Grasse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Commune of Grasse |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Department | Alpes-Maritimes |
| Arrondissement | Grasse |
| Intercommunality | Pôle Azur Provence |
| Mayor | Jean-Pierre Leleux (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 80 m–1,061 m (avg. 333 m) |
| Land area¹ | 44.44 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
43,874 |
| - Density | 988/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 06069/ 06130 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Grasse (Provençal Occitan: Grassa in classical norm or Grasso in Mistralian norm) is a town and episcopal see in southeastern France. It is a commune of the Alpes-Maritimes département (of which it is a sub-prefecture), on the French Riviera.
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[edit] Perfume
Grasse has had a prospering perfume industry since the end of the 18th century.
Grasse is the center of the French perfume industry and is known as the world's perfume capital (la capitale mondiale des parfums). Many "noses" are trained or have spent time in Grasse. It produces over two-thirds of France's natural aromas (for perfume and for food flavourings). This industry turns over more than 600 million euros a year.
Grasse's particular microclimate encouraged the flower farming industry. It is warm and far enough inland to be sheltered from the sea air. There is an abundance of water, thanks to its situation in the hills and the 1860 construction of the Siagne canal for irrigation purposes. The town is 350 m above sea level and 20 km from the Coast (Côte d'Azur).
Jasmine, a key ingredient of many perfumes, was brought to southern France by the Moors, in the 16th century. Twenty-seven tonnes of jasmine are now harvested in Grasse every year.
There are numerous old 'parfumeries' in Grasse such as Molinard, Fragonard, Galimard each with tours and a museum.
[edit] Ecclesiastical history
[edit] Festivals
There is an annual Fête du Jasmin or La Jasminade, at the beginning of August. The first festival was on the 3 August–4 August 1946. These days, it is a big event; decorated floats drive through the town, with young women in skimpy costumes on board, throwing flowers onto the crowds. This is known as the 'flower battle' and everyone gets soaked by the natural perfume of the flowers. There are also fireworks, free parties, folk music groups and street performers. There is also an annual international exhibition of roses ("Expo Rose").
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Births
Grasse was the birthplace of:
- Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), painter
- Gazan de la Peyrière (1765-1845), general who fought under Napoleon
- Charles Pasqua (born 1927), businessman and politician
- Michèle Mouton (born 1951), rally driver
- Thomas Pinault (born1981), professional footballer
- Albert Charpin (born 1842), painter
[edit] Deaths
- Édith Piaf (1915-1963), iconic French chanteuse
- Prince Eugen of Bavaria (1925-1997)
[edit] Twin towns
Grasse is twinned with:
- Kazanlak,
Bulgaria - Ingolstadt,
Germany - Opole,
Poland - L'Ariana,
Tunisia - Carrara,
Italy - Murcia,
Spain - Marblehead, Massachusetts,
United States
[edit] Trivia
The town is the setting in the final chapters of the novel Perfume by Patrick Süskind.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Grasse travel guide from Wikitravel
- Grasse city council website (in French)
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