Sophia Antipolis is a technology park, a counterpart of the Silicon Valley. This technopolis is located on the French Riveria, in a pine forest of 2300 hectares halfway between Nice and Cannes and offering the opportunities to work in an international scientific area and live in surroundings between the sea and mountains, where the sun shines more than eight months per year. The place is an assemblage of more than 1300 companies of the whole world and nearly 30000 direct employment in scientific research.
As this region is surrounded by mountains in the north and by the Mediterranean Sea in the South, this makes it a favorite place for tourists. Even the location guarantees a pleasant climate and extended periods of sunshine in summer. Besides, close to Sophia Antipolis the visitors will find among others, the beautiful Mediterranean town, Antibes, which was founded by the Greeks. It was originally named Antipolis in the 5th century BC, and it is now the largest pleasure boat port on the Mediterranean. Moreover, the Antibes is also home to many art galleries and museums, most famous being the Picasso Museum in the old Chateau Grimaldi where Picasso lived and worked for many years.
Before visiting the city Sophia Antipolis city guide is necessary, as most people get lost in Sophia Antipolis. This is a fact, which no one can deny with even the frequent visitors shuffle around in their hired cars in never ending series of look alike roundabouts. This happens due to the character of the park, which is a logical consequence of the idea of a widespread campus in the pine-scented valleys at this very special part of the French Riviera, between the mouth of the Var River in the east and the Esterel Mountains in the west. The whole region is around 25 by 20 square kilometers, gifted with a unique topography and vegetation consisting mostly of the characteristic parasol-shaped pine trees.
The region has it all and with the Sophia Antipolis city guide, it becomes all the easy to explore. The city is home of the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix, Valbonne jazz festival, and many others. This city offers each year, events with a worldwide reputation, such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Jazz Festivals in Antibes /Juan les Pins and Nice. In addition, expect all the year around open-air concerts in squares, castles and other mediaeval buildings, which take place. The region has today more than 70 museums and some 100 Art galleries. The best part is that the city has all the facilities of a modern city like Nice, but it is also close to the serenity of the mountains. Visit this town go on tours of hiking, mountain biking, and a wide range of water sports, all year around. |
