Antibes facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Antibes

Antíbol (Occitan)

Commune

October 2006 view of the old city (Vieille Ville) of Antibes by the Mediterranean

Coat of arms

Antibes

Location in France

Antibes

Location in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Country

France

Region

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Antibes-1, 2 and 3

Sophia Antipolis

Area

26.48 km² (10.22 sq mi)

Population

(2021)

75,130

• Density

2,837.2/km² (7,348.4/sq mi)

Antibois

• Summer (DST)

INSEE/Postal code

06004 /06600

Elevation

0–163 m (0–535 ft)
(avg. 9 m or 30 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Antibes is a beautiful city by the sea in southeastern France. It's located on the French Riviera, a famous coastline known for its sunny weather and pretty towns. Antibes is nestled between two well-known cities, Cannes and Nice.

The city is also home to the town of Juan-les-Pins and is close to the Sophia Antipolis technology park. In 2020, Antibes was the second most populated city in its area, with about 74,709 people living there.

History of Antibes

Ancient Beginnings

People have lived in the Antibes area for a very long time, even since the early Iron Age. Old remains found near the castle and cathedral show that early communities traded with people from other parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Greek Settlement: Antipolis

Antibes was first started as a Greek colony by people from a city called Massalia (which is now Marseille). They named it Antipolis, meaning "Opposite-City." This name came from its location across the Var River from another Greek city, Nikaia (which is now Nice).

The Greek city was likely built at the foot of the rock where Antibes' old city stands today.

Antibes in the Middle Ages

Around the year 450, Antibes became home to a bishop, a leader of the church. Over time, the area faced attacks from pirates, sometimes called 'Saracens'. These pirates even burned down the Antibes Cathedral in 1124.

Because of these attacks, the bishops moved to a safer town called Grasse in 1244. Even though the cathedral was rebuilt in 1250, they stayed in Grasse for a long time.

Later, in the late 1300s, a powerful family from Genoa, Italy, called the Grimaldi family, took control of Antibes. They built the Château Grimaldi as their home in the town.

Early Modern Times

In 1481, Antibes became part of France. This made it a border town, right next to the County of Nice, which was not part of France yet. Because of its location, Antibes was often involved in wars.

In 1536, the city was attacked and damaged. To protect it from future attacks, the French king ordered the building of Fort Carré in 1550. This strong fort was later made even stronger by a famous French military engineer named Vauban.

During a war in 1746, an army attacked Antibes and heavily bombed the town. Many houses and the cathedral were destroyed. The cathedral was later rebuilt by King Louis XV of France, and that's the building you can see today.

Modern Antibes

Fort Carré, a historic fortress in Antibes

The old Bouillide aqueduct

On March 1, 1815, Napoléon Bonaparte landed near Antibes after escaping from exile. He hoped for support in Antibes, but the town closed its gates to him. He then continued his journey to Paris.

In 1860, the area around Nice became part of France, so Antibes was no longer a border town. Its old walls were taken down to make way for new buildings.

In 1926, the old Château Grimaldi was bought by the city. Later, in 1946, the famous artist Pablo Picasso came to Antibes and stayed at the castle. He painted, drew, and created many artworks there. When he left, Picasso gave some of his works to the city. The castle is now known as the Picasso Museum, where you can see many of his amazing pieces.

Culture and Fun

Protecting Nature

Antibes cares about its environment. In 1999, it was the first town in its area to sign an agreement to actively protect its natural surroundings.

Sports in Antibes

Sports are a big part of life in Antibes!

The city has a National Training Centre for basketball.
Olympique Antibes is a professional basketball team that plays in France's top league. Their home games are at the Azur Arena Antibes.
The local football (soccer) team is FC Antibes. They play at the Stade du Fort Carré, which even hosted a game during the 1938 World Cup!
Antibes also hosts the Antibes 6 Day Race and the Antibes Yacht Show, which are big events.

Theatre and Music

Antibes has several places for performances, like the Théâtre Antibea. You can enjoy everything from orchestra music to plays. Many bars and nightclubs feature live jazz or DJs. In the summer, there are special outdoor concerts and festivals. Jazz music is especially popular here.

The electronic music band M83 is from Antibes.

Festivals and Celebrations

Le Nomade sculpture by Jaume Plensa

Antibes and Juan les Pins host many festivals, especially in the summer.

