The walks
Follow the guide…
From the old village to the Val de Mougins
Starting from the heart of the old village, this walk will take you down a pretty slope with beautiful open views to the Val de Mougins. Formerly known as Les Barraques, this district has developed slowly over the years and today has a lively and animated appearance. On the site, bakery, café, greengrocer and tea room await you for a well-deserved gourmet break. There are also a few shops to tempt shoppers before you slowly make your way back to your starting point.
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Departure point: Avenue de la Victoire in the old village. Marked trail, easy descent, two difficulty levels with a choice of two trails for the ascent.
Time: 15 minutes / One way.
“Step by step”
The “Step by step” route links Mougins old village to the Mougins-le-Haut district. Over the course of this pretty marked route, you will come across some of the most beautiful natural spaces in the Mougins area: the enchanting Siagne canal with its Pagnolesque atmosphere; the Notre-Dame-De-Vie [Our Lady of Life] chapel right next to the last home of Pablo Picasso; Fontmerle lake, which boasts exceptional flora and fauna and which, in summer, is covered by the largest water lily colony in Europe; and the Valmasque pine and oak forest. A change of scenery guaranteed!
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Start: from the Place des Patriotes, in the old village.
Time: 1 hour 45 minutes/One way; 6.2 km.
Difficulty level: generally easy (steep section up to the ND Vie chapel).
There are regular parking areas along the way, allowing you to shorten the route or complete it in several stages. Detailed route available from the Tourist Information Centre or on www.mouginstourisme.com.
Along the Siagne Canal
It winds its way through Mougin territory between the Saint-Basile and Guillet districts. It meanders through terraces and undergrowth, flows beside the Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel and the eponymous Provencal farmhouse that was the last home of the master, Pablo Picasso, before approaching Fontmerle lake and the La Valmasque Departmental Park.
There are several possible starting points, but we suggest the one just below the Notre-Dame-de-Vie chapel. A path takes you there, then fork left in the direction of Hameau du Guillet.
Twenty minutes’ walk and some lovely views later, at the small bridge, follow the signs for “Étang de Fontmerle”, a few metres higher up (a short, steep climb). You can then walk around the pond and/or stop in the surrounding park for a picnic/taste before returning by the same route. Alternatively, you can opt for the shorter version via the Chemin de la Chapelle, on the right after the parking lot, which runs alongside Pablo Picasso’s former home.
Find out more
Parking de la chapelle, 501-869 chemin de la Chapelle. For other departure points and options, please ask our travel consultants at the Tourist Office.
Around Fontmerle pond
Ideal for a gentle walk, a moment of relaxation, meditation or a more dynamic jog, the Fontmerle pond enchants the senses. To be discovered without moderation, alone or with the family!
Bordered by twelve hectares of meadows and located just a few minutes from the old village on the edge of the Valmasque departmental park, the pond is a remarkable site for both the beauty of its landscape and the astonishing richness of its flora and fauna.
Among reeds, rushes and irises, it is home to Europe’s largest colony of lotuses, the Nelumbo nucifera, originally from Asia.
Another rare feature not to be missed is the thirty-six bald cypress trees (toxodium distichum) or cypress swamps that surround the pond. They are deciduous conifers native to Florida and the marshes near the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition, depending on the season, up to 70 species of birds can be counted at the Fontmerle pond! Some species, such as mallards, coots, grebes and moorhens, nest here all year round, while others, such as egrets and herons, arrive in spring. As for the ducks, decked out in shimmering colors, they prefer to hibernate here.
Firm favorite :
Manor, my beautiful manor…
The Fontmerle pond is dominated by a hill where
“Le Manoir de l’Étang” stands. Transformed into a charming hotel, this magnificent stone building, where the ivy gives free rein to its imagination, has a rich history. It was built by an English lord in the late 19th century. It is rumored that Rudyard Kipling, author of “The Jungle Book” among other works, stayed here. Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais are also said to have planned to create a “cité du cinéma”, a project dear to Marcel Pagnol.
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An ambition that was forgotten due to the emergence of Cinecitta in Rome at the same time. But the manor’s charm never waned. In the early 1950s, Maurice Gridaine, film architect and creator of Cannes’ first Palais des Festivals, was captivated and bought the building, before undertaking a lengthy renovation to revive its radiance and distinctive character. The world of cinema was not unmoved, as was the case of Philippe Labro, who came here to direct a number of films…
In the heart of La Valmasque Departmental Park
Created and managed by the Alpes-Maritimes department, the Valmasque park is a formidable green lung covering some 500 hectares in the communes of Valbonne and Mougins. Composed of three wooded hills alternating with gently shaped valleys, it offers a fitness trail and various walking routes.
The Carton walk
(duration 1 h 30 / length 2.8 km / easy)
A walk offering a variety of atmospheres through garrigue, scrubland and forest, where you can observe temporary pools linked to ancient clay pits.
→ The Fontmerle walk
(duration 2 h / length 4 km / easy)
Beautiful forest hike starting from the Fontmerle pond, an ideal spot for birdwatching. The path rises up through a pine forest where Scots pines grow alongside Aleppo pines, to join up with the Mouginette, sparse undergrowth dotted with orchids.
The Fugueiret walk
(duration 2 h / length 4.6 km / easy)
Magnificent hike in the heart of the Valmasque, winding through bushes before entering a dense forest where ancient restanques are hidden. Arriving at the Fugueiret dam with its lush backdrop brings a soft touch of green. Further on, you can see the eagle ferns that turn to earthy tones in the autumn.
The discovery trail
(duration 1 h / 1.6 km / easy)
An educational itinerary for discovering Mediterranean insects, with ten interpretation points and raised panels specially adapted for the visually impaired.
The fitness trail
(duration 0 h 45. Length 1.4 km. Easy)
A fitness trail close to the stadium that runs around the Clausonnes hill, inviting you to exercise on wooden equipment.
Documents
- Map of the Valmasque
- “Step by Step” Flyer
- “Walks in Mougins” Brochure