Valbonne, Administrative commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France.
Valbonne is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes region covering about 118 square kilometers, with a central village featuring streets arranged in a grid pattern around a square with arcades. The orderly layout has two main roads crossing at right angles, giving the village its recognizable geometric shape.
The settlement was founded in 1519 when Augustin de Grimaldi established a village to populate the valley, building on land that had been granted to Prads abbey centuries earlier. This shows how the area moved from monastic control to secular settlement under a local nobleman.
The central square with its arcades hosts weekly markets where you can buy fresh local products and observe how the community gathers for daily shopping and socializing. These markets reflect how locals have maintained their food traditions and connection to the land over generations.
The village is well connected by public transport and sits about 15 kilometers from Cannes, with regular buses serving neighboring coastal towns. The central square is easily walkable, and the village layout makes it simple to explore on foot without getting lost.
The street layout follows the design of an ancient Roman military camp, with two main roads crossing at right angles, an unusual feature for this area. This geometric pattern stands apart from the winding medieval streets found elsewhere in Provence.
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