.
There are several golf courses, including one at Biot ( 3 kilometers), and tennis courts nearby. There is a large swimming pool just round the corner in Avenue Jules Grec. Five ski stations in the Alpes Maritimes are within two hours drive of Antibes. You can go banana boating, dinghy sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing at the Plage du Ponteil. You can hire small boats at the Old Port. They are quite expensive but an excellent way of seeing the coast. All the usual watersports associated with a mediterranean holiday are widely available in all the main resorts along the coast.
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Les Princes
d'Orange, 25 Avenue Lamartine, 06600 Antibes, South of France
Luxury apartment available for holiday let
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Email: james.wroe@orange.fr |
Tel: 0033 (0)494 735 826
mobile
0033 (0) 6 09 46 04 89 |
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