The Massif of Tanneron

It is the Mimosa Forest

Continuation of the Estérel in the lands, it is closer of the Massif of the Moors by its form and its structure. Discover it all year long and more particularly in January and February when mimosas are in bloom.

Tour in car “Discovery of the Tanneron massif”’:

• Departure of Mandelieu-La Napoule on the secondary road 92 overlooking:
  - A magnificent panorama of the coast
  - The Lérins Islands
  - Cannes and its surroundings
  - The summits of the Alps 
  During the route you will cross, the forest of mimosas in the heart of the Massif
• Arrival at the village of Tanneron where you can visit:
              - The charming Chapel “N-D of Peygros”
              - The mimosa farms and their soil products
• Back on the sinuous road (D38) offering numerous panoramas on the forest of oaks, mimosas, and eucalyptus, on the valley of Siagne and the chain of the Southern Alps.
• Arrival at the lake of St Cassien for a stopping place of coolness and relaxation
• Back on the road direction Mandelieu-La Napoule by A8, quite close …

You will find all our guides and index cards of routes
in our tourist boards!!!

Backgrounds:

Imported from Australia in the middle of the 19th century by the «English Lords " who discovered the Côte d'Azur, the mimosa acclimatized very well to the slopes of Tanneron and recovers all its hills today.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it made the fortune of the region. Capitou, district of Mandelieu-La Napoule, pulled of the mimosa and its culture a very important part of its history and its wealth
In 1931 for the first time, by gratitude for this golden flower, Capitoulans (inhabitants from Capitou) dedicated it a big feast: the mimosa Festival
Since, the tradition is maintained by Mandolociens and the Mimosa Festival, although interrupted a time because of the fires, takes place every year in February.

Information on the Mimosa:

On a national production of 18 million stalks of mimosa, 11 millions are produced in the Maritime Alps and 6 millions in the towns of Mandelieu La Napoule and Pégomas.

The technique of the forcing and the secret of the Chrysal powder allowed to master the bloom and to send some mimosa all over the world

Discover it with the mimosistes during your visit.

Mandelieu-La Napoule is one of the eight charming stops of the Mimosa Route.

Click here to discover the Mimosa Route

For the nature lovers:

• The mimosa belongs to the family of locust trees.
• There is several species of mimosa: shrubs or trees which can reach more than 10 m of height.
• It blooms between November and March, but the one called "four seasons" blooms several times a year.

Click here for more practical information about the Mimosa

Planted on the lower slopes of the Tanneron Massif, this public forest, managed by the National Forest Office (N.F.O), provides a shaded haven above the French Riviera.

Information on the “Grand Duc” forest:

• Surface: 90 ha
• Climate: Mediterranean, with warm and very dry summers
• Situation: Less than 10 km from the town at the limit of the department of the Var and in the Northwest extremity of the municipal territory
• Height: Vary between 250 and 475 m

Tracks and paths are fitted out for your enjoyment and will allow at the same moment to take advantage of exceptional points of view on the coast, while discovering the specific forest flora of this Massif.

For the nature lovers: 

• It is an ecological valuable site listed in the inventory of the natural heritage as zone of high ecological value.
• Situated on an ancient volcano which conceals a vein of fluorine having been the object of a remarkable exploitation.
• Its vegetation is adapted to the acid ground, and in spite of the fires, the restoration of the vegetation cover is facilitated by the intervention of humans.

Estérel mountains   The Massif of Tanneron   The San Peyre   The islands of Lerins

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