DESCRIPTION
Biot (pronounced "Bee-ott") is a delightful village whose name alone conjures up a mystical place. A few kilometres from the sea, perched on a hill in a setting always blossoming with flowers such as mimosas, roses and carnations, Biot has become famous throughout the world for producing ceramics and blown glass pieces.
HISTORY
Like most of the towns on the Côte d’Azur which are close to the Italian border, Biot has had an eventful past. Invasions, ruins, epidemics... Biot has been ravaged several times but, despite everything, has managed to conserve the authentic old village. The town is also renowned for having been the seat of a Knights Templar Commandery in 1209. Subsequently, The Knights of Malta took over in 1312. Ligurian families rebuilt the village in around 1470.
ENTERTAINMENT
As a Town of Art, Biot puts on several fascinating
exhibitions. In addition to its
glassworks, its
Galerie Internationale du Verre (International Glass Gallery) et son
Ecomusée du Verre (Glass Ecomuseum), the town has the
Musée d’Histoire et de Céramiques Biotoises (Museum of History and Biot Ceramics) and the
Musée National Ferdinand Léger (Ferdinand Léger National Museum) which can be visited, along with the
museum’s gardens. In the village’s little lanes, you can also visit some of the many chapels:
Chapelle Notre-Dame,
Chapelle Saint-Eloi,
Chapelle Saint-Roch and
Chapelle Sainte-Anne, not forgetting the church,
Eglise Sainte Marie-Madeleine.
Lovers of the countryside will certainly like to take walks in
Parc de la Braque or admire the collection of Bonsais at the
Bonsai Arboretum. The region also has a large choice of
golf courses.
ARTS AND CRAFTS - INDUSTRY
Glassblowers have made the fame of this little Provencal village. The method of making these pieces of blown glass is as intriguing as ever. You can endlessly admire the glassblowers at work. Made one by one, every piece is unique. After visiting the
glass workshops, you can marvel at artists’ work at the International Glass Gallery, the Glass Ecomuseum and other art galleries, of which there are many in the village.
As a Town of Art and Crafts, Biot also has some very beautiful pieces of
Provencal pottery, ceramics, mosaics and precious metalwork, etc.
LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS
Biot is located near
Antibes, between the towns of
Cannes and
Nice. Not far away, there are other "perched villages" such as
Saint-Paul,
Vence,
Valbonne,
La Gaude,
Saint Jeannet and others.
By air :
Nice Côte d’Azur International is the closest airport to Biot.
By road :
- From Cannes : Take exit 44 off the A8 motorway at Antibes. Turn left heading for Antibes. Turn left at the second roundabout and head for Biot. Turn right at the "Chappes" roundabout. You will arrive at the bottom of the village; turn left to head into the middle of the village.
- From Nice : Take exit 44 off the A8 motorway at Antibes. Turn right heading for Biot. Then, take the same road as described above.
- From Valbonne : go through Valbonne and head for Biot.
By train :
Biot railway station is linked to the surrounding large cities.
See all Hotels in Biot.
