Mougins, on the road between Cannes and Grasse, is an archetypal Provencal village. Curled around the hillside like a snail, the beauty of the place once appealed to Picasso and continues to attract tourists who are charmed by its sheer harmony.

Just a stone’s throw from Cannes and the Mediterranean, Mougins has an air of simple tranquillity in marked contrast to the hustle and bustle of the coast. This is one of its great advantages, along with the dominance of a site that offers superb panoramic views over the Provencal countryside. The village seems to have come straight out of one of Epinal’s images of traditional – even naive – living: old houses painted in shades of ochre with lavender shutters, twisted narrow streets, bustling pavement cafés, the little square, the fountain... It is hardly surprising that Picasso fell in love with Mougins when he discovered it in 1935. Later, in 1961, he decided to settle here, living in the hermitage of Notre-Dame-de-Vie, a magnificent sanctuary overlooking the village. Mougins’ reputation was made, and the small town has never lost its artistic atmosphere, symbolised by its large number of galleries and designer shops.

Whilst most people come to Mougins for its chic Provencal atmosphere, it is also home to two interesting museums. Outside the village, close to the motorway, the Musée de l’Automobile has some very fine examples of vintage vehicles on show. The Musée de la Photographie, created by a friend of Picasso, focuses on the art of portraiture, with photographs by Clergue, Doisneau and Lartigue. Located on the famous Napoleon Route, just a few kilometres before you dive into the sights and sounds of Grasse, Mougins is the perfect stopover for a stay in Provence.