Grasse

Grasse, a town in the French department of Alpes-Maritimes, is situated on the southern slope of the Basses-Alpes, 1066 feet above sea-level, and 12 miles N. of Cannes by rail. An ancient place, the seat of a bishopric from 1244 to 1801, it has steep, narrow, crooked streets, a cathedral, and an interesting hôtel-de-ville. Grasse is second only to Paris in its manufactures of essences and perfumes, made from the roses, orange-flowers, heliotropes, mint, &c., which, thanks to the mildness of the climate, are most successfully grown in the neighbourhood. It has also manufactures of olive-oil, silk, &c., and is growing in favour as a winter resort. Pop. 9786.