Commercial
Since the late 1970s, Sophia Antipolis has established itself as Europe's leading technology park. It was Pierre Laffitte, a scientist and politician from the region, who dreamed of creating an international city of Wisdom, Science and Technology, far from the capital. A vast virgin territory, originally made up of 5 communes (Biot, Vallauris, Valbonne, Mougins and Antibes) was chosen. Utopia became reality.
Today, Sophia Antipolis is a 2,400-hectare technology park built in the middle of a forested park. It is 90% green space. The initial gamble has proved an undeniable success. 50 years after its creation, its sales have reached 5.6 billion euros, equivalent to the Côte d'Azur's tourism turnover.
The science park is home to almost 5,000 researchers and 2,500 companies employing 38,000 people, as well as 188 foreign companies employing almost 10,000 people of 64 different nationalities! Students come from all over the world, bringing an undeniable dynamism to the area. This city of knowledge is home to centres of excellence in cutting-edge scientific research, information and communication technologies, multimedia, medicine, biochemistry, energy, water management and sustainable development.
The concept, like the name (now a registered trademark), originated with Pierre Laffitte, then Director of the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (ENSMP). His wife Sophie (meaning wisdom, science in Greek) inspired the first part of the name, while the second part comes from the ancient Greek name of the town of Antibes.
Tourism
The Sophia Antipolis Agglomeration Community has an exceptional heritage to protect and promote. The region offers visitors a privileged climate, both mild and sunny. Its unique natural setting between the sea and the mountains, its exceptional cultural and historical heritage, and its sun-drenched gastronomy are just some of the attractions that attract visitors.
The communes closest to the coast are also among the most popular with tourists. The Vallée du Loup towns of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Le Bar-sur-Loup and Gourdon have enjoyed a high tourist profile for over a century, with a clear identity linked to their status as remarkable villages, as well as to the promotion of their cultural heritage. Their proximity to the Côte d'Azur is an added bonus, bringing in daily visitors. Annual events such as the Théâtre en Plein Air festival in Gourdon, the Nocturnes d'Opio, the Fête de l'Oranger in Bar-sur-Loup, or the fêtes de la Saint Blaise in Valbonne, attract locals and tourists alike.
To stand out from the crowd and attract visitors, the communes of the middle and high country put the spotlight on outdoor sports, hiking, canyoning on the Loup or Estéron rivers, caving, cycling itineraries, attracting regular tourists in search of wide-open spaces. The Parc naturel régional des Préalpes d'Azur is doing a great deal of work in this area.
