An attractive town that is facing the Mediterranean Sea on the front side, Mandelieu-la-Napoule has beautiful hills behind it with natures to explore. Mandelieu-la-Napoule, a commune in the southeastern of France, is located between the southwest of Cannes and northeast of Théoule-sur-Mer. You can reach Mandelieu-la-Napoule with several TGV trains connection from Cannes. There are several flights from Nice Côte d’Azur and Cannes international airport to Mandelieu airport, where you can easily connect with buses to the city center. Sitting at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Esterel massif and the woodlands of the Tanneron, Mandelieu-la-Napoule is a place for the lovers of the sea and nature.
1. Climb up to Mount San Peyre
Formed by an eruption of 250 million years ago, Mount San Peyre is the first thing to visit when you start your holiday at Mandelieu-la- Napoule. Rising 131 meters (430 feet) above sea level, Mount San Peyre sits as a volcanic dome at the south of the town. You can easily hike Mount San Peyre by following the pathway to the summit, where there is a viewpoint on the top for a stunning view of the French Riviera. Take the path to the top from inland and take the alternative path that leads toward the sea when you return to the town. You will arrive at the charming village of La Napoule to relax after the climb with coffee and almond croissants at the brasserie a couple doors away.
Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Website: Mandelieu-la-Napoule
2. Visit the red rocks environment of Massif de l'Esterel
Walk further from Mount San Peyre to the Massif de l'Esterel and Massif du Tanneron for more opportunities to enjoy the natural environment and for some great views along the coast. There are two long-distance hiking trails crossing the range: the GR49 and the GR51. The landscapes are definitely rugged and challenging, but the climbs are never too taxing and the highest peak in the whole range is Mont Vinaigre, which sits at 620 meters (2,035 feet) above sea levels. Take a closer look at the peculiar red rocks of the Massif de l'Esterel. The red porphyry rocks environment is also home of the olive groves and forest with stone pines, cork oaks and eucalyptus trees, an imported legacy from Australia that has grown semi-wild in the area.
Massif de l'Esterel, Agay
3. Walk the Mimosa route at the Massif du Tanneron
If you visit Mandelieu-la-Napoule between January and March, be sure to walk down the Mimosa route for an adorable sweet-scented walk. January and March is the period when the mimosa is in flower, which usually grow on the sunny slopes of the Massif du Tanneron. Originally came from Australia in the 19th century, Mandelieu-la-Napoule soon had the largest mimosa forest in Europe.
Harvested every February, the slopes of the Massif du Tanneron beside the town are awash with the bright yellow blooms of the mimosa. The flower has become a valued part of the local culture and in 1931, it got its own festival where there are parties and parades with floats adorned or made entirely from mimosa blossom and accompanied by marching bands and a “Mimosa Queen” for 10 days.
The Mimosa Festival
Website: The Mimosa Festival
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4. Sweet-scented excursions to the International Perfume Museum at Grasse
Let the sweet-scented take you to the Grasse region, where most of the mimosas grown industrially will be distilled into scents. The International Perfume Museum is beautifully located in the heart of the fields of fragrant plants that traditionally grown in the Grasse region. The museum is part of the regional project, lead by the urban community of Pôle Azur Provence. It has become the perfume museum’s plant conservatory, a reference natural area within the local agriculture’s olfactory landscape.
Rose centifolia, jasmine, tuberose, lavender, geranium, juniper and orange blossom; visitors can discover and smell the species that have provided valuable raw materials for perfumery industry. Welcome to the world of fragrant plants. It’s a fun way to learn about the art in perfume making.
Musée International de la Parfumerie
Address: 2 Boulevard du Jeu de Ballon, 06130 Grasse, France
Website: Musée International de la Parfumerie
5. Island excursions to Sainte Marguerite Island (from USD 21.0)
A real paradise of freshness and serenity, the island of Sainte Marguerite is a small piece of Esterel in the open sea where you can reach by boat that departing from La Napoule Port. It is open only from April to September. Discover the beaches with a botanical trail of different kinds of pine trees, eucalyptus trees and other varieties of plants. Visit the museum of the sea, which contains Ligurian, Greek, Arab and Roman archaeological remains nearby the seabed. Walk to the Ornithological Park on Batéguier pond, where the seawater meets the fresh water. Sainte Marguerite Island is home of Fort Royal Historical Monument, the place of where the Man in The Iron Mask has been imprisoned during Louis XIV of France time.
