Valbonne

During the summer, it plays host to locals and tourists seeking the pleasures this village has to offer. Valbonne is made up of the old village itself, which lies to the northwest, and Sophia Antipolis to the east. Developed in 1970-1984, the Sophia Antipolis technopole is home to a number of companies specializing in IT, electronics, biotechnology and pharmacology.

Antipolis was adopted from the ancient Greek colony of Antipolis, which resided in the nearby village of Antibes. This plateau was one of the few vast sections of land left untouched in the Côte d’Azur. Initially, investors interested in Sophia Antipolis were mainly oil and mining companies. The park, however, came into being when the Université de Nice decided to move parts of its campus to the plateau in the 1980s. As a result, Sophia Antipolis became an important research and development site. Today, Sophia Antipolis has evolved into a highly recognized multinational community, with over 1,000 companies employing more than 25,000 people. It covers an area of 2,500 hectares, spread over the commune of Valbonne and its surrounding districts of Antibes, Biot, Mougins and Vallauris. The community continues to grow by the day, with recent settlements in the municipalities of La Colle-sur-Loup, Roquefort-les-Pins and Villeneuve-Loubet.

The center of the old village is the charming 16th-century Place des Arcades. The central square is surrounded on all sides by postcard-worthy arcades and chic café terraces that are typically French in style, and it’s this that makes the time spent simply strolling around such a memorable experience. Color is an appearance everywhere; the marvelous Sardinian red, dark ochre or pale yellow facades of the village houses serve as a backdrop to the wonderful plants such as Bougainvillea, Plumbago and Jasmines adorning the older brick walls and arches, adding a special fragrance to an already pleasant village.

In addition to Valbonne’s outstanding natural beauty, the area has a wealth of outdoor activities and interests to choose from. There are the nearby seaside resorts of Cannes and Nice to explore and enjoy, and there’s plenty to keep the resident and tourist busy in the immediate vicinity. These include art galleries, museums, first-class golf courses, tennis courts and fishing. And of course there are the restaurants, serving the most wonderful food and wine; whether for lunch or an idyllic candlelit dinner in the warm Mediterranean air. There are several large markets and vides greniers in the area, for those looking for contemporary French objects or old treasures.