Mougins

The old part of the village on top of the hill

The old part of the village on top of the hill

Mougins is one of the five founding communities of the technology park of Sophia Antipolis, along with Valbonne, Biot, Antibes, and Vallauris. Mougins is located immediately to the north of Le Cannet; the township covers an area of some 25.5 square kilometers (~ 6,300 acres) and is known for having been home to famous artists, such as Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Man Ray, Christian Dior, and others. To this day, numerous celebrities have a secondary home there; the list includes French president François Hollande, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, and Mel Gibson.

Nevertheless, when people around here speak of Mougins, they typically mean the old village perched on its hilltop, not the more modern areas of the township. It is therefore that part I wanted to present on this page. I parked my car around 8:20 in the morning in the surprisingly modern (and free!) old village visitor's lot, took the elevator up to the Place des Patriotes that marks the entrance to the village, and started exploring. At this hour, the sun had not yet burned up all the humidity, so the colors were beautiful with no harsh shadows. Another benefit of this early hour excursion was that there was practically no one in the streets, leaving me plenty of opportunities to take pictures. If you want to find out more about Mougins, you can take a look at this Wikipedia page, or, if you read French, there is much more detail available here. But for now, just enjoy a virtual stroll through the old village.

Click on any image to see a larger (1500 x 1000 pixel) version!


The parking lot and the elevator to the 'Place des Patriotes' The oldest part of the village is very small

The parking lot and the elevator to the Place des Patriotes

The oldest part of the village is very small


The village is getting ready for the national holiday Old houses are often restored in a variety of colors

The village is getting ready for the national holiday

Old houses are often restored in a variety of colors


'Place du Commandant Lamy' The old village is home to many art galleries

Place du Commandant Lamy

The old village is home to many art galleries


Sculpture 'Il Grande Silenzio' by Lucio Oliveri Taking a closer look

Sculpture Il Grande Silenzio by Lucio Oliveri

Taking a closer look


Fountain (don't drink the water!) Decorated façade Side street

Fountain (don't drink the water!)

Decorated façade

Side street


Heading towards the 'Place de la République' View from the 'Place de la République'

Heading towards the Place de la République

View from the Place de la République


'Rue du Badier' Old gate

Rue du Badier

Old gate


Underpath 'Place du Lieutenant Isnard'

Underpath

Place du Lieutenant Isnard


Another view The opposite side of the square

Another view

The opposite side of the square


Blue shutters Balcony 'Rue des Lombards'

Blue shutters

Balcony

Rue des Lombards


Birthplace of a local hero View onto what used to be the post office

Birthplace of a local hero

View onto what used to be the post office


The photography museum Picasso is omnipresent in Mougins The church entrance

The photography museum

Picasso is omnipresent in Mougins

The church entrance


Behind the church Façades on the 'Rue du Maréchal Foch'

Behind the church

Façades on the Rue du Maréchal Foch


Looking down the 'Rue du Maréchal Foch'... ...and looking up the 'Rue de l'Église'.

Looking down the Rue du Maréchal Foch...

...and looking up the Rue de l'Église.


'Rue des Orfèvres' Back alley

Rue des Orfèvres

Back alley


On the 'Rue des Lombards' Window

On the Rue des Lombards

Window


In the heart of the village Entrance to City Hall and the Gottlob museum

In the heart of the village

Entrance to City Hall and the Gottlob museum


'Le Bistrot de Mougins' Yet another reminder that Picasso used to live in Mougins

Le Bistrot de Mougins

Yet another reminder that Picasso used to live in Mougins


We're back at the 'Place des Patriotes' Sculpture 'Orkade' by Vincent Beaufils

We're back at the Place des Patriotes

Sculpture Orkade by Vincent Beaufils

The photos on this page were all taken on July 13, 2013, except the very first one, which was taken on July 20, 2013.




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