The Mimosa route

Bormes-les-Mimosas

Kilometre 0

This is where it all begins. Bormes-les-Mimosas officially adopted its name in 1968, in homage to the ubiquitous flower on its hills and plains. A flower-filled village with picturesque lanes, it is the natural starting point for the route and embodies the spirit of the route: the mimosa is not just a flower here, it’s a way of life.

The village is home to the Cavatore nurseries, a national reference with almost 250 varieties and an arboretum of 120 species, the only national collection protected by the Conservatoire des collections végétales spécialisées. Every year, the Corso fleuri – the oldest on the Côte d’Azur, created in 1920 – brings thousands of visitors together around floats decorated with tonnes of yellow sprigs and fresh flowers. Shortly before, Mimosalia, a meeting place for plant and garden lovers, opens its doors at the end of January to celebrate botanical diversity and sustainable know-how.

On the sweet side, mimosa ice cream, jelly, homemade syrup and the “Mimorose” cocktail all bear witness to deep-rooted local creativity.

Sainte-Maxime

Kilometre 42

Between land, sea and Provence, Sainte-Maxime is a family-friendly destination with 11 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline. Its old-tiled houses, typical market and lively shopping streets exude Provencal authenticity. Just a stone’s throw from the coast, the Maures mountains invite you to get away from it all, with their cork oaks, umbrella pines, arbutus trees and mimosas that colour the hills in winter.

Every year in February, the town celebrates the mimosa with its Corso: floral floats, musical groups, confetti and yellow sprig battles create a joyous and popular atmosphere in the town centre. Since 1983, the La Muscadine chocolate factory has been offering chocolate creations with delicate notes of flowers and mimosa. The tourist office shop offers a whole range of mimosa products: syrup, jelly, candles, soaps and a plantation box to take a fragment of the region home with you. In addition, “Belle Époque” guided tours show how the mimosa, introduced to the Côte d’Azur in the second half of the 19th century by winter guests, helped to shape the identity of the destination.

Mandelieu-La Napoule

Kilometre 108

Nicknamed the ” Mimosa Capital “, Mandelieu-La Napoule has been celebrating the golden flower since 1931 – a popular and festive tradition that spans generations. Nestling between the Mediterranean, the Esterel mountains and the Tanneron forest, Mandelieu offers a full mimosa-themed programme every February, with events, ephemeral installations, creative workshops, visits to forceries, excursions and guided walks in the flower-filled hills.

The Mimosa Festival, a not-to-be-missed annual highlight, brings residents and visitors together for parades, corsos, concerts, a grand banquet and fireworks over five days throughout the town. In the heart of the Emmanuelle de Marande park, the town is home to France’s only mimosa arboretum, with more than 100 species planted over an area of almost 10,000 m², accompanied by an open-air exhibition – La Saga du Mimosa – which traces the history and development of the cultivation of this flower. As for discoveries, the Capitou district, the historic birthplace of the mimosa growers, bears witness to a lively agricultural past. Food lovers will be delighted by Galimard’s signature “Douceur de Mimosa” fragrance, green tea with mimosa flowers from the Haute Manufacture nunshen, and the mimosa macaroons and ice creations available all year round from Louise.

Pégomas

Kilometre 115

In Pégomas, the mimosa delights the eye and the nose. Grown in the hills of Tanneron, it is honoured here with care and passion. The Jardin des Mimosas is home to 11 varieties, a testament to the botanical diversity that is carefully nurtured. Pégomas, renowned for its perfume-growing industry, has handed down its horticultural expertise from generation to generation.

Every year at the end of January, Pégomas celebrates the first sprigs of mimosa at a friendly mimosa evening. The town has the pleasant, colourful image of a land of character, halfway between the hustle and bustle of the coastal corsos and the serenity of the Tanneron heights. It’s a place where you can take the time to discover the unspoilt countryside and passionate producers, some of whom now offer direct sales of bouquets and are innovating with new products such as vintage mimosa tea.