Art and History are Reasons to Visit Mougins Near the Côte d’Azur

When most people think of the South of France, their minds jump to the glamour of Cannes or the charm of Nice. But if you’re looking for a place where history, art, and stunning landscapes come together, the artful village of Mougins is the spot you don’t want to miss. Just a short drive from the French Riviera, Mougins offers a rich experience that’s as culturally significant as beautiful. Continue reading here for the original Barefoot Blogger article with Deborah’s photos from their visit to Mougins.

Reasons to Visit Mougins

Mougins is a charming village in the Alpes Maritimes department of Provence. It is a 15-minute drive from Cannes on the French Riviera and Grasse, the perfume capital. Sweeping views from Mougins include the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Cannes. Surrounded by nature and olive groves, Mougins is popular with outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy cycling, hiking and other activities.

The town is not large, with a population of 19,677 (2021), yet it has a notable cultural scene that has long attracted artists, culinary masters and celebrities. Mougins is positioned on a rocky outcrop between the Mediterranean and the Alps. The medieval architecture is constructed in a spiral inside ancient ramparts with tiny alleyways, which adds to Mougin’s attractiveness.

Book a Day Tour: Antibes, Eze, Mougins from Nice

Mougins History

Human settlement in Mougins began before the Roman era, with the presence of Ligurian tribes. Like many hilltop villages, the location provided some advantages during the Middle Ages. Today, the ramparts add to the charm of Mougins. However, during the Middle Ages, the stone fortifications were strategic and necessary barriers against attackers. Initially, the ramparts had three (3) entries; today, only the Porte Sarrazine (Sarrazine Gate) remains.

In 1056, the Count of Antibes, Gillaume de Gauceron, gifted Mougins to the monks living on Saint Honorat, one of the Lerin Islands. After the French Revolution, the village became independent of the religious order.

Visitor’s Guide to the Alpes Maritimes

Mougins Art and Artists

Pablo Picasso discovered Mougins with his muse, Dora Marr, in 1935. Tempted by the proximity of the French Riviera and surrounded by unspoilt countryside, Picasso returned to Mougins in 1961. He established his atelier in the building that is now the tourist office. Piccaso and his wife Jacqueline lived at Notre Dame de Vie near the Chapel of the same name. Initially built by the Guinness family (more detail here), Picasso purchased the 35-room villa, and it was there where he died in 1973 at the age of 91. The villa is privately owned.

The “Picasso factor” attracted other artists and creative types, reflected in the number of museums and galleries in Mougins today.

©Gayle Padgett Smith

Femmes Artistes Musée Mougins (FAMM) (website)
32 rue Commandeur,
06250 Mougins

Femmes Artistes Musée Mougins (FAMM) is a new chapter in the career of Christian Levett, who created the very impressive Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins, which opened in 2011. The classic art collection included a mix of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman works with modern pieces inspired by the classical world. After 12 years, he took the radical route of packing the contents and shipping them for auction in London. Opened in 2024 is a new concept: Europe’s first private museum of women’s art, FAMM. The impressive collection spans four floors.

Musée de la Photographie André Villers
Porte Sarrazine (Saracen Door)
06250 Mougins

Professional photographer André Villers donated his work to the city of Mougins. The museum’s photo collection depicts spontaneous scenes of Picasso’s creative environment captured by Villers.

Scène 55
55, Chemin de Faissole
06250 Mougins
Telephone: +33 (0)4 92 92 55 67

Scène 55 is a purpose-built facility dedicated to cultural presentations. The 3,057 m² building contains a large theatre, a music school, artist’s workshops, and a specially designed space for puppeteers.

Book a Private Driving Tour to Mougins

Culinary Scene in Mougins

One might say that Mougins is like dining with the stars or, better put, surrounded by rising stars. In the 1970s, the town’s gastronomic reputation soared with 11 macarons in the Michelin guide. Two of France’s grand chefs, Alain Ducasse and Roger Vergé, ran restaurants in Mougins. Vergé opened le Moulin de Mougins in 1969. The restaurant operates today with head chef Denis Fétisson guiding the culinary direction. With over 40 restaurants in Mougins, the problem is making a choice.

Launched in 2006, Le Festival Les Etoiles de Mougins (International Gastronomy Festival of Mougins) was “cooked” up by Roger Vergé. This weekend-long convergence of the gastronomic world attracts notable chefs and thousands of food lovers.

©Maison Mirabeau

Mougins Visitor information

Circling on a hilltop, Mougins’s medieval beginnings are evident in its delightful streets and the remains of the fortified walls. Only 15 minutes from the glittering coastal city of Cannes and 10km from the French perfume capital Grasse, Mougins is well worth a visit. This town offers an attractive art collection (galleries, museums, and studios) and gourmet food.

Admire the expansive view of the Côte d’Azur and the Lérins Islands.

Mougins Tourist Office
39 Place des Patriotes
06250 Mougins, France
Telephone: +33(0)4 92 92 14 00

Deborah Bine

The Barefoot Blogger, aka Deborah Bine, loves to share tales of her solo life in France as an American expat who speaks no French. Retired from a career in advertising and marketing communications, and divorced after a 40-year marriage with children, Deborah left Beaufort, South Carolina and all of her belongings last year to move to the south of France. Now that she has found her "bliss," her passion is to encourage others to break away from whatever is holding them back and to go after their dreams. "We're on life's journey alone. Be certain you love where you are."

Visit Barefoot Blogger here