The Mediterranean commune of Mandelieu-Napoule always manages to pleasantly surprise visitors with its incredible combination of sea, stunning natural landscape and recreational facilities. Located in the French Riviera of Southeastern France, Mandelieu lies in the outskirts of Cannes. The seafront section of the commune, which is often referred to as La Napoule receives the most visitors, but the community is also known for its festivals, sporting and cultural events.
When tourists head to Mandeliu-Napoule, they usually want to visit the fame Chateau de la Napoule. This impressive medieval fortress was built during the 14th century and owned by the Counts of Villeneuve. Chateau de la Napoule is a fascinating place to visit because it had historically been used as a military fort, and somehow was able to withstand decades of wars, invasions, and revolutions. By the early 20th century, the mansion was nearly ruined.
Affluent Americans Henry and Mary Clews bought the castle in 1971 and devoted their time to rebuild it. A guided tour around the chateau is definitely highly recommended as it allows you to experience up close the mansion’s exquisite architecture and artistic works, which lie mostly in the chateau’s museum. The chateau’s magnificent gardens are certainly added attractions to the already remarkable property. Chateau de la Napoule is open for visits all year round, but the best time to visit it is during summer, when the management regularly organizes musical or theatrical shows in the evening to the delight of the guests.
Being in Mandelieu gives you the opportunity to enjoy crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean in various ways. The commune’s harbor is equipped with excellent facilities and is large enough to accommodate thousands of yachts and sailboats. Water sports certainly reigns supreme in Mandelieu’s seafront as this area experiences suitable weather and water conditions to facilitate most known water sports like surfing, jet skiing and parasailing.
You can find several resorts across Mandelieu-La Napoule’s 30-km coastline. Most of these are fronting nice beaches, and some are overlooking the reddish Esterel Mountain. There are a total of seven beaches you can choose to spend time on. Some of the beaches have fine sand, while others are characterized by red rock formations coming from the Esterel Massif.
Mandelieu-La Napoule is equally impressive when it comes to its dry land particularly in the Cote d’Azur vicinity. As a visitor, you can explore the forests within the mountain massifs of Tanneron and Esterel. The unique terrain creates golden opportunities for eco-tourism activities. Hiking around Mandelieu with family, friends or even new acquaintances has always been a source of fun complimented with a dash of adventure. There are numerous mountain and forest trails with varying degrees of difficulty that you can choose to follow. Some of the popular hiking sites can be found in the Grand Dukes forest and in the parks of Esterel and San Peyre.
In the French Riviera, Mandelieu-La Napoule has been a premier golf destination for many years. In fact, the commune is the home to the region’s first golf course; the Cote d’Azur (Old Course), which was established in 1891. Three additional golf courses collectively called Riviera Golf of Barbossi were subsequently created after a century. So, if you carry a sentiment for history and have love for the great sport of golf, then Mandelieu is an easy holiday choice.
