Antibes, France  - It comes as no surprise that artists loved the view of the deep blue sea on the right, the proud old town walls of Antibes on the left and the hazy outline of the mountains on the horizon.

Claude Monet painted this scene in 1888, Henri Edmond Cross captured the same image 20 years later and now visitors can decide whether he captured the atmosphere as the painting is being exhibited as a poster on that very spot.

It is only one of 50 works of art on show as part of the Chemin des Peintre, The Painters' Way, which holidaymakers can follow in the Cote d'Azur.

The series of posters stretches along the coast from Menton to Cannes and extends inland to Grasse, Mougins and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Fourteen of the paintings are on show in Cagnes-sur-Mer including works by Derain and Renoir. Picasso painted in Antibes while Chagall captured the silhouette of Saint-Paul-de-Vence in paint. All of them were fascinated by the gleaming light and the vibrant colours of the Cote d'Azur and the pictures are being exhibited where they were created.

Sometimes, they are a little hard to find as the painters probably did not want to be disturbed during their work.

However, in the process of travelling The Painters' Way, you see how the countryside and towns have changed and Cannes is a prime example.

Today, the Croisette is a catwalk for the rich and famous especially during the annual film festival and for those with the cash to browse around high-class boutiques.

In the mid 19th century, Cannes was frequented by elegantly-dressed women even though artist Adolphe Fioupou depicted them in more modest clothing.

At that time, the view of the old town was not blocked by the renowned Palais de Festival building where the annual Cannes film festival is held.

In Antibes, which nestles on the coastline, deciduous trees stood along the Boulevard du Cap. Today, palm trees line the road between the town and beach.

Antibes' marketplace is still in the old town area with its narrow lanes, petanque players and many bistros - which epitomises a French town.

Yet, Emile Charles Dameron's picture shows an open stretch of land with trees which now hosts the market with its wrought iron roof.

Not much remains of Eugene Boudins' view of the town as the poster was vandalised and visitors have just a few portions to ponder now.

A similar fate befell Picassos' Night Fishing at Antibes that was erected beside the town's walls. Picasso is the pride of Antibes where he worked and painted for six months in 1946 in the town's castle.

He was not lost for ideas, but materials were in short supply and he painted on anything he could get his hands on such as wood and linen. When that wasn't enough, he painted over old creations.

Picasso donated the pictures of this highly productive period to the town which became a museum to the artist overnight in the process.

The Museum of Photography in Mougins, 13 kilometres from Antibes where Picasso had his final home, is dedicated to his work. The museum's exhibition has photos from his studio, the artist at work as well as with his children.

Mougins is represented by many paintings along the Chemin des Peintres and art still plays an important role in this Medieval town.

Visitors quickly realize this on entering Mougins - a sign points the way to 14 restaurants and 28 galleries.

Internet: www. franceguide. com (dpa)