The old town forms the historic core of Antibes, enclosed within the ramparts reworked by Vauban in the 17th century and bordered by port Vauban, one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean. Once a Greek city and then a stronghold, this dense centre of cobbled lanes and colourful facades has kept the atmosphere of a Provençal town, between sea and ramparts.
The district holds the town's major landmarks: the Grimaldi castle, a former medieval fortress where Picasso worked in 1946, today houses the Picasso museum; cours Masséna hosts, every morning under its covered halls, the Provençal market, one of the most authentic on the Côte d'Azur; the ramparts can be walked with a view of the sea and the Alps. Port Vauban, close by, holds yachts and pleasure boats.
Sought after for its character and its lively feel, the old town draws strong demand for character apartments, small units and short-let properties. The supply, constrained by the old building fabric and the perimeter of the ramparts, sustains prices among the highest in the town, driven by tourist appeal and the immediate proximity of the sea.
