Mougins
Surrounded by forests and olive groves and just 15mins drive from Nice airport, Mougins is a charming medieval village situated four and a half miles north of Cannes. There are stunning views over the Mediterranean with the Esterel Mountains lying to the West. The surrounding countryside is extremely beautiful and was home to many famous people over the years, the most prominent being Winston Churchill who loved to holiday here and of course Picasso, who died in the area. There really is such an abundance of holiday homes in this area of France, that you are spoilt for choice whether you are looking for a villa rental with a pool, a holiday apartment on a domaine, a well kept gite or any other type of self catering holiday accommodation.
The colour and quality of light is so remarkable that it is no surprise that it has always been a haven for artists from around the world. In Mougins your holiday rental allows you the perfect location for ease of travel to many interesting surrounding towns and villages, as well as the sandy beaches of Cannes. With easy access to the fast A8 with amazing views all the way, you can explore the wonderful resorts along the Cote d’Azur including Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Monte Carlo taking you right down to the border of Italy.
In addition, you have nearby St Paul-de Vence and fragrant Grasse to explore. This area is a haven for golf lovers, with one course being right here in Mougins and many others easily accessible. Maybe this year you will rent an eco friendly holiday home as part of your overall effort to reduce your carbon footprint.
Festivals
There are many festivals and carnivals in this area, the Cannes Film Festival, Carnival in Nice and the Citrus Festival in Menton to name but a few. In addition there are many cultural and musical events throughout the year, particularly jazz festivals, so your holiday will surely coincide with one or more of these. If renting a holiday home during the Christmas season there are colourful and vibrant Christmas markets most of the towns.
Places of Interest
Chemin de la Chapelle This simple Mougins chapel was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 17th century. The altarpiece and 15th century stone cross are very worth seeing. The walls of the chapel are adorned with numerous thanksgiving plaques and the site offers the most stunning views of the bay of Cannes.
Step outside your holiday villa and enjoy the magic that is Mougins and enjoy a wander around the old town with its Saracen gate, 15th Century ramparts and beautiful fountains. From the highest point you can see the deep gorges of the Loup, the countryside of Grass and other nearby villages.
The Jacques le Majeur Church is worth a visit, as is the museum of Locomotives and the photography museum.
There are numerous art galleries and studios to visit. If you want to enjoy romantic dining the setting and high standard of at least two well known restaurants in Mougins will not disappoint even the most discerning of palets, with a variety of succulent and delicious French and distantly Provencal dishes to enjoy at your leisure.
Mas Notre Dame de Vie is where Picasso spent his last thirteen years.
Activities
There are several excellent golf courses in the area, such as the Mougins Golf Club, Golf de Saint Donnat, Valbonne golf club, Opio golf course, Grasse Golf de la Grande Bastide, Golf de ste Maxime Beauvallon and Golf Valuscure St Raphael which are all easily accessible from your vacation rental. Further afield, but also within easy reach is the Riviera Golf Club, Cannes Mandeliue Golf Club, Biot and Villenueve. All these clubs are located in beautiful surroundings and offer excellent amenities on site, many having swimming pools tennis courts and good restaurants, so the non golfers in your group are not going to be bored by any means. If you are planning to rent a holiday villa or apartment in Mougins as part of a golf holiday, then you will be spoilt for choice. Renting holiday accommodation directly with the owner will save you money compared to staying in a hotel, especially if it’s for the whole family.
There are many other activities to enjoy on holiday around the area such as, every possible water sport, deep sea fishing, cycling, walking, archery, tennis, amusements parks, and squash. Marineland with its dolphin’s sharks and killer whales is a great day out for all the family. There are many more pursuits along the coastal resorts which are far too numerous to mention.
If you would like to visit the wine cellars and enjoy wine tasting before purchasing for your enjoyment with meals on your holiday villa terrace or to take home, then take the fast A 8 direction Aix en Provence. Exit at Le Muy and you will find yourself in the vineyards.
There are many markets to browse around with little shops selling all things Provencal. Day trips and even boat trips as far as St. Tropez are also possible.
For those who want to rent vacation homes in the winter time you are about 50mins from the slopes of Greolieres les Neiges. There are numerous colourful and vibrant Christmas markets around and plenty of fun for the children to enjoy with carousels and Santa trains in most towns and villages.
Cuisine
The cuisine is predominantly Provencal, using the fresh locally grown produce of the region including the olive oil, olives and peppers. Fish and shellfish are a huge part of the cuisine of the region and the dishes are as varied as they are tempting and delicious. There is also a wide variety of meat dishes accompanied by the freshest of vegetables and served with exquisite creamy sauces. Delicious duckling dishes are also prominent on the menus of the region, as are wonderful salads and a great selection of cheeses, particularly goat’s cheese. The best of the Provencal wines compliment the delectable gastronomy and the choice is impressive. For your night cap why not enjoy a chilled French liqueur watching the sun go down from the peace and comfort of your holiday rental villa in beautiful Mougins.