Antibes

Template:Infobox commune in France/maintenance/alternate coat of arms in Wikidata

Antibes [ɑ̃tib] (Occitan Antíbol) is a French commune with 72,915 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2018) on the Mediterranean coast (Côte d'Azur) in the Alpes-Maritimes department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Antibes, together with the seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins, is a popular holiday destination on the French Riviera. For tourist reasons, the municipality is marketed under the name Antibes Juan-les-Pins.

The city is very well connected in terms of transport infrastructure. It is located at the foot of the Alps on the Mediterranean coast, east of Cannes and west of Nice and directly on the A8 motorway (La Provençale), on the railway line from Marseille via Monaco to Ventimiglia (Italy) and in the immediate vicinity of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. The narrow and winding old town offers numerous restaurants, bistros and shops of all kinds. The marina and yacht harbour Port Vauban is famous.

History

Antibes is one of the oldest cities on the Côte d'Azur, it was founded around 340 BC by the Greeks. It originated from the Greek city Antipolis (ancient Greek Αντίπολις). Antipolis means "city opposite"; it is unclear opposite what other city or fortress. In the fourth century B.C. the Greeks established a small trading post here, consisting of warehouses from which trade with the coastal inhabitants was conducted outside the city walls. Later, Antibes was developed by the Romans to an important city and in the late antiquity also bishop's seat. A votive inscription to the god Olloudius found here dates from Roman times.

In 1386 Antibes fell into the possession of the Grimaldi, who sold it to France in the 16th century. The French king had Antibes developed into a fortress after Nice fell to Savoy in the 14th century.

On 1 March 1815, Napoleon, who had fled from Elba, landed in Antibes. After a march on Paris, his "Reign of the Hundred Days" followed.

The seaside resort of Juan-les-Pins was founded in 1882. At the beginning of the 20th century, many writers and artists, including Pablo Picasso, settled in the town.

Population development