Exploration of Biot’s small historic center begins at place des Arcades, where you can see the 16th-century gates and the remains of the town’s ramparts. The Musée d’Histoire et Céramique Biotoise, 8 rue St-Sebastien (www.musee-de-biot.fr; tel. 04-93-65-54-54), has assembled the best works from local artists, potters, ceramists, painters, and silver- and goldsmiths. Hours are July to September Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, and October to June Wednesday to Sunday 2 to 6pm. Admission is 4€, 2€ for seniors and students, and free for children 16 and under.
Outside of town, the excellent Musée National Fernand Léger, 316 chemin du Val de Pôme (www.musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/fleger; tel. 04-92-91-50-20), displays a comprehensive collection of the artist’s colorful creations, from 1930s Cubist ladies to circus scenes of the 1950s. Some 400 sq. m (4,305 sq. ft.) of mosaics, while modernistic stained-glass windows pour light inside. Hours are Wednesday to Monday May to October 10am to 6pm, November to April 10am to 5pm.
Admission is 5.50€, 4€ for students and seniors, and free for ages 25 and under. Also on site are temporary exhibitions and a cafe garden.
The very zen Musee du Bonsaï, 299 chemin du Val de Pôme (www.museedubonsai-biot.fr, tel. 04-93-65-63-99), is located just around the corner. Cultivated by father and son team Jean and Karol Okonek, more than 1,000 sq. m (1,076 sq. ft.) of Japanese-style gardens are dedicated to bonsai trees collected from as far afield as Australia and China. It’s open Wednesday to Monday from 10am to noon and from 2 to 6pm. Admission is 4€, 2€ for students and seniors. Note that the museum is closed from early January until the third week of February.
In the late 1940s, local glassmakers created a hand-blown, bubble-flecked glass known as verre rustique. You’ll easily spot its brilliant cobalts and emeralds while window shopping in town. To learn how it is made, head to La Verrerie de Biot and its Écomusée du Verre (www.verreriebiot.com, tel. 04-93-65-03-00). Throughout summer, it's open Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm, and Sundays 10.30am to 1.30pm, and 2.30pm to 7pm. During the rest of the year, it opens Monday to Saturday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm, and Sundays 10.30am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 6pm. The museum displays both traditional tools and outlines modern glass-blowing techniques, and there are frequent demonstrations. Entry is free, while workshops start at 4€ per person.
Especially for Kids
Just south of Biot sits a kid-tastic complex of theme parks. Aquasplash (www.marineland.fr) has more than 2km (1.25 miles) of waterslides, including toboggan-style Rainbow Cannon and the Side Winder. Adventure Golf is criss-crossed by two dinosaur-dotted miniature golf courses. And, newest of the bunch, Kid’s Island caters to animal-loving little ones, with pony rides and a petting zoo, plus plenty of jungle gyms and a Magic River. Admission is as follows: Aquasplash 33€, 27€ children between 3 and 12; Adventure Golf 11.50€, 10€ children between 3 and 12; and Kid’s Island 14€, 11€ children between 3 and 12. All are free for children 2 and under. Aquasplash, Adventure Golf, and Kid’s Island all have varying opening hours, which stretch right into the evening in summer. In all cases, booking a ticket online before you visit saves around 30 percent on the same day ticket.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
