Mougins Travel Guide

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.

Having become known as a center of gastronomy, Mougins is home to a myriad of magnificent restaurants, including those with Michelin stars, not forgetting their wonderful food festival each year. Mougins has become the favorite culinary and culture getaway for Brits and has a large English-speaking population. Although frequented by celebrity A-listers during the nearby Cannes Film Festival, 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 and 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.

Explore Mougins in this Iconic Riviera travel guide:

Mougins: Basic Information

The old perched town of Mougins is the central focal point for the area, but Mougins has grown to become much larger than just the hilltop area. Some communes of Mougins have housing estates such as the modern Mougins-le-Haut. Along Route Napoleon and the adjoining Tournamy section, shops and businesses add to the contemporary newer parts of town.

A Little History of Mougins

Mougins was once an occupied town even before the Romans rule. The Ligurians occupied it and held it against Byzantine invasion, until the City of Genoa put it under control between the 11th and 15th century. Many of the structures of the old village were built from these years. The monks of St-Honorat from Îles de Lérins administered the hillside region of Mougins when the Count of Antibes put them in charge.

At that time, it was a fortified village. Some remains of the ramparts and walls from those years still stand. The Porte Sarazzine is one of the three original towers. Some of the ramparts were removed by the plundering Austro-Sardinian army, during the War of the Austrian Succession of the 18th century. But the war didn’t stop the town as it revived itself again when several new streets and houses were built in the 19th century. During the 19th and the 20th century, it became a center of flower production used by Grasse for its perfumeries.

The Culinary History

The history of Mougins when it comes to gastronomic arts is undeniably remarkable. Famous chefs and culinary experts contributed to the recognition of the town. Their names are also associated with the restaurants where they practice their expertise. Take for example L’Amandier, where geniuses Roger Vergé and Alain Ducasse served as chefs and restaurant managers. Vergé opened L’Amandier Mougins in 1977. From 1970-1974 he received Michelin stars and was also made Maître Cuisinier de France in 1980. Ducasse served as assistant to Vergé from whom he learned Provençal cooking which later made him a sought after chef. He took over the kitchens of L’Amandier in 1980. He currently holds 21 Michelin stars.

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.

Check out the story behind Picasso’s storied time on the 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:

• The 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.
• The 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.

What to See in 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 contains exhibits of photographs of Pablo Picasso by photographers Andre Villérs and Henri Lartigue. Picasso’s close friend, photographer André Villers, chronicled the artist’s Mougins years in black-and-white photos.

Images line the walls of an ancient medieval home: Some are hilarious, such as the photo showing Picasso sitting down for breakfast in his trademark Breton shirt, pretending he has croissants for fingers. Additional portraits by Villars—including snaps of Dalí, Catherine Deneuve, and Edith Piaf—are frequently on display. Additional images in the museum were taken by top photographers like Robert Doisneau, who shot the famous “couple kissing in Paris” shot. 

Admission is free. It’s open daily from 10am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 6pm (from June through to Sept the hours extend until 7pm) and closed in January.

Espace de l’Art Concret

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’Etang 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.

How to Get There

Bus #600 between Grasse and Cannes frequents Mougins but does not go into the old village. Get off on Val de Mougins and take the bus #650 (Sophia Antipolis) or Palmbus #27 to reach the village center on the hill. Alternatively, you can walk right up to the village, which can take 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re driving, there’s a parking lot at the entrance to the old perched village.

Video Tour of Mougins

The international reputation of Mougins makes it a top destination for celebrities and tourists alike. The gourmet restaurant and the timeless art museums will give pure satisfaction to those who seek an inimitably gratifying experience.