Life in Mandelieu-La Napoule
during the Belle Époque

While Belle-Époque villas already dotted the coast of the French Riviera, Mandelieu long retained the pristine beauty of its landscapes as its inhabitants preserved their ancestral customs and traditions.

There was no dearth of traditional crops: wine, hay, wheat... The Mandolocians raised livestock and silkworms fed with the leaves of fine mulberry trees, olive trees produced excellent oil and aromatic plants (mint, geranium, rose, violet, tuberose, jasmine) provided an additional source of income. But in 1880, an invasion of the olive fly (Keïroun), followed by serious foreign competition, brought an end to olive growing and silkworm farming.

Then, Mandelieu-La Napoule attracted international aristocracy and the Golf Club was built (1891), as well as the polo field, the race course (1885), then the St-Cassien airfield and work began on the Port if La Napoule. L'Ermitage de St-Cassien (on the site of today's airport) was a place for celebration and festivities: clay pigeon shooting, Fête de St-Cassien, Casino, cattle market... Winter visitors discovered the joys of bathing in the sea at La Napoule. Their influence opened a new era for the people of Mandelieu since, in 1893, La Napoule finally had a railway station, 'la halte de La Napoule', which facilitated shipment of local products (tiles, cork, pipes, wood, wine, flowers.).

In 1900, the four districts (Capitou, Les Termes, La Napoule and Théoule) had a total of population 1,150. M. Nicolas' cork factory employed more than 300 workers. La Napoule (200 inhabitants) had two hotels, 2 grocers, 2 bakers, 1 butcher, 5 cafés and 1 tobacconist. The Société de Golf attracted hundreds of foreigners daily in the winter season. The tramway from Cannes to Mandelieu soon gave a new boost to facilitating travel for winter visitors, and the local population alike.

From 1900 to 1914, commercial exploitation of the mimosa began, giving rise to a new profession, mimosiste. In 1913, on the platform of 'la halte de La Napoule', hundreds of baskets brimming with mimosa flowers were shipped away each day.

Today the Mimosa remains the direct heir of this Belle Époque, since it was imported from Australia by English lords and took root in Mandelieu-La Napoule (and elsewhere), which has now become the 'Mimosa Capital'. The mimosistes's new trade created at the time is still thriving in Mandelieu and the trees cover the entire Tanneron Massif with their fragrant golden flowers from January to March.

It is in memory of the 'Belle Époque' and to celebrate the mimosa, which has become such an asset and contributed so much to repute of their town that, since 1931, 'Mandolocians' have organized their Mimosa Festival every February. This is an occasion for magical moments to share among residents and visitors under the mild winter sun of the Mediterranean.