Mandelieu-La Napoule, Mimosa Capital

The mimosa, the Côte d’Azur’s winter sun!

From mid-December to March, when the mimosa trees are in flower, the yellow pompons light up the hills of Tanneron and the Esterel Massif. The Mimosa Capital, Mandelieu-La Napoule, has plenty of ideas for enjoying this colourful flower. Hikes, gourmet breaks, workshops, souvenirs, festivities… the Mimosa can be celebrated, eaten, smelled and admired like nowhere else.

Mandelieu-La Napoule and the mimosa, a history of botanists

The Nabonnand family, famous in the horticultural world, settled in Golfe-Juan in the 19th century to make a living from their passion for roses. Budding botanists, the family imported an acacia tree from Australia in 1860, and it was a surprising success the following winter! Its thousands of golden buds seduced famous winter visitors such as Lord Brougham and the Marquis de Morés… And so the Nabonnands set about adorning their majestic estates.

After acclimatising spectacularly and conquering the neighbouring hills in the wild, the Nabonnand sons quickly realised the tree’s potential. They decided to multiply the varieties of mimosa and, to this end, Clément Nabonnand settled in Mandelieu-La Napoule.

The town is ideally situated between the Siagne and the Mediterranean, at the foot of the Estérel and Tanneron ranges . This position and the Mediterranean climate mean that the mimosa grows in abundance every winter, covering all the surrounding hills in yellow. As a result, Mandelieu-La Napoule‘s reputation as the Mimosa Capital is cultivated year after year.

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MANDELIEU MIMOSA FESTIVAL

FROM 11 TO 15 FEBRUARY 2026
“THE GREAT MOP OF THE REGIONS!

The Mimosa Festival is a great classic of the Côte d’Azur Winter Festivals. Based on the theme of “La Grande Vadrouille des Régions”, the festivities will take place from 11 to 15 February 2026.

This famous popular event will take place in the districts of Mandelieu-La Napoule, where the magnificent, colourful and flower-filled corsos will parade. In the heart of the town, in the Capitou and La Napoule districts by the sea, festival-goers will gather to enjoy an authentic, folkloric experience.

On the programme: parades, light parades, flower corsos, children’s carnival, entertainment, strolls, exhibitions, lively squares, street and market flowers.

The theme of this year’s event is a tour of the carnival traditions and corsos that punctuate the calendar of the French regions: from the Provençal to the Basque, from the Corsican to the Breton, from the Norman to the Savoyard, from the Antilles to the Ch’tis…!

The Mimosa is also celebrated in Tanneron on 25 January 2026!

Find out more

Walking under the mimosa

The Côte d’Azur offers some exceptional walking and hiking trails in some remarkable and fragile natural sites. When the mimosa is in bloom, the paths light up and offer an extraordinary olfactory experience. In Mandelieu-La Napoule, there are many walks where you can observe and enjoy this flower with your family, friends or on your own.
Made up of thousands of golden yellow balls, the Mimosas cover the Tanneron hills with their golden colour in winter. The Massif de Tanneron is therefore one of the remarkable sites where mimosa walks are a real pleasure! As the cradle of mimosa cultivation, you’ll discover many paths that will guide you through the nooks and crannies of a botanical walk, punctuated by breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The Massif de Tanneron is a veritable belvedere overlooking the Côte d’Azur, offering a host of family walks that are ideal for all seasons:
– The La Vernède walk,
– Le Grand Duc,
– Les Crètes de Tanneron.

If you’d rather have a guide to help you discover the secrets of the mimosa, you can contact theMandelieu Tourist Office. They’ll put you in touch with passionate guides like Philippe Dejoux, Maddy Polomeni and Yoann Cenni.

Discover all the mimeographed walks

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The mimosa route: a sensory itinerary

From January to March, the Côte d’Azur is bathed in yellow as the mimosa blooms.

For 130 km, from Bormes-Les-Mimosas to Grasse, the mimosa route takes you through coastline and forest under the symbol of the Côte d’Azur in winter: the mimosa.

This tourist route will take you on a journey of authenticity, Côte d’Azur terroir, unsuspected heritage, intoxicating fragrances and a festive atmosphere!

Take advantage of this itinerary to contemplate the remarkable gardens and breathe in the scent of the mimosa, heighten your senses by sampling mimosa-flavoured specialities, meet the mimosa growers who are passionate about this very special flower and enjoy an olfactory experience by creating your own mimosa-scented perfumes.

For an even crazier experience, get behind the wheel of a 2CV with Mademoiselle Riviera. As well as driving along the yellow-coloured roads, the “special Mademoiselle Riviera” experience includes a gourmet stop! Ready to taste the “Mimocello” or the mimosa syrup served on a fresh goat’s cheese?

Discover the Mimosa Route

Yes, you can eat the mimosa!

The Côte d’Azur is famous for its local produce. Aïoli à la provençale, daube à la provençale, anchoïade, socca niçoise… the list goes on.

In Mandelieu, the mimosa is cooked and embodies the winter sunshine of the Côte d’Azur!

Mathieu Marchand, the pastry chef at the L’Oasis Boutique, was inspired by the little yellow balls that grow in the Esterel mountains. He set himself the challenge of combining his passion for cooking with this flower. The result is a delicacy called “Mimoasis“, which will be on sale temporarily in February in the Oasis shop. It’sa cheesecake-style tartlet flavoured with mimosa and white chocolate… A delight for the taste buds!

Mathieu Marchand hasn’t stopped there! For winter 2023, he has created amimosamacaroon and ice cream that will also be on the menu of the Oasis boutique and tearoom.

“At Chez Louise, the luminous pompons of the flower are also featured in gourmet creations.

Head ice-cream maker Laurent Rombi has come up with floral recipes in honour of the Mandolian people: a Mimosa ice-cream and a Mimosa Honey ice-cream, with a delicate, fragrant taste, enhanced by a hint of honey.

Mandolian restaurants also offer desserts inspired by mimosa: Crème brulée with mimosa at Rose(Hôtel Casarose), Mille-feuille with mimosa at La Rotonde…

Discover the shop

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Mimosa as a gift in all its forms

After the gourmet mimosa, the gift mimosa!

TheMandelieu-La Napoule Tourist Office gift shop offers a range of products dedicated to the mimosa, either in person or online! Toilet waters, hand towels, soap boxes, candles… there are plenty of souvenirs to delight your loved ones.

If your loved ones are interested in handicrafts, why not offer them a perfume creation workshop for adults and children? A unique perfumer’s experience with the Molinard perfume organ.

For Valentine’s Day, forget the traditional rose bouquet! Opt for the colourful, local, fragrant and unusual mimosa bouquet!

Not to mention the originality of these gift ideas derived from the mimosa, as these products are grown and created on the Côte d’Azur! Give the gift of pleasure and help the planet at the same time – isn’t that a winning combination?