Ile Sainte-Marguerite from Cannes: Self-Guided Tour and Ferry
Duration: 15 minutes
6. Explore the Old Course and Chateau La Napoule on bicycle
There are two parts to the town - the seafront at La Napoule itself and the town of Mandalieu-la-Napoule a little way inland. It is the sea facing La Napoule that is of most interest to visitors. Rent a bicycle and explore the town start from the Old Course, where it used to be the main golf course of the town. Move along to several ports along the sea front, from the small port at Riou de l'Argentiere to the much larger ones at Port de la Rague and Port La Napoule. End your ride at the iconic Chateau de Napoule, which is located at the southern end of the beach.
The chateau was a small part of the Saracen Tower, which dates back to the 11th century, but it was mostly destroyed during the Revolution. In 1918 the American artist and heir Henry Clews Jr., bought and restored the building and surrounding grounds with quirky pieces of his sculpture at almost every turn and galleries of his paintings. Relax at the garden, which is now recognized as one of the “Jardin Remarquable,” the Remarkable Garden of France, surrounded with its avenues, topiary and cypress trees.
Mandelieu 2 Roues
Website: Mandelieu 2 Roues
7. Food fiesta by the Port La Napoule
Port La Napoule is a private marina with a large capacity to welcome a variety of boats and yachts on its outer pier and breakwater. The port has areas for smaller boats and recreational craft, but also deep enough as popular home port of large sailing yachts, which would easily run around in many of the other ports on the Côte d’Azur. There is always somethings going on throughout the year at Port La Napoule with its shops and agencies located in the pedestrian area near the road entrance and just beneath the promenade. Spoil your senses with delicious food served along the promenade with a selection of restaurants and bars.
Le Repère
Address: Port de la Rague, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France
Website: Le Repère (in French)
8. Soaking under the sun at the Robinson beach
Mandelieu-la-Napoule has nine public beaches, and the largest of them all is Plage de Robinson, or in English, Robinson beach, beside the mouth of the Siagne River. The beach areas are sandy and have been awarded the ‘blue flag’ award for cleanliness and facilities. An arc of golden sand book-ended by breakwaters, that keeps the offshore currents out. It’s a perfect place to swim or just lazing under the sun-loungers and parasols. It’s the town for lovers of the sea and nature. Get ready to soak under the sun of Robinson Beach.
Le Robinson
Address: 1240 Avenue de la Mer, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France
9. Another day spent by the Raguette Beach
Spend another day by the beach of Plage de Raguette, or in English, Raguette beach. Its sandy beach is accessible throughout the year with many car parks if you want to visit Mandelieu-la-Napoule on a day trip. Whichever beach you choose, you can benefit the same level of care paid to the comfort and the safety of tourists. The beach is secure with surveillance and safety at sea from the municipal police officers that are support with qualified seasonal workers. There are signs put up during the tourist season to guarantee your safety while swimming and doing other beach activities. The health of the bathing water is monitored daily with samples taken between 6 and 7 a.m., so the analyses allows a quick reaction regarding the decision to open its beach to the public.
10. Snorkeling at the Pointe de l'Aiguille
Drive to the headland just past the neighboring Théoule-sur-Mer to the unmistakable red Estrerel slopes, where you find another perfect spot for your nature adventure. Pointe de l”Aiguille is an extraordinary coastline that is preserved as a seven-hectare park without marine traffic. The coves are perfect for snorkeling. Swim out to designated areas and spend your day exploring the seabed. The three coves around the headland are towering by red walls of rock. On the west side, the rock has been weathered into a natural arch.
Parc départemental de la Pointe de l'Aiguille
Address: 57 Boulevard de la Corniche d'Or, 06590 Théoule-sur-Mer, France
Website: Parc départemental de la Pointe de l'Aiguille (in French)
A place for the lovers of sea and nature
Mandelieu-la-Napoule definitely has much to offer those who enjoy the sea and the nature. Prepare yourself with enough sunblock lotion, cute sandals and comfortable hiking shoes.
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