What makes Mandelieu-la-Napoule special?
The Château de la Napoule is the defining feature - a medieval revival castle built in the early twentieth century by Henry Clews, an eccentric American sculptor who bought the ruins of a fourteenth-century fort and transformed them into a romantic, slightly fantastical residence. The gardens run to the waterfront and are open to the public, and the contrast between the fairytale architecture and the beach clubs on either side is one of those pleasingly incongruous Riviera combinations that somehow work.
The Estérel hills behind the town are volcanic porphyry rock - a deep burnt red that reads as almost violent against the blue of the sea and sky. The Corniche de l'Estérel, built at the turn of the twentieth century by the Touring Club de France, offers one of the most dramatic road journeys on the Riviera.
The marina at Port de la Napoule is one of the largest on the Riviera and gives the town a lively, year-round maritime character. The beach here is sandy - relatively unusual this far east on the coast - and the clubs along it benefit from a sheltered position in the bay.
What is our favourite thing about Mandelieu-la-Napoule?
Our favourite thing about Mandelieu is the view from the beach clubs back towards the Estérel at the end of the afternoon, when the red rock takes on an even deeper colour in the low sun and the whole hillside seems to glow. It is a view that appears on paintings and photographs from the nineteenth century onward, and it has not lost anything in the interval.
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Getting to Mandelieu-la-Napoule
Practical information
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) is around 30km east - approximately 30 minutes by car on the A8. Cannes train station (around 8km east) is the nearest mainline stop, with taxis and buses to Mandelieu taking around 10-15 minutes. The Mandelieu-la-Napoule train station is on the regional Mandelieu-Cannes line with a limited service; Cannes is the more practical mainline hub. By car from Nice, take the A8 (exit Mandelieu/la Napoule) - around 30 minutes. From Marseille, the A8 takes around 1 hour 50 minutes.
By car from Nice on the A8
Take the A8 west from Nice and exit at Mandelieu/la Napoule (exit 40). The drive from Nice is around 30 minutes in normal traffic. The exit road drops quickly to the coast and the château seafront. Parking is available along the seafront and at the marina.
Along the Corniche from Cannes or Saint-Raphaël
From Cannes, the D6098 coastal road through Golfe-Juan and Antibes reaches Mandelieu in around 15-20 minutes - a pleasant alternative to the motorway. From Saint-Raphaël and the west, the Corniche de l'Estérel is the scenic approach, following the red cliff road above the sea for around 40-45 minutes before arriving at Mandelieu from the direction of Agay.
Useful information about Mandelieu-la-Napoule
History and architecture
The medieval castle at la Napoule guarded the entrance to the bay. The Château de la Napoule in its current form is largely the work of Henry and Marie Clews, who bought the ruins in 1918 and spent the rest of their lives transforming them. Mandelieu Royal Golf Club, established in 1891, is one of the oldest courses in France.
Cultural attractions
The Château de la Napoule and its arts foundation host exhibitions and events through the summer. The town's marina provides a base for exploring the coast by boat. Cannes, 10 minutes east, provides access to the full range of Riviera cultural activities.
Natural beauty
The Estérel massif has marked walking trails reaching the summit of Mont Vinaigre, a coastline of dramatic red cliffs and good swimming in the coves below. The Lérins islands are visible from the beach and reachable by boat from Cannes.
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