Mas Eugenie

Only 8km from Cannes and the beaches of the French Riviera, Mas Eugénie is located just outside the artistic village of Mougins in the Alpes-Maritimes department of south-east France. If arriving by plane, Nice Airport is around half an hour away whilst the TGV/Ouigo train services from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice usually stop in Cannes.

Mougins is one of the Côte d'Azur’s iconic hilltop villages and the most adventurous/fittest of guests could even walk there. Even closer, by the main road below the village, are useful amenities such as a small supermarket, tabac etc.

The historic heart of Mougins is a joy to explore with its winding lanes, pretty fountains, little art galleries and excellent restaurants. Once the home to Pablo Picasso, the village is also renowned for its gastronomy - Les Etoiles de Mougins is a three day food festival in September which attracts visitors from across the world.

Venture slightly further south and within 8km you can be soaking up the vibrant ambience of Cannes with its famous boulevard, La Croisette, and palm-fringed beach alongside its marina, boutiques, glitzy bars and restaurants, old quarter and of course the Palais des Festivals. From Cannes you can catch a ferry across to the quieter shores of the Îles de Lérins.

Antibes is another gem of the French Riviera with its enchanting old quarter, home to the Picasso Museum, and the magnificent coastal walking paths around the exclusive Cap d’Antibes. Juan-Les-Pins (15km) is the playground of Parisians in the height of the summer and much-loved for its sandy shores, beachside restaurants and seasonal water-based activities.

If you can find the time, Nice (33km), Cap Ferrat (44km) and Monaco (55km) are waiting to be explored, alongside many pretty beaches along this part of the Côte d'Azur, or follow the coastal road west towards the incredible landscapes around Théoule-sur-Mer (21km) backed by the Massif de l’Estérel.

Then there’s other gorgeous villages such as Biot (13km), Opio (9km) and Gourdon (18km) and the picturesque market town of Valbonne (5km), a must-visit on a Friday morning. The perfume studios of Grasse (12km) also await, as do the glorious walking paths and beautiful scenery of this part of the Côte d'Azur hinterland.

Read more about Grasse

Fall in love with Grasse and its surrounding villages as you experience the Côte d’Azur hinterland staying in one of our handpicked villa rentals in and around Grasse. Pass lavender, jasmine, roses and flower farms as you drive into the hills of the Provence-Alpes-Maritime – no wonder Grasse is known as the ‘perfume capital of France’.

As well as the Museé International de la Parfumerie, visit the perfume houses of Galimard, Molinard and Fragonard for guided tours and even perfume-making workshops. Elsewhere, explore the historic winding lanes and come across artisan shops, café terraces and the impressive Rubens frescoes inside Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Puy de Grasse. There’s a lovely daily flower market at Place aux Aires whilst Place aux Herbes hosts the larger twice-weekly market on a Wednesday and Saturday morning.

A short drive from Grasse, encounter a wealth of picture-perfect villages and beautiful landscapes for walking, hiking, horse-riding and cycling. The perched village of Cabris is especially bucolic with incredible vistas over the Tanneron forest and Lac de Saint-Cassien. There are more glorious views from the small village of Spéracèdes with its pastel-coloured houses and olive trees.

Discover century-old hiking trails through the Siagne valley as well as pretty villages, ancient bridges and idyllic swimming spots. Visit the illuminated caves of stalagmites and stalactites just outside Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne before pottering around the authentic village admiring its fountains, café terraces and inviting food shops showcasing goats cheese, honey, olive oil and other products of the region.

South of Grasse, drive to the charming hilltop village of Opio, also famed for its olive oil, and don’t miss the Friday morning market in Valbonne, a very charming town dating back to the 16th century, home to a wonderful town square with pavement cafes and restaurants.

Golf lovers have a great choice of courses in the region including Golf du Claux Amic, once a 17th century hunting estate with stunning views and Golf Grande Bastide just south of Opio as well as prestigious courses close to Mougins and Cannes. As well as endless hiking trails across Grasse’s surroundings, other activities include a range of land and water-based activities in and around Lac de Saint-Cassien, only 15km from Grasse, as well as tree-top adventures and zip-lines with French Riviera views at Riviera Nature just north of the town.