The Park of San Peyre Mandelieu

Do you know the Park of San Peyre?
Located in the departmental park on 18 hectares, it is a magnificent ballad with a view to cut you the breath
In summary:
- The Park of San Peyre, its origin and its flora
- The path of the Mount, the Park of San Peyre or the Sacred Mountain
- Why do we find ruins at the top?
- Our little advice for the San Peyre Park

The Park of San Peyre

This departmental park of 18 hectares is located in the commune of Mandelieu La Napoule.
It is the result of successive layers of lava from the Maure-Vieille volcano when it was still active.
Today we find a typical Mediterranean nature composed mainly of cork oaks, arbutus and mimosas.
It is through the scrubland (heather, cyst, thyme,..) that you can take height and observe a breathtaking panorama.

Do you know it?
If Mandelieu la Napoule is the international capital of mimosas, this tree is not native to the French Riviera but to Australia.
It is the explorer James Cook who, between 1768 and 1779, brought back seeds from his different trips.

The Mount, the Park of San Peyre or the Sacred Mountain

The highest point of the park of Mandelieu is located at 131 meters of altitude.
It can be easily reached by a pedestrian path of 3400 meters.
The climb is easy and the walk can be done at any age.

This botanical path allows you to discover the plants, trees and shrubs of the area.
It takes you to the top where the ruins of a fortress await you.
The route of the San Peyre Park ends with a spectacular 360° view.

Credit: © Christian Retaggi

To help you find your way around, an orientation table shows you the positions of :

- the mountains of Mercantour,
- the mountains of the Massif de l'Estérel
- the islands of Lérins with the island Saint Honorat and Sainte Marguerite island.
- To complete the picture, you can observe the interior gardens of the castle of Napoule, below the mountain.

Do you know it?
It was during an encounter with a hermit who lived in the chapel on top of the mountain that Guy de Maupassant had the idea to write his short story "The Hermit".
This book was published in Gil Blas in 1886. San Peyre was renamed "The Sacred Mountain" some time later.

Why are there ruins on the summit?

In the time of the Phoenicians and later of the Celto Ligures, the Park of San Peyre served as a "watchtower".
It allowed to observe the gulf and to anticipate possible attacks.
Later, the Romans built a temple in honor of Mercury.

Camille Moirenc / OTC Mandelieu

However, we owe the remains of the present keep and surrounding walls to the lord of Villeneuve.
This lord built his castle and a chapel dedicated to Saint-Pierre in 1182.

Do you know it?
San Peyre takes its name from this ancient chapel dedicated to St. Peter (San Peyre)!

Our little advice for the park of San Peyre

Don't hesitate to come and have a picnic under the oaks.
In summer, the weather is pleasant and tables are available at the exit of the parking lot.
You just have to be respectful of the rules imposed by the park of San Peyre.

And if after the discovery of the mountain you want to explore the area.
We advise you to take the coastal path which starts from the castle of La Napoule to reach the port of La Rague, in Théoule sur Mer.
About thirty minutes is enough to connect the two places.

Credit © Camille Moirenc / OTC Mandelieu

If you want more information, I invite you to contact the team of the Tourist Office of Mandelieu :
Location : Exhibition and Congress Center
Address : 806 Av. de Cannes, 06210 Mandelieu-la-Napoule
It opens from 9:30 am !
Phone : 04 93 93 64 64
If you want to discover their site it is here the link 🙂