From Ch'tis to Americans!
An essential heritage of French Riviera : Mandelieu has two remarkable castles in the colors of the Estérel, facing the Mediterranean as well as the ruins of the Château de Villeuneuve at the top of Mont San Peyre. There is also a 360° panoramic orientation table. A must-see in Mandelieu.
THE CHÂNAPOULE TEA
It is the emblem of Mandelieu, leaning against the hill of Mont San Peyre and with its feet in the water, it is the lung of the La Napoule district; unmissable with its remarkable garden and this building in the colors of the Estérel.
Discovered by the Romans, it was in medieval times that the Villeneuve family erected a fortress on the site, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout history. It was not until 1918 that a couple of American artists and patrons – the Keys– acquire the ruins of the fortress and decide to rebuild it.
A little history… “Once upon a time”… Once upon a time there was a love story between the Clews and the ruins of a castle, that of La Napoule. At the end of the Great War, seeking a haven of peace, Henry and Marie Clews decided to settle on the Côte d'Azur and fell under the spell of La Napoule and its ruins. They soon began rebuilding the castle, with porphyry columns and capitals sculpted with chimerical figures, straight out of the imagination of its renovator Henry Clews, an American painter and sculptor. The bodies of the deceased couple lie in mysterious half-open tombs while a legend claims that the ghost of a certain Count de Villeneuve haunts the place. Each visit is thus an adventure through time, art and mysteries.
The castle today... The Château de La Napoule houses and preserves the cultural and historical heritage of Henry and Marie Clews. In parallel, The Napoule Art Foundation owner of the castle allows the reception of international artists. Thus, accomplished and emerging creators from around the world are selected each year to participate in the artist residencies at Château de La Napoule.
The Henry Clews Museum, meanwhile, is the showcase of the secret world of Henry and Marie Clews. The mystical and strange sculptures of Henry Clews integrate perfectly with the building and the gardens bringing their touch of strangeness to the place.
Schedules and rates : 04.93.49.95.05 / message@chateau-lanapoule.com
LE AGECROFT CASTLE
A little history… In 1918 Agecroft Castle was born from the will of an English aristocrat, Harry Leland de Langley, who built it in red porphyry from the Estérel, on land overlooking the sea. After the Second World War, this The castle was sold to the Houillères du Nord-Pas-de-Calais who rehabilitated it to make it a holiday center for their coal miners. This history shared with the miners, forever links Mandelieu to Hauts de France, and he is often identified as the Miners' Castle. Today, it still welcomes vacationers referred by various works councils. Now classified, it is surrounded by an area of 14 hectares and is supported on all sides by a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean.
Good plan : Mainly reserved for the Works Council, it is however possible to have lunch there or have a drink at the restaurant located in the castle while enjoying a view overlooking the sea!
