Walking through Grasse old town: route and practical tips
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A square, a fountain, a perfume-house façade: in Grasse, a walk can become the thread of a story. Here is how to plan your old-town visit and continue it with The Perfume Route.
Start at Place aux Aires
Place aux Aires is the starting point of the Murmure audio tour. Head to the fountain, then open the tour page on your phone. Listen to the first stop before walking to discover the voice and style of the story. On Saturday mornings, from 8 am to 1 pm, the square hosts the Provençal market.
The destination’s heritage trail also crosses the old town. Its brass markers guide a separate way of exploring the city; they do not replace the directions in the Murmure itinerary.
Follow the perfume story and look at the city
Listen from the locations shown on the tour page, then choose whether to continue with an indoor visit. The International Perfume Museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm (6 € per adult in 2026, free under eighteen); the Villa-Musée Fragonard, devoted to the painter, is free and open daily; the Fragonard and Molinard factories offer free guided tours of about half an hour, no booking needed.
Notre-Dame-du-Puy Cathedral is free to enter on weekdays and Saturdays, morning and afternoon, outside services. Between recordings, put your phone away and look around. Notice a façade detail or a view you might otherwise have missed.
How much time should you allow?
The tour page gives the stated duration, distance and number of stops. The published route covers 2.2 km. Allow extra time for walking, photos and breaks: the total depends on your pace.
A museum or perfume workshop takes additional time, at least an hour for the International Perfume Museum. Avoid scheduling an appointment immediately after the walk if you want to stop freely.
Hills, equipment and access
Grasse has steep streets. Wear suitable shoes, carry water and keep enough battery power. To listen on the website, bring headphones and make sure you have an internet connection.
If you use a pushchair or need a step-free route, check access before leaving: the tourist office publishes a page for visitors with reduced mobility, but the lanes of the old town remain steep. This itinerary is not guaranteed to be accessible.
Getting there and parking
Grasse station lies below the centre, 1.6 km away and a good climb; the Centifolia shuttle of the Sillages network links the station to the town centre, and an interchange with reserved spaces and a lift stands at the station.
By car, the Notre-Dame-des-Fleurs and Honoré-Cresp car parks, on Boulevard Fragonard, are the closest to Place aux Aires; both are paying.
The seven stops of the route
- Place aux Aires
- Fragonard perfumery
- International Perfume Museum
- Villa-Musée Fragonard
- Notre-Dame-du-Puy Cathedral
- Place du 24 Août
- Molinard perfumery
Discover Grasse with The Perfume Route
The audio tour connects the history of tanners with that of perfumers. Listen to a preview, view the itinerary and check languages and access information before leaving.
Listen to a tour previewPlan your visit
Information checked in September 2026 on the official websites: visit Grasse with Pays de Grasse Tourisme · old-town heritage trail · free tour of the Fragonard factory · visiting the Molinard house · Notre-Dame-du-Puy Cathedral · fairs and markets · shuttle between the station and the centre. Opening hours and prices may change: check them before you leave. The Murmure audio route is an independent offer.