Guía de viaje de Mougins

Mougins, positioned between Cannes and Grasse, rises in a corkscrew of enchanting cobbled streets. The historic center is awash with quaint alleyways adorned with fountains and statues, while artists’ studios blend into a backdrop of lush gardens.

Conocido como centro gastronómico, Mougins alberga una gran cantidad de magníficos restaurantes, incluidos aquellos con estrellas Michelin, sin olvidar su maravilloso festival gastronómico cada año. Mougins se ha convertido en la escapada culinaria y cultural favorita de los británicos y tiene una gran población de habla inglesa. Aunque frecuentado por celebridades de primer nivel durante la cercana Festival de cine de cannes, it retains its image as an unspoiled medieval village.

A highly attractive aspect in the village are the trees that grow through restaurant terraces in the main square, creating their very own artistic imprint. At the heart is the picturesque Vieux Village , offering spectacular views over cannes and Grasse with an international reputation for its gourmet cuisine, where great chefs such as Roger Vergé y Alain Ducasse managed restaurants.

Mougins has been frequented and inhabited by many artists and celebrities such as Catherine Deneuve, Elizabeth Taylor, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, Yves Klein, César Baldaccini, Édith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Winston Churchill, and the list goes on… Mougins now showcases 30 art galleries and museums. It’s most famous resident, Pablo Picasso, spent the last 12 years of his life living here.

Explora Mougins en esta guía de viaje icónica de la Riviera:

Mougins: Información básica

La antigua ciudad de Mougins, situada en lo alto, es el punto focal central de la zona, pero Mougins ha crecido hasta convertirse en mucho más que solo la zona de la cima de la colina. Algunas comunas de Mougins tienen urbanizaciones como la moderna Mougins-le-Haut. A lo largo de la Ruta Napoleón y la sección contigua de Tournamy, las tiendas y negocios se suman a las zonas más nuevas y contemporáneas de la ciudad.

Un poco de historia de Mougins

Mougins fue una ciudad ocupada incluso antes del dominio romano. Los ligures la ocuparon y la defendieron contra la invasión bizantina, hasta que la ciudad de Génova la puso bajo control entre los siglos XI y XV. Muchas de las estructuras del antiguo pueblo se construyeron a partir de estos años. Los monjes de St-Honorat de Islas de Lérins administraba la región montañosa de Mougins cuando el Conde de Antibes ponerlos a cargo.

En aquella época era un pueblo fortificado. De las murallas y murallas de aquellos años aún se conservan algunos restos. La Porte Sarazzine es una de las tres torres originales. Algunas de las murallas fueron eliminadas por el ejército austro-sardo saqueador, durante la Guerra de Sucesión de Austria del siglo XVIII. Pero la guerra no detuvo a la ciudad, que revivió nuevamente cuando se construyeron varias calles y casas nuevas en el siglo XIX. Durante los siglos XIX y XX se convirtió en un centro de producción de flores utilizado por Grasse para sus perfumerías.

La historia culinaria

La historia de Mougins en lo que respecta a las artes gastronómicas es sin duda notable. Chefs famosos y expertos culinarios contribuyeron al reconocimiento de la ciudad. Sus nombres también están asociados a los restaurantes donde practican su oficio. Tomemos, por ejemplo, L'Amandier, donde los genios Roger Vergé y Alain Ducasse ejercieron como chefs y directores de restaurante. Vergé abrió L'Amandier Mougins en 1977. De 1970 a 1974 recibió estrellas Michelin y también fue nombrado Maître Cuisinier de France en 1980. Ducasse fue asistente de Vergé, de quien aprendió la cocina provenzal que más tarde lo convirtió en un chef muy solicitado. Se hizo cargo de las cocinas de L'Amandier en 1980. Actualmente ostenta 21 estrellas Michelin.

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, spent the last 12 years of his life in Mougins. Drawn by its serene beauty and elegant surroundings, Picasso made his home at the Notre-Dame-de-Vie estate, a former farmhouse he transformed into his studio. The nearby Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel , with its simple yet captivating architecture, deeply inspired him, influencing his later works, which often reflected themes of mortality and legacy. This period, from 1961 until his death in 1973, marked the height of his fame and was characterized by a prolific output of art, infused with the introspective and mature style that defined his later years.

Verificar la historia detrás del tiempo histórico de Picasso en la Riviera.

Mougins, with its charming cobblestone streets and panoramic views, became more than just Picasso’s retreat; it was a source of profound inspiration and a symbol of the peaceful environment that fueled his creativity. The town, enriched by Picasso’s presence, continues to celebrate its connection to the artist, attracting visitors and artists alike who seek to experience the idyllic setting that influenced one of the greatest masters of modern art. Today, Mougins stands as a testament to the deep relationship between an artist and his environment, preserving the legacy of Picasso’s final and most reflective years.

The Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel and Picasso’s former estate in Mougins are significant landmarks, but they have different levels of accessibility to the public:

• El Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel , which played an inspirational role in Picasso’s later years, is accessible to visitors. It is a small, historical church that dates back several centuries and is known for its simple yet elegant architecture. Visitors can explore the chapel and its surroundings, which provide a sense of the serene environment that Picasso cherished. The chapel is a lovely spot for those interested in the artistic and spiritual ambiance that influenced Picasso’s work.
• El Notre-Dame-de-Vie estate, where Picasso lived from 1961 until his death in 1973, has been restored true to Picasso’s vision and is being used for art production. While the estate itself cannot be visited, you can view it from a distance and enjoy the picturesque surroundings that inspired Picasso. The estate is well-known among art enthusiasts and historians, and even though you can’t tour the inside, just being near the location where Picasso spent his final years can be a meaningful experience for fans of his work.

For those interested in Picasso’s life and legacy, the village of Mougins offers various galleries, museums, and cultural events that celebrate the artist’s influence on the region.

Qué ver en Mougins

Mougins, a quintessential destination on the French Riviera, seamlessly blends history, culture, art, and gastronomy in an enchanting setting. Its panoramic views, narrow cobbled streets, and centuries-old stone houses create an authentically atmospheric experience. Nestled between the sea and the mountains, this medieval village’s picturesque charm has captivated numerous artists.

As part of the cultural exploration of the French Riviera, you can always find the list of the best museums or galleries in our travel guide, and the following are the best you can see in Mougins:

Female Artists Mougins Museum

FAMM is the first private museum in Europe dedicated to women artists. Christian Levett first established the Mougins Museum of Classical Art in 2011. During its 12 years of existence, it rapidly became a popular cultural destination showcasing his collection of antiquities juxtaposed with classically inspired artworks. In Summer 2023, Levett, the former British investor passionate about art and history, declared, “After almost 30 years of collecting art, my tastes have evolved, and I think it’s time for the museum to evolve as well.”

In June 2024, the museum, now renamed FAMM (Female Artists Mougins Museum) , unveiled over a hundred works by more than 80 artists from around the world. This exhibition represents an exhilarating artistic journey—from visionary Impressionists to daring Surrealists, through tumultuous abstraction and bold representations of the human body, leading to the intimate and raw expressions of 21st-century female artists.

FAMM proudly provides a dedicated platform for exhibiting works by female artists, addressing historical imbalances in their recognition and appreciation. The remarkable artworks on display offer visitors a rare chance to explore the universal essence of art, with each artist contributing to enriching and reshaping the grand narrative of art history.

In an interview with Artnet, Levett said: “I hope when people walk in there and see the quality of artworks, they’ll walk out and think to themselves, ‘That was amazing.’ And hopefully visiting a museum where all the artworks have been by female artists makes them stop and think ‘How did we ever reach a point where so little of the work on the walls of museums or in auctions was by female artists?’ That’s really what I want people to think.”

Open daily from 10am to 8pm (6pm in the off-season – see visiting and ticket info).

Museo de la Fotografía André Villers

Museo de la Fotografía André Villers contiene exhibiciones de fotografías de Pablo Picasso por los fotógrafos Andre Villérs y Henri Lartigue. Picasso’s close friend, photographer André Villers, chronicled the artist’s Mougins years in black-and-white photos.

Imágenes se alinean en las paredes de una antigua casa medieval: algunas son hilarantes, como la foto que muestra a Picasso sentado a desayunar con su característica camisa bretona, fingiendo que tiene croissants en lugar de dedos. Con frecuencia se exhiben retratos adicionales de Villars, incluidas fotografías de Dalí, Catherine Deneuve y Edith Piaf. Imágenes adicionales en el museo fueron tomadas por fotógrafos destacados como Robert Doisneau, quien realizó la famosa fotografía de “pareja besándose en París”.

La admisión es gratis. Está abierto todos los días de 10 a. m. a 12:30 p. m. y de 2 p. m. a 6 p. m. (de junio a septiembre el horario se extiende hasta las 7 p. m.) y cierra en enero.

Espacio de Arte Concreto

A five minute drive from Mougins, Espace de l’Art Concret is a place that modern art and architecture enthusiasts love to visit. The exhibit is inside the 16th-century Château de Mouans , which shows works by the likes of Yves Klein, Andy Warhol, and Philippe Starck. It has an extension by Albers-Honegger; a lime-green building that is strikingly in contrast with its historical surroundings.

El estanque de Fontmerle

Also a five minute drive from Mougins, in a five-hectare swath of greenery on the edge of Valmasque Forest Park , L’Etang Fontmerle is the largest pond with a colony of lotus flowers in Europe. The blooming season is from July to September. Migratory birds and waterfowls plentiful, numbering over 60 different species. Close to the pond is the chapel, Notre-Dame-de-Vie and the manor-villa of Picasso.

Cómo llegar allá

Autobús nº 600 entre Grasse y cannes Frecuenta Mougins pero no entra en el antiguo pueblo. Baje en Val de Mougins y tome el autobús nº 650 (Sophia Antipolis) o Palmbus nº 27 para llegar al centro del pueblo en la colina. Alternativamente, puedes caminar hasta el pueblo, lo que puede tardar entre 10 y 15 minutos. Si vas en coche, hay un aparcamiento a la entrada del antiguo pueblo encaramado.

Vídeo recorrido por Mougins

La reputación internacional de Mougins lo convierte en un destino privilegiado tanto para celebridades como para turistas. El restaurante gourmet y los museos de arte atemporales brindarán pura satisfacción a quienes buscan una experiencia inimitablemente gratificante.