Vallauris is a potters' town you read with your eyes up: a Renaissance grid laid out by a prior of Lérins, and ceramics on almost every street sign, façade and roundabout.
Photo: Office de Tourisme de Vallauris Golfe-Juan
Time
Not published – a short town stroll
Difficulty
Easy
Start
Place de la Libération, in front of the château (Musée Magnelli / Musée national Picasso)
Past
The 16th-century château, a former priory of the monks of Lérins, with its Renaissance staircase, The 1501 'checkerboard' village, whose outer houses formed the ramparts – rue Haute and rue Clément Bel still run dead straight between the old gates, Ceramic street-name plaques almost everywhere in the centre, Massier decoration on the former post office, 1 rue Hippolyte Aussel, Monumental statues by Roger and Jacotte Capron on Place Jacques Cavasse, The rope-made jars decorated by local artists along avenue Georges Clemenceau, Old kilns at the Espace Grandjean and the reconstructed kiln on rue Jean Gerbino
Season
All year.
With children
Town streets with stepped lanes in the old quarter; a game of 'spot the ceramic street plaque' keeps children looking up. The tourist office is at 4 avenue Georges Clemenceau.
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