Route du Mimosa

Route du Mimosa

The "Route du Mimosa" is a scenic drive through 8 villages to admire the sweet scented mimosa. (Bormes les mimosas, Le Rayol Canadel sur Mer, Sainte Maxime, Saint Raphaël, Mandelieu la Napoule,Tanneron, Pégomas, Grasse)  This magnificent yellow flower blooms across the French Riviera from January to early March . 

In 1850 British Botanist James Cook brought some seeds of wattle tree from Australia & planted in Kew Botanical Gardens. Later in1880, it was introduced in Croix des Gardes at Cannes & also in some Villas of Aristocrats ( Duc de Vallombroso, Le Marquis de Morès, Lord Brougha). Now it has spread all over the Massif du Tanneron & Massif des Maures.

First "Fête du Mimosa" was hosted in 1931at Mandelieu La Napoule. Today all the 8 towns organises  "Fête du Mimosa" from February to March. There will be a flower parade & "Miss Mimosa" election.  Every year  more than 60,000 tourists pour into this region to enjoy the spectacular bloom of Mimosa. Tourists can buy cosmetics & goodies made out of this sweet scented  flowers.