Discover Biot: glassmaking, ceramics, and historic sites

Biot offers several distinct highlights for a stay: glassmaking, ceramic history, historic buildings, and trails in the Parc de la Brague. The following places and routes each have their own focus and offer different ways to plan your itinerary.

Glassmaking and its history

La Verrerie de Biot was founded in 1956 at the foot of the village. Éloi Monod developed bubble glass, known in French as “verre bullé,” after a bubble accidentally formed in one of his glass creations. The Écomusée du verre de Biot preserves knowledge of blown and bubble-filled glassmaking techniques, as well as historic pieces, tools, and artistic glasswork. It highlights not only the origins of a technique, but also its craft tradition and the objects passed down through the years.

La Verrerie also offers an augmented-reality experience about the work of glassmakers and the Écomusée. Check before your trip whether this experience is available.

Ceramics and museum collections

The Musée d’histoire et de céramique biotoises presents Biot’s heritage, which is linked to a history spanning more than 2,000 years. One more specific highlight is a significant collection of Biot jars, produced from the 16th to the 19th century. This focuses on a long and clearly defined history of production. A temporary exhibition room is located in a former 17th-century chapel of the White Penitents.

Historic buildings

The buildings differ in both their dates and their protection status. The main construction phases of the Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot span the 15th century, the first half of the 16th century, and the 17th century. By decree dated December 5, 1984, the church was classified as a historic monument. The Chapelle Saint-Roch was listed as a historic monument by decree dated December 10, 1949.

La Tour de la Chèvre d’Or is a Roman monument in Biot and has been classified as a historic monument since September 2, 1943. Its location offers a different perspective: the tower stands on a hill above the Brague plain. The church’s construction history and the tower’s topographical setting thus offer different ways to explore Biot’s monuments.

Trails in the Parc de la Brague

The Parc de la Brague covers 638 hectares across the municipalities of Antibes, Biot, and Valbonne. It has a 9-kilometre trail along the Brague. Another route is the signposted Sentier de la Vallée de la Brague between Biot and Valbonne: the stated walking time for this hike is 3 hours and 30 minutes each way. The length of one route and the walking time of the other are different planning details.

The trail starts at École Paul Langevin on Place Saint-Eloi in Biot. A car or bus number 10 is recommended for the return journey. Be sure to allow for the stated walking time each way, and check current conditions, access, signage, and return-trip information before setting out; these may change.

Festivals and cultural events

Biot celebrates Saint-Julien, the festival of its patron saint, every year in late August as a major traditional celebration. The Festival des Heures Musicales de Biot has been running for more than 40 years and is considered an established part of the cultural landscape of the Alpes-Maritimes. If you are planning to travel in late August, you can consider Saint-Julien as an annual event; check the specific dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Vence, Sallagriffon, Le Tignet, Castagniers, Lucéram, Cabris, Saint-Martin-Dʼentraunes, Saint-Martin-Du-Var

For the regional travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.