Monte Carlo Countryside and Wine Tasting Excursion

A perfect sightseeing shore excursion day in the Provencal Countryside with perfumes, medieval towns, and local traditional wine tasting! Your excursion driver will be waiting for you at the cruise terminal in your cruise port of Monte Carlo, Monaco. This is a small group cruise excursion with a maximum of only 8 participants. You will depart Monaco, driving along the motorway to reach the fragran

t town of Grasse, located in the foothills of the Alps. Grasse is the center of the French perfume industry due to its perfect location for growing flowers and is referred to as the Perfume Capital. Arriving in Grasse, you will visit the Fragonard perfume factory, housed in the same building since 1782. During your visit, you will have a 30-minute walk through where you will see many of the procedures involved in producing perfume, and explain what a "nose" does. You will also have approximately 30 minutes to visit the perfume museum, ask the staff to recommend a fragrance that compliments you or make any souvenir purchases of the perfumes, soaps or other items. Departing Grasse, your next stop will be the medieval town of Valbonne just 15 minutes away. Artifacts found in this area date back to prehistoric times but it was the building of an abbey around 1200 AD that marked the first real settlement. A village was built around the abbey and most of the town you see today dates back to the 16th century. You will have approximately 90 minutes of free time to stroll its quaint streets lined with cafes and shops specializing in local handicrafts on your own. Lunch is at your own expense. Please ask your guide for suggestions. The feudal hilltop village of Gourdon is a 20-minute drive away. Situated on the mountain side more than 2200 feet above the valley made it an ideal place of refuge. You will have approximately 90 minutes of free time to explore the shops selling perfumes, soaps, honey, nougat, gingerbread, glassware and other handmade crafts. From Gourdon, you will follow the scenic Loup River part of the way to your final stop, the Chateau de Bellet. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about the wine making process and sample some of the wines made with traditional local grapes. Total time at the winery is approximately 60 minutes. Departing the winery, you will drive back to your Monte Carlo cruise terminal, approximately 20 minutes away.