Raccourcis
Guide de voyage pour 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.

Devenue un haut lieu de la gastronomie, Mougins abrite une myriade de magnifiques restaurants, dont ceux étoilés Michelin, sans oublier son merveilleux festival gastronomique chaque année. Mougins est devenue la destination culinaire et culturelle préférée des Britanniques et compte une importante population anglophone. Bien que fréquenté par des célébrités de premier plan lors des événements à proximité festival du film 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 et 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.
Explorez Mougins dans ce guide de voyage Iconic Riviera :
Mougins : informations de base
À seulement 20 minutes en voiture de Cannes, le village perché de Mougins sur la Côte d'Azur se trouve tranquillement et élégamment au sommet d'une colline entourée par la vaste forêt de Valmasque, avec une belle vue panoramique sur la baie immaculée de Cannes, l'émeraude îles de Lérins, et les lignes irrégulières des Préalpes.
La ville de Mougins compte environ 19 400 habitants. Comme le reste du Côte d'Azur, ça profite le climat méditerranéen parfait avec 300 jours d'ensoleillement assurés.
La vieille ville perchée de Mougins est le point central de la région, mais Mougins est devenue beaucoup plus grande que la simple zone perchée. Certaines communes de Mougins disposent de lotissements comme le moderne Mougins-le-Haut. Le long de la route Napoléon et du tronçon Tournamy attenant, des commerces et des commerces s'ajoutent aux quartiers les plus récents et contemporains de la ville.
Un peu d'histoire de Mougins

Mougins était autrefois une ville occupée avant même la domination romaine. Les Ligures l'occupèrent et la résistèrent à l'invasion byzantine, jusqu'à ce que la ville de Gênes la mette sous contrôle entre le XIe et le XVe siècle. De nombreuses structures du vieux village ont été construites à partir de ces années-là. Les moines de St-Honorat de Îles de Lérins administrait la région des coteaux de Mougins lorsque le comte de Antibes mettez-les aux commandes.
A cette époque, c'était un village fortifié. Certains vestiges des remparts et des murs de ces années-là sont encore debout. La Porte Sarazzine est l'une des trois tours originales. Certains remparts ont été enlevés par les pilleurs de l'armée austro-sarde, pendant la guerre de Succession d'Autriche du XVIIIe siècle. Mais la guerre n'a pas arrêté la ville qui a repris vie grâce à la construction de plusieurs nouvelles rues et maisons au XIXe siècle. Aux XIXe et XXe siècles, elle devient un centre de production florale utilisé par Grasse pour ses parfumeries.
L'histoire culinaire
L’histoire de Mougins en matière d’arts gastronomiques est indéniablement remarquable. Des chefs et experts culinaires célèbres ont contribué à la reconnaissance de la ville. Leurs noms sont également associés aux restaurants où ils exercent leur savoir-faire. Prenez par exemple L'Amandier, où les génies Roger Vergé et Alain Ducasse ont été chefs et directeurs de restaurant. Vergé a ouvert L'Amandier Mougins en 1977. De 1970 à 1974, il a reçu des étoiles Michelin et a également été nommé Maître Cuisinier de France en 1980. Ducasse a été l'assistant de Vergé auprès duquel il a appris la cuisine provençale qui a fait de lui plus tard un chef recherché. Il reprend les cuisines de L'Amandier en 1980. Il détient actuellement 21 étoiles 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.
Vérifier l'histoire derrière le séjour de Picasso sur la Côte d'Azur.
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:
- Le 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.
- Le 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.
Que voir à 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).
Musée de la Photographie André Villers

Musée de la Photographie André Villers contient des expositions de photographies de Pablo Picasso par les photographes André Villérs et Henri Lartigue. Picasso’s close friend, photographer André Villers, chronicled the artist’s Mougins years in black-and-white photos.
Des images tapissent les murs d'une ancienne maison médiévale : certaines sont hilarantes, comme la photo montrant Picasso assis pour le petit-déjeuner dans sa chemise bretonne emblématique, faisant semblant d'avoir des croissants pour les doigts. Des portraits supplémentaires de Villars, notamment des clichés de Dalí, Catherine Deneuve et Edith Piaf, sont fréquemment exposés. Des images supplémentaires dans le musée ont été prises par des photographes de renom comme Robert Doisneau, qui a réalisé le célèbre cliché « couple s'embrassant à Paris ».
L'entrée est gratuite. Il est ouvert tous les jours de 10h à 12h30 et de 14h à 18h (de juin à septembre, les horaires s'étendent jusqu'à 19h) et fermé en janvier.
Espace de l'Art Béton
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.
L'Étang 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.
Comment aller là
Bus n°600 entre Grasse et Cannes fréquente Mougins mais ne va pas dans le vieux village. Descendre à Val de Mougins et prendre le bus n°650 (Sophia Antipolis) ou Palmbus n°27 pour rejoindre le centre du village sur la colline. Alternativement, vous pouvez marcher jusqu'au village, ce qui peut prendre 10 à 15 minutes. Si vous êtes en voiture, un parking se trouve à l'entrée du vieux village perché.
Visite vidéo de Mougins
La réputation internationale de Mougins en fait une destination prisée des célébrités et des touristes. Le restaurant gastronomique et les musées d'art intemporels donneront une pure satisfaction à ceux qui recherchent une expérience gratifiante inimitable.