Biot: The Glass Blowing Capital of France

Biot was given the label of Arts and Crafts village in 1997 for glass blowing.  With 60 years of tradition it has become the capital of contemporary glass blowing in France.  Besides being able to watch glass blowing,  jewelry makers have also chosen Biot as their place to live and work.

Windows always fascinate me.  Particularly when people make the effort to decorate them and show their own personal style.

We explored the narrow side streets of Biot.

Moving away from the commercial main street we found the residential neighborhood.  Here the residents relieve the starkness of the stone buildings with a myriad of potted plants.

The ancient archways create interest.

Here is another narrow residential street.  Imagine having to carry your groceries from the closest parking lot, which could be hundreds of yards away.  We did see motorcycles parked in front of numerous homes.

There are many stairs to navigate throughout the town.

The home owners work hard to create a pleasing atmosphere.

Ancient portal from 1565.

 I think it's mandatory to visit at least one glass blowing factory while in Biot.  We went to La Verrerie de Biot.  Watching the employees working was like viewing a ballet.  Each focused on their individual projects, yet came together when needed for two person jobs.

Part of the factory experience was a museum.  We weren't allowed to take pictures.  Inside were amazing works created by some of the best glass artists in the world.  That alone made the visit worth the drive.

The first step is pulling molten glass out of the oven.

Some pieces require two people.  Here hot glass is added to the pitcher to create a handle.

This is the factory producing items for sale in the gift shop.

Each glass fish is individually made.  It involves many steps and is surprisingly time consuming.  We found ourselves spending more time than anticipated watching the glassblowers at work as we found the whole process fascinating.

Walking around Biot we worked up an appetite.  Lunch was at Auberge Du Vieux Village Creperie where we had an excellent salad and delicious crepe.