Jazz à Juan: This famous festival started in 1960 and brings many jazz artists to play outdoors every July.
The Antique Show of Antibes: Thousands of collectors come for two weeks in April to see and buy antiques.
Voiles d'Antibes: This is one of the biggest gatherings of old sailing ships. These beautiful boats come to the port in June for a special race.
The Saint Peter Celebrations: This annual event in June celebrates the patron saint of fishermen. Fishermen decorate their boats and sail along the coast in a colorful procession.
The Festival of Notre Dame de Bon Port: This festival in July celebrates the Virgin Mary. It includes a procession where a statue is carried from a chapel to the Antibes Cathedral, torchlit parades, and parties.
The Festival of Sacred Music: Held in January at the Antibes Cathedral, this festival features sacred music and attracts large crowds.

Places to See

Beautiful Beaches

Plage de la Gravette, a beach seen from the city walls

Antibes and Juan les Pins have 48 beaches along 25 kilometers (about 15.5 miles) of coastline. There's plenty of sand and sea to enjoy!

Interesting Museums

Archaeology Museum: Located in an old fortress, this museum shows the ancient history of Antibes. You can see artifacts, sculptures, and old pots found from local digs and shipwrecks.
Naval Museum of Napoleon: This museum, in a 17th-century stone fort, displays items related to Napoléon Bonaparte, including paintings, ship models, and even some of his clothing.
Picasso Museum: The Picasso Museum has one of the largest collections of Picasso's work. It includes paintings, drawings, ceramics, and tapestries that he created during his time in Antibes.
Absinthe Museum: This unique museum is in a basement of Old Antibes. It's all about the history of Absinthe, a green drink.

Parks and Gardens

The Exflora Park: This large garden is open to everyone. It has different styles of Mediterranean gardens, from ancient Roman designs to beautiful 19th-century Riviera styles. You'll find fountains, ponds, and many rose bushes. There's even a maze and gardens inspired by Islamic and Moroccan styles.
The Eilenroc Gardens: These gardens are part of the Villa Eilenroc, built on a rock overlooking the sea. They feature traditional Mediterranean plants like pine trees, cypress, and olive trees, along with beautiful flowers.
Thuret Park: Started in 1857, this park is now managed by a research institute. It has a collection of exotic trees and plants, making it a great place to learn about different plant species.
Marineland: This animal park, created in 1970, is one of the biggest in the world. It has killer whales and dolphins and attracts over a million visitors each year!

Penguins at Marineland of Antibes

Garoupe Lighthouse

Garoupe Lighthouse, offering great views

The old lighthouse of Antibes sits on a high hilltop, offering amazing views. You can walk up to it from the Plage de la Salis beach.

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Antibes Cathedral)

The beautiful Antibes Cathedral

The Antibes Cathedral was first built in the 5th century. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history. The current building has a mix of classic and unique designs. Inside, you can see impressive art, like a Baroque altarpiece and a wooden carving of Christ from 1447.

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc

This grand villa, located at the tip of the Cap d'Antibes, is a very famous and luxurious hotel. Since 1870, it has been a favorite spot for many famous people, including movie stars and royalty.

Busy Ports

Port Vauban, the largest yachting harbor in Europe

Antibes has several harbors where boats of all sizes can dock, from small fishing boats to huge luxury yachts.

Port Vauban: This is the largest yachting harbor in Europe, with space for over 2,000 boats, including very large ones. This old port was once the center of the ancient Greek city.
Other ports include Port Galice, Port de la Salis, Port du Croûton, and Port de l'Olivette, which is known for its traditional fishing boats.

The city walls of Antibes by the sea

A view of the Gulf of Antibes

Climate

Antibes has a lovely Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It's a great place to visit almost any time of year!

Shopping

Marché Provençal: This is a lively market where you can find local products, fresh food, and other interesting items.

Getting Around

The Antibes station is the main train station in the city. You can take trains from here to other major cities like Nice, Cannes, and Paris. There's also another train station in Juan-les-Pins. The closest airports are Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and Cannes Airport.

Notable People

Many interesting people were born in or have lived in Antibes:

André Masséna (1758–1817): A famous general during the time of Napoleon.
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973): The renowned artist who lived and worked in Antibes for a time.
Guillaume Musso (born 1974): A popular novelist.
Daniil Medvedev (born 1996): A well-known tennis player.
Graham Greene (1904–1991): A famous British writer who lived in Antibes later in his